Greektown drops plan to build new Detroit casino

Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2005 | 9:49 a.m.

DETROIT -- Greektown Casino officials plan a $200 million expansion and 400-room hotel at their current downtown site and are dropping a plan to build a new complex at a different site.

The company opened what at the time was called a temporary casino in Detroit's Greektown entertainment district in 2000.

Under the new plan, Greektown Casino would build a 3,500-space parking garage and a 15-story, 400-room hotel with 25,000-square feet of convention space; increase the gambling floor space by 25,000 square feet for a total of 100,000 square feet; and open a 1,200-1,500-seat theater, the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News said Tuesday.

The Michigan Gaming Control Board was scheduled to vote Tuesday on Greektown Casino's request to go ahead with a $635-million financing package that includes the project, refinancing existing debt and other activities.

Greektown Casino plans to break ground in February, open the parking garage in June 2007 and the hotel in January 2008.

MotorCity Casino earlier decided to remain at its current site, while the city's third casino, MGM Grand Detroit, still plans a new facility.