Panel backs Lady Luck renovation
Plans for expanding and renovating the Lady Luck casino are moving forward, and construction could start by early next year.
On Thursday, the Las Vegas Planning Commission approved plans to renovate rooms, add pool and meeting space and upgrade the casino. The Las Vegas City Council is scheduled to consider the proposals July 21.
Commission member Steve Evans asked the key question: "When do you anticipate some of this being achieved?"
"If all goes on track, we expect the opening by the last quarter of 2012," said Todd Kessler, representing Resort Gaming Group, which would operate the casino.
The downtown casino closed in 2006 for renovations and has been shuttered ever since. It is owned by CIM Group, a Los Angeles-based real estate investment company.
Planned construction includes:
■ Building meeting space and a pool and a deck on top of the existing casino building at Ogden and Third streets.
■ Replacing 50 hotel rooms with a spa, fitness room and public spaces.
■ Renovating the rest of the rooms and the casino area.
■ Stripping down a pedestrian bridge that crosses Third Street so that it's see-through -- that is, not blocking the under-construction Mob Museum on Stewart Avenue.
Kessler also promised new restaurants, including a coffee cafe and a taco-and-tequila bar, as well as new entertainment venues.
"It'll bring it back to life in the style of a boutique casino," he said.
Commissioner Ric Truesdell abstained from the vote because one of his clients is involved with a neighboring property.
Contact reporter Alan Choate at achoate@review
journal.com or 702-229-6435.
