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Years ago, when Bethlehem Steel was still in
operation, it functioned as it own self contained city. Bethlehem
Steel was big enough to possess its own railroad, police force, and
medical staff. The new casino proposed by Las Vegas Sands is being
planned on the same proportions. Las Vegas Sands is currently
competing for one of Philadelphia’s stand alone casino licenses.
The incredibly huge casino
and retail project would instantly become Bethlehem’s largest
employer upon opening. The operations would create 2,500 jobs, a
fraction of the 30,000 that Bethlehem Steel used to employ. But,
Bethlehem Steel pales in comparison to this mega casino
If
Las Vegas Sands is licensed, their new casino would boast a casino
floor measured in acres, Bethlehem’s largest hotel, and the cities
largest retail complex. Its parking complex would be the largest in
the Lehigh Valley. The casino’s features bare reflections of
Bethlehem Steel. It will have its own monorail, medical staff, and
security force.
Projections for the casino show that though it will not employ as
many people as the steel complex did, it will do much more for the
community than Bethlehem. The casinos revenue will dwarf Bethlehem
Steel and the tourist draw is expected to deliver five times the
people of the Musikfest; Bethlehem’s biggest event.
The Gaming Control Board files on the casino
describe impressive and almost unthinkable features. The
casino floor is expected to sprawl across 2 acres, at 97,000 square
feet. The casino floor will hold 3,000 slot machines. If the state
gives the casino permission, a second construction phase will create
an additional 77,000 square foot extension on the casino floor and
fill it in with another 2,000 slot machines.
The planned retail complex will be two levels high and spread
336,000 feet. The complex will contain many restaurants, shops, a
department store, a brew pub, and a 1,700 seat multi-screen cinema.
The casino’s 300-room hotel will stand 10 stories high. The
attached six-level parking garage will have room for 6,000
vehicles.
The casino will do more for
the city’s budget in its first phases of development than Bethlehem
Steel ever did. The annual host fee for the casino will be 10
million dollars. According to city officials, that first
development phase will generate $2 million annually in real estate
taxes. $12 million dollars is 20% of the Bethlehem’s $56 million
dollar budget. Bethlehem Steel never provided more than 15%.
The debate remains, even with all of the
financial wonder the Las Vegas Sands casino will provide for the
city, is if it’s really what the South Side needs? David Freeman
says no. Freeman heads the antigambling group Citizens for a Better
Bethlehem. Freeman shudders to think of how the city will manage
the 5 million people the casino is projected to draw. “Every road
into the South Side is going to be gridlock,” worries Freeman. “I
don’t see how that can be considered good for the rest of the
businesses over there.”
The
owner of Looper’s Grille and Bar, Natalie Miller, disagrees
completely with Freeman. Looper’s will virtually be the casino
complex’s next door neighbor. According to Miller, at least 200
people applied for the dishwasher position that she advertised for
her business. Miller is optimistic,
“I think it’s a great thing for the South Side. Every growing metro
area has a restaurant row. I expect our business to grow, not
shrink. And If it takes grandness to create jobs to support a
family, then I’m all for grandness.”
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