Harrah's Alters Casino Design

WEST WARWICK, Rhode Island – As reported by the Providence Journal: "Harrah's Entertainment has altered the design of its proposed casino complex here, envisioning a shorter hotel tower and placing the parking garage away from a residential neighborhood.

"While it appears increasingly unlikely that there will be a statewide referendum this year on the casino proposal, Harrah's is continuing design work and recently resumed making payments to the town to finance negotiations on a host-community agreement.

"…In a slide presentation, Harrah's showed updated renderings of the casino, hotel, performance hall and parking garage. The new drawings show a more squat hotel with glass-curtain walls wrapped around a porte cochere, or roofed passageway.

"The newly-designed building, situated behind a large fountain, would rise only eight stories, at least 130 feet lower, said David J. Satz, Harrah's vice president for government relations.

"…The revised plan moves the 2,500-space garage from one side of the property to the other, on the east side of the casino. It would face the industrial park instead of a densely-populated neighborhood, Harrah's officials said…"