Wait And See 11.17.2006 | 3 Comment(s)

"We need to persuade people to come back downtown," Pinnacle Chairman and Chief Executive Daniel Lee said.

Isn't that the standard, canned phrase every developer of a "this project will save downtown" makes?

While the estimated $1 billion Pinnacle Entertainment intends on investing at Laclede's Landing is welcome, aren't people already coming back downtown? Isn't downtown's improving health the x-factor that is making this project appealing for Pinnacle? Pinnacle's chairman makes it sound like the casino is downtown's silver bullet.

I've always hated the fact that there is a casino on the riverfront. It just seems wrong to me, but I suppose I'm in the minority. Lumiere Place, what the development is now called (puke!), will have a casino town built in its first phase with residential and retail to follow in a second phase. I don't know how they are going to develop the residential aspect of this project and make it feel non-cheesy and like a "neighborhood", but I'll have to wait to see the plans for phase 2 before I form any opinions.

If the uninspired architecture of Phase 1 is any indication to what Phase 2 is going to look like, I've already lost all hope. The casino/hotel to be built in Phase 1 is nothing more than a glass box with an exposed parking garage attached to its hip.

Despite the amount of money being invested and the hype City officials give this project, I can't help but feel there is a fundamental flaw with this project that I can't quite see yet.

By  Hilary, at 12:07 PM

I've always hated the fact that there is a casino on the riverfront. It just seems wrong to me, but I suppose I'm in the minority.

I'm right there in the minority with you then. More casinos? Ick. Way to make the riverfront even less appealing.

By  Urban Review, at 6:27 PM

I have no real issues with casinos --- if people want to lose money inside them fine. But I share your distaste for the appearance of casinos, not due to gambling but the "architecture" which is often overly garish in places and brutally bland in others.

The scale of these projects has nothing to do with the remaining architecture on the landing. I didn't much care for the landing before and they are making it less and less attractive as these projects go up.

By  Billy, at 8:33 PM

I agree I don't think a casino is the answer. Something family oriented would have been great there. Now that is something that would bring people downtown.