KANSAS CITY, KS-Five developers have filed proposals with the Unified Government of Kansas City to build one casino Downtown. The government, which oversees Kansas City and Wyandotte County, wants to have a new, Las Vegas-style casino with an investment of at least $225 million, though it's expected all the projects will at least hit $300 million.

Voters in the area this summer approved a proposal for one resort-style casino, thanks to a new law that allows casinos to be built in Wyandotte, Cherokee, Ford and Sedgwick counties. Five companies responded with six projects to Unified's request for proposals. Unified also includes the communities of Bonner Springs and Edwardsville, which are expected to submit their own casino proposals, a Unified spokesman tells GlobeSt.com. Unified's Planning Commission will hold meetings Nov. 6 through 8 to consider zoning for the proposals, and then the full Board of Commissioners will review, discuss and endorse a preferred proposal, sending the recommendation on to the Kansas Lottery Commission by Dec. 31.

The casino is expected to match any resort found in Las Vegas or Atlantic City, according to Unified's criteria. The proposals so far submitted are:

• Sands Kansas LLC is a division of Las Vegas Sands Corp., owner of the Venetian chains in Nevada. In its proposal, principal Diana Rael said the plan submitted matches the Venetian charm. The company has proposed a 300-key hotel with phased-in expansion capabilities of up to 1,000 rooms, a 120,000-sf conferencing and trade show facility that can be converted to a 4,000-seat arena, a 206,000-sf retail facility, 70,000 sf of restaurant space and a gaming floor with capacity for 5,000 slots and 200 tables. This project would be built at 107th and Leavenworth Road, and reportedly would cost $500 million to build.
• The Kickapoo/Sac and Fox tribe, formed as KS&F Dev. Co. LLC, want to build on 77 acres at 118th Street and State Avenue. Unified did not have a project summary with KS&F's proposal.
• Legends Sun, made up of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, Olympia Gaming LLC and RED Development LLC, has proposed a 750,000-sf resort/casino with two 12-story hotel towers, 200,000 sf of mixed-use retail and residential development with 250 units, coupled with an 18-hole, semi-private golf course. This project would cover 275 acres near The Legends Shopping Center along 110th Street, between State and Parallel.
• The Cordish Co. has joined with the Kansas Speedway to propose a project adjacent to the southeast corner of the track, at 109th Street and Village West Parkway. The development, at a reported $600-million price tag, would include 1.5 million sf, with a casino, convention center and 165,000 sf of retail, along with a gaming area for 3,000 slot machines and 100 tables. The site would include two hotels totaling 212,500 sf and a 535,000-sf parking garage.
• Pinnacle Entertainment submitted the final two proposals, though both would incorporate a 100,000-sf casino and a 500-room hotel, along with a 100,000-sf convention center, a 50,000-sf concert venue and assorted retail. One plan is to build on 60 acres on the southeast corner of I-435 and Parallel Parkway, adjacent to the planned Schlitterbahn water park and retail mall, which is costing a reported $750 million. The other Pinnacle plan is to integrate with the 600-acre Donahoo development, right at a new interchange with I-435. The company has purchased options on both sites, said Dan Lee, Pinnacle's chairman and CEO, in a press release. The company said in the release that it plans to invest “substantially in excess” of the $300-million expectation.

In 1996, 82% of Kansas City voters favored a new casino, says the Unified spokesman, but plans were bogged down in bureaucracy. Since then, the residents have watched neighboring Kansas City, MO bring in their own gaming facilities. “We think this new plan is a wonderful opportunity for our community,” he tells GlobeSt.com. Unified hopes to use the government's share of the revenue to help build new roads, enhance public safety and guarantee quality public education.