Friday, April 25, 2008; Posted: 07:42 PM
But even as he anticipates an indoor water park, hotels and other amenities on 300 acres of family-owned former strip mine property, Shick said his plans also must include staying out of the way of former rival Centaur Inc.
The Indiana-based developer plans to become Shick's neighbor when it builds a $428 million harness racetrack and casino on adjoining land, purchased from the family.
"We're ready to go," Shick said of his revised plans for the intersection of Routes 422 and 551, which will be presented for township review.
After an agreement was hammered out last summer between Centaur and Shick and his partners, the Pennsylvania Harness Racing Commission awarded the state's final harness racetrack license to Centaur on Sept. 5. The company had agreed to build Valley View Downs in Lawrence County after initially considering a site in Beaver County.
The developer is now in the process of obtaining permits as it awaits approval of the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board for a casino license for 3,000 slot machines.
The 2004 law that legalizes gaming in Pennsylvania virtually guarantees the slots license will be awarded, but also includes provisions to investigate the operator.
Although approval is expected this year, Centaur's building plans remain on hold until the slots parlor license is awarded. Officials estimate casino construction will take 18 to 24 months after the license is received.
But Shick's Bedford Development Corp., has begun sharing its plans with the community.
Attorney Frank Salpietro of Bedford Development said a water park and hotel are expected to open 18 months after Valley View Downs is built.
Addressing the New Castle Lions Club this week, Salpietro unveiled drawings and plans for an "entertainment corridor" adjacent to the proposed racetrack and casino, which he called "a good trigger for an economic boom."
He predicted 1,500 jobs will accompany Bedford's three-phase development. This is in addition to the 1,500 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent full- and part-time jobs the racetrack/casino complex is expected to provide.
The "Main Street USA" style of the Bedford development, south of the Valley View Downs site, will feature a water park and hotel in the first phase, a shopping-restaurant-entertainment complex in the second and condominium time-share housing units in the final round.
Shick said the plan will include three or four hotels, built as needed.
Salpietro likened the proposed complex to the South Side Works in Pittsburgh, promising higher-end shops and restaurants.
The development will broaden choices available to people while they enjoy the racing and the slot machines, he said.
"We don't want to lose sight ... that this is an entertainment area," he said. "We're going to try to make it an entertainment destination."
Salpietro and Shick said Bedford Development is in continual contact with Centaur representatives, and maintains a good dialogue.
Shick noted he will proceed with caution because he does not want to compete with Centaur during construction.
"It will be a nightmare if we both try to build at the same time," he said. "We can work alongside them and not get in each other's way.
"It will be nice to see fake palm trees and a sandy beach," he said. "But it looks as though we'll have to wait one more winter."
The proposed racetrack/casino in Mahoning Township promises economic growth and jobs.
JoAnn McBride, director of the Lawrence County Tourist Promotion Agency, said she has been contacted by the Mahoning County visitors center about joint marketing the area.
"We're looking at careers, not just jobs," McBride said.
She and Linda Nitch, Lawrence County Economic Development Corp. executive director, spoke Saturday at a conference for women.
The two addressed the diversity of jobs and career opportunities that will be created locally with the onset of the racetrack, casino and development plans of Carmen Shick.
"We're talking about food service, chefs, water park employees," McBride said. "And don't forget agriculture. Farmers are looking at the type of grain they should be planting."
She said her agency has received calls from farmers already asking about potential horse farms.
Other potential jobs include maintenance, accounting, security, traffic control, spa and salon staff, entertainment, hotel services and management, retail and lifeguard jobs, as well as technology, marketing and advertising.
"This means career opportunities," Nitch said.
She added that Butler County Community College is working closely with Indianapolis-based Centaur Inc., the racetrack/casino developers.
"We are hopeful we're going to have a workforce development campus here," Nitch said.
With $10 million to $15 million per year expected to come into Lawrence County as a result of the track and casino, Nitch said, "we want to invest these dollars here in a way we can be proud of."
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