27-01-2006

Atlantic City’s New Sky High Casino

“For the casino industry, there is a great attraction to combine the efficiency and the iconography of these tall buildings to show that their tower is bigger than the person's next door,” said David Scott, chairman of the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat.

The three towers, planned by Harrah's Atlantic City, Trump Taj Mahal Casino Resort and Borgata Hotel Casino and Spa, are in a heated competition for the tallest tower. Harrah's is already claiming to have the skyline beat with its 964 room, 557 foot structure. Unless plans change for the Borgata and Trump Taj Mahal, it looks like Harrah's structure will beat the current skyline by about 57 feet.

“The sky is the limit!” Claims the invitation to Harrah's groundbreaking ceremony this Thursday. “Let us take your imagination skyward as Harrah's breaks ground on what will be the tallest hotel casino in all of Atlantic City.”

But why, after so many years, are three casinos simultaneously building skyscrapers? New building laws of course. This month the Atlantic City Council raised the height limit from 485 feet to 560 feet.
With this new law in effect Harrah's can start work on its $550 million expansion project that includes the 47 story tower, a spa and 172,000 square feet of retail shops and entertainment facilities. The tower is scheduled to finish in 2008, but the stores and entertainment should be open by 2007.

Harrah's vice president of development, Michael Walsh, is less excited about the height of the new project, and focuses instead on the larger picture.

“I don't think having the highest tower is what will give us prestige,” Walsh said. “I think being part of the world's largest gaming company is prestige enough.”

The Taj Mahal, one of three buildings owned by Donald Trump in A.C. alone, is planning on building a 485 foot tower. The building is scheduled to begin this June.

“That [height] was never a factor in our thinking,” said Trump.

Trump, who owns Manhattan skyscrapers big enough to crush an A.C. casino, isn't worried about the height of the new project.

Thomas Mills, a local real estate broker said, “The Realtor on the island are saying now that Atlantic City's nickname is Manhattan South because of all the high-end retail, the New York restaurants and the luxe condos that are going to be put in the Inlet area.”

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