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It is deadline day for development companies to submit their plans for construction of a new Danville casino. A steering committee formed earlier to review the plans had received no submissions as of midday Tuesday, according to Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. But the Mayor noted that often when RFPs – Requests for Proposals – are sent out, companies work right up to the last minute to submit their plans.
Mayor Williams had announced earlier that seven development companies had expressed interest in building the casino. The Mayor says once today’s (July 31, 2019) deadline passes, the steering committee will review the proposals and trim the number to two or three. Mayor Williams told VermilionCountyFirst.com News that the committee still hopes to have its recommendation to the Danville City Council by September 3rd – at the latest.
Danville is one of six communities in Illinois being allowed to get a casino under gambling expansion legislation that was approved by the General Assembly and signed by Governor JB Pritzker earlier.
The site which has been selected for the Danville casino is south of Interstate 74 at Lynch Road, but at least one of the development companies hoping to build it wants to put it near the Palmer Arena downtown. Mayor Williams has noted, though, that there is not enough room there for a casino.
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[This story by Neuhoff Media Danville News Director Bill Pickett. Got a news tip? Give Bill a call at (217) 709-1245, or contact him at BillPickett@Neuhoffmedia.com.]
