Casino counting on plenty of interest in hotel
Rivers Casino’s latest gamble has nothing to do with slot machines, table games or sports wagering.
Rather, the casino broke ground Tuesday on another kind of bet — a seven- story, 219- room hotel — that it hopes will build upon the hot streak that the organization has been riding lately.
Coinciding with the North Shore venue’s 10th anniversary, the four- star hotel will be built on the east side of the property near the Carnegie Science Center. The $ 60 million project will be privately funded.
Given the close proximity of Heinz Field, casino officials are hoping the Landing Hotel Pittsburgh will draw plenty of Steelers fans, as well as business people, tourists and, of course, gamblers.
Greg Carlin, CEO of the casino and of its own owner, Chicagobased Rush Street Gaming, said he believes the hotel will help to improve business and “be a great economic driver.”
After years of delays, “It’s time for this hotel,” he said. “This is going to be the nicest hotel on the North Shore. It’s going to be a great addition to the skyline here.”
Among its features, the hotel will be directly connected to the casino itself. The 219 rooms will include 10 luxury terrace suites, each with private first- floor patios. There also will be “expansive windows” on every floor offering views of the Downtown skyline and the Ohio River.
The casino sees the hotel — which is expected to create 128 permanent jobs and 1,400 construction jobs — supplementing and building upon other new amenities, including an events center with a 2,200- person capacity that opened this year.
A $ 5.5 million permanent sportsbook, double the size of the facility that debuted in December, is supposed to be ready for the Steelers’ Sept. 30 home game against the Cincinnati Bengals. A new high- end restaurant, Martorano’s Prime, an Italian American Steakhouse to be operated by celebrity chef Steve Martorano, is expected to open in November.
The hotel, which is scheduled to be completed in early 2021, is being built at a time when development on the North Shore is moving upriver.
According to Mayor Bill Peduto, the science center is exploring a mixed- use development in a 450- space parking lot adjacent to the Allegheny light rail station.
Because of a 2016 zoning board
ruling, the center must build structured parking — either stand- alone or as part of a broader development — by 2023 to maintain that many spaces.
In an interview after the hotel groundbreaking, Mr. Peduto said about 20 developers responded to a request for proposals issued recently by the center to gauge interest in development of the lot.
“It’s a prime real estate, riverfront, and there’s very strong demand,” the mayor said.
Connie George, science center spokeswoman, said there is no timetable for selecting a developer. She could not verify how many responded to the request for proposals, saying that information is confidential.
“We have received several proposals that we are carefully reviewing in detail to determine their viability and benefits to the science center, our North Side neighbors and the community,” she said.
Farther up the Ohio River, Millcraft Investments is gearing up for its ambitious Esplanade project, spread over 15 acres and costing as much as $ 750 million. Plans include a 2acre lagoon, a marina, a giant Ferris wheel with LED lighting, and an aquarium building.
Also proposed are 300,000 square feet of office space, as well as condominiums, apartments, restaurants, retail and another possible hotel. Millcraft hopes to break ground within the next 24 months.
Mr. Carlin sees such development as a bonus for the casino.
“It’s more things to do,” he said. “Every new project just brings more people down here. It all feeds on itself.”