October, 2003 - Page 2

Posted November 27, 2003

While the back was being torn apart, the front entrance was being built. First was have this shot of the large cinder block wall facing Carson Street. They made a few cuts in it, preparing to carve out a huge opening.

The south side of the building is where most of the activity is, since that’s the direction the casino and second floor are expanding in. They brought in a crane to lift the steel beams into place that will make up the frame of the casino expansion.

Here you see the assembled steel starting to create a new addition in the back corner of the building.

Finally the sky bridge and the casino have been joined. Previously there was a twenty foot gap here; it looked like they had stopped the bridge before it was finished. But now we can see that they are bringing the building out to meet the bridge. The new section also meets up perfectly with the old section where the buffet was. It also lines up just right with the opening they cut in the second floor wall. All of this will become the grand entrance area for people coming from the parking garage.

On the south face they assembled steel for the rest of the expansion.

The casino is coming out to meet the new portecochere, which will house valet parking and the main entrance.

After this steelwork was finished, work was done for October. They may have canceled their demolition plans and gotten the concessions they wanted from the city, but that doesn’t mean they’re going to step up the pace very much. Days can go by with no work being done. I think it’s still going to be a couple of years before they manage to get this thing finished and open.

See you next month!