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September 20, 2008 - 7:39PM
Casino Arizona rises skyward east of Scottsdale
Ari Cohn, Tribune
The steel skeleton of the new 15-story Casino Arizona Resort & Spa has begun rising just east of Scottsdale with the McDowell Mountains as a backdrop, but the project is not expected to be done until 2010.
Russ Burbank, Casino Arizona's senior vice president and chief operating officer, said the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community broke ground on the new 497-room hotel about eight months ago. The steel girders are up to 12 stories high now, with the last three stories slated to be done next month.
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"We'll be topping off the tower building the second week of October," Burbank said. "It's moving along right on pace."
Not all are happy with the new view.
Bob Vairo, president of the Coalition of Pinnacle Peak community group, said the new building - east of Loop 101 on Indian Bend Road - is much taller than anything else in the area and partially blocks the view of the McDowell Mountains. However, he said, he recognizes Scottsdale has no leverage over the Salt River community.
"There's not much we can do about it, but I hate to see it happening," Vairo said.
Burbank said the tent structures that now house the casino eventually will be replaced by parking lots. The new casino will rival Casino Arizona's location on McKellips Road at Loop 101 in terms of space available for gaming, and the casino is expected to compete with other high profile Scottsdale resorts, Burbank said.
"All the feedback we've gotten so far has been very positive," he said.
Rachel Pearson, Scottsdale Convention and Visitors Bureau spokeswoman, said she believes Scottsdale will benefit from the spillover of visitors to the casino.
"I think with it right on the border, their guests are going to enjoy the amenities that Scottsdale has to offer," she said.
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