By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – The Seneca Nation of Indians is promising to build a landmark casino in downtown Buffalo. Just three months after opening a temporary casino on Michigan Avenue, the Seneca's unveiled design plans for a permanent casino.
The Seneca's say they will be building a $333 million casino and hotel in downtown Buffalo, spending much more than the $125 million casino originally planned for the Cobblestone District.
Seneca Gaming corporation chairman Barry Snyder says he hopes the new casino spurs more downtown investment by developers. The Seneca's believe the casino will generate up to $7 million in slot revenues each year for the City. The casino project will be built on 9 acres of Seneca land. It will feature a 90,000 square foot casino, a 22-story, all suite hotel with more than 200-rooms and four restaurants, plus a three acre public park. The new casino is expected to open by the Spring of 2010.
Citizens Against Casino Gambling in Erie County filed a federal lawsuit in an attempt to prevent gambling on the Seneca land. The organization says if the suit is successful it would close the casino in downtown Buffalo.
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