Hard rain fell yesterday morning but did not dampen the enthusiasm of four men looking over a Mahoning Township field.
Philadelphia businessman Joseph Procacci, his attorney John F. O'Riordan and New Castle native Joseph Canfora of Chicago-based Merit Management share the dream of their driver, Joseph Long, of Endeka Entertainment, to open a multi-million dollar racetrack/casino in Lawrence County. Canfora's company will manage the project.
Yesterday was the first time Procacci and O'Riordan saw the proposed site of Lawrence Downs Casino and Racing Resort at Route 422 and Baird Road
The project, first proposed in 2004, is for a $225-million facility that includes a one-mile harness racing track, slot machines, a full casino, several restaurants and entertainment venues and other amenities.
"I'm more positive than I've ever been" Long said. "I'm excited about this new relationship."
Procacci, 88, known as "The Tomato King," for his wholesale produce business, stepped forward earlier this year to keep the dream alive after Penn National Gaming terminated an 18-month partnership with Endeka to build and operate a racetrack/casino in Lawrence County.
He has since posted a $50 million bond to secure the state's final casino license and has promised to provide more funds if the license is granted by the gaming board.
Procacci and O'Riordan partnered with Canfora almost three years ago as one of six applicants vying for a stand-alone casino in Philadelphia. That license was awarded last November to one of the other applicants.
He put together a team, which included O'Riordan and Canfora who said they had 10 days to put together a casino plan and gaming license application. They said they met the deadline, delivering the application to Harrisburg, with 20 minutes to spare.
Procacci proclaimed the local site as "Awesome. I can envision that project at that location," he said. "There are endless possibilities."
"This is not the first time Joe's looked at a tract of land and saw development possibilities," O'Riordan said. "With that kind of acreage and his vision, this project will be so flexible, so doable." Procacci and his brother, Michael, he said, developed 2,000 acres near Naples, Fla., to include two golf courses, tennis courts and 4,000 houses in 40 gated neighborhoods.
O'Riordan estimated a package of financing, construction plans and costs and other concerns of the gaming board can be assembled and submitted by November. He said the board will then take several months to review the application, which he is confident they will approve.
"After the (casino) license is approved, I estimate we will be up and running in 15 months," Canfora said. "If the license is approved, I estimate that by this time next year we will have broken ground and construction will be under way. But first, we have to get the license."
Canfora said he anticipates the racetrack and casino will be built simultaneously.
The men also visited Hollywood Gaming at Mahoning Valley Race Course operated by Penn National in Austintown, Ohio. All agreed it is a good project, but said the Lawrence County venue will be better, offering a full casino.
Lawrence County commissioner chairman Dan Vogler noted the proposed site is easily accessible from major highways including Interstates 80, 79, 76 (the Pennsylvania Turnpike) and 376 to get patrons to and from the site. He added the community has supported the project from the beginning.
By Nancy Lowry
Reprinted with permission of the New Castle News