The Las Vegas-based gaming company says its board of directors signed off on the project earlier this week, clearing the way for construction to begin. Harrah's New Orleans was granted the right to develop and operate the hotel under a bill passed by the state legislature in 2001. The New Orleans City Council gave its approval this past November.
As part of the project, two 19th century-era buildings will be returned to commercial use as part of the Fulton Street retail development. An 11,000-sf Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant will anchor the project when it opens in the second half of 2004. A third existing building will be incorporated into the hotel, and the facades of the two Poydras Street buildings also will be included in the hotel's design.
Billes/Manning Architects of New Orleans and Marnell Carrao Associates of Las Vegas are designing the project. Construction will be led by a joint venture between Carl E. Woodward, LLC, of New Orleans, and Walton Construction Co. of Kansas City, MO, in alliance with Broadmoor LLC, of Metairie, LA.
Harrah's Entertainment owns or manages through various subsidiaries 25 casinos in the US. In January, Harrah's announced it is selling its hotel and casino development Shreveport, LA, to Boyd Gaming Corp. for $190 million. Owned by Harrah's since 1994, the property includes a 514-room hotel and convention center and about 23,000 sf of casino space. The sale comes several months after Harrah's entered into an agreement to acquire Horseshoe Gaming Holding Corp., which operates a casino near Harrah's Louisiana Downs thoroughbred horseracing track in Bossier City.
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