Concord Project Is For Real
Cross your fingers folks and lets make sure all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed because this time it sort of looks real that something big will be happening on the 1,500 acres that make up the bulk of the former Concord Resort in Kiamesha Lake.
Entertainment Properties Trust (EPT) and Empire Resorts officials have given strong indications that the resorts rebirth could very well start this fall.
Emanuel "Manny" Pearlman, chair of Empire's board, which oversees Monticello Casino and Raceway has said that the property will also see a large component of non-casino development.
The relocation of Monticello's racino is the focus of the first phase of the $600 million project and ground breaking could take place this November on the 50,000 square-foot casino which plans to hold 2,000 NYS Lottery-run video gaming machines, an underground parking garage and neighboring 5/8-mile harness racetrack.
Of course if New York State voters in three years approve gambling there is strong speculation that a Casino will be a part of the new Concord.
It's been made very clear in the early stages of this proposal that it's not all about gaming but the fact that the developers want this site to become a vacation mecca.
The first phase of development also includes a redesigned Monster Golf Course and the first phase of a hotel would be erected as part of the casino.
Future phases include a family resort, second and third hotel, larger casino (if gambling is legalized), work-force and baby boomer housing, RV park, lake club, water park, spa, restaurants, movie theatre, nightclub, skating rink, event field and a village consisting of town-homes, a civic center and medical services.
True a lot of the future phases will depend on what the market dictates and how the economy improves but one can sense the truthfulness and sincere approach that Entertainment Properties (EPT) and Empire Resorts officials are making.
We have all heard for several years now the pie-in-the-sky pipe dreams about what would be developed on the former Concord property. If we were a betting man our money goes down on
this proposal becoming a reality that will bring much needed employment opportunities to Sullivan County.
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