The executives of the Biloxi Pointe Resort and Casino met with the Harrison County Board of Supervisors yesterday morning to discuss their concept for the casino project. It could be that the changes made to the resort would be of big benefit to the city. Executives discussed the property with the Board and asked for a tax break on their investment being made on the road project for the area.
This project of the casino would transform almost 37 acres of land located in the Back Bay area of East Biloxi into the full service Biloxi Pointe Resort and Casino. The site is currently the location of the former Heinz plant, already approved by the Mississippi Gaming Commission for the usage of gaming.
According to project plans, the resort would be connected with the Boardwalk Marina and would have gaming and additional amenities on 781,000 square feet of property. The hotel will have 500 guest rooms along with meeting and convention space of 700,000 square feet. This would be the largest area for entertainment on the Coast, with the Coliseum being the only venue larger than the projected plans.
For the resort project to be successful for Mississippi, the proposed Back Bay loop must be completed, after a cost of $20 million. This would connect the existing casino properties and give visitor’s access to Biloxi Pointe. The loop would connect the property to Beau Rivage, Imperial Palace and the Golden Nugget, essentially creating a loop around the city of Biloxi.
The state has committed to spending $5 million towards the loop and Biloxi Pointe would spend $7 million if they are given a tax abatement from both Harrison and Biloxi County. Developers of the property met with the Harrison County Board on Monday to try and seek support for the abatement. The developers would like to receive a seven year abatement with the $7 million spent on the loop.