ATLANTIC CITY, N.J
Hard Rock International's plans to build an Atlantic City rock-and-roll themed casino are back on hold because of environmental permitting delays, increasing doubt that the dining and retail giant will go through with construction of the $465 million project.
Faced with a deadline to post a $1 million casino license bond, Hard Rock instead gained permission from regulators to hold up the process for 181 days until environmental coastline building approvals are secured.
But with the casino industry looking for signals that Hard Rock will be all-in to finish construction by the new target of January 2015, the picture remains murky.
Under legislation authored by state Sen. Jim Whelan, an Atlantic County Democrat, Hard Rock would build one of two new smaller "boutique" casinos under a pilot program to spur investment in the city's gaming district after a five-year slump. However, there's been no applications made for the other boutique casino license, said commission chairwoman Linda Kassekert.
