New Jersey Senator Bill Gormley has proposed a controversial way of attracting casino mogul Steve Wynn back to Atlantic City. Gormley wants to turn the city's historic Boardwalk Hall into a $3 billion casino and shopping center.
The senator said that he does not want to destroy the hall but to convert it and still preserve the façade of the historic location. Its shell would house a shopping center while its exterior and landmark original construction remains in tact, much like Union Station in Washington, D.C., only with a casino and hotel attached to it.
The Depression-era arena has hosted The Beatles, the 1964 Democratic National Convention and other major events. When it opened in 1929 it was the largest building in the world. In 2001 the crumbling building went through a $90 million overhaul that transformed it into a 14,000-seat sports and convention center.
Gormley's proposal aims to make Atlantic City the leading city of the casino and entertainment industry, by providing casino tycoons, namely Wynn, an opportunity to boost the city's economy. According to the Senator, his idea could lead to a greater appreciation of Boardwalk Hall and create 1,000 jobs while preserving a piece of New Jersey history.Wynn and Donald Trump are reportedly collaborating to replace the Trump Plaza with a new casino, after Wynn vowed not to do business in Atlantic City again.
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