The most aggressive player in Toronto’s casino debate is proposing a $3 billion remake of city-owned Exhibition Place aimed at defusing councillors’ concerns before a crucial April vote.

In his capacity of author of a provincial report on the future of Ontario Place, Newstalk 1010 host John Tory got an advance briefing Tuesday and a look at a site model made by MGM Resorts and mall developer Cadillac Fairview.

Tory revealed details on his show that the Star has confirmed with city officials and others who have, since last month, been ushered by MGM and Cadillac Fairview to private one-hour briefings in a suite at the Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel across from City Hall.

Details of the “integrated resort” concept to be revealed Wednesday include:

A 3-million-square-foot complex between the Better Living Centre and BMO Field, with the gambling floor taking up about 8 per cent.

A 1,200-room hotel purposely limited in size so nearby hotels would also benefit, which Tory said has a “wow” factor. Councillor Peter Milczyn, an architect by trade, described it as “Dubai-esque,” a reference to the Burj Al Arab hotel that is curved like a ship’s sail.

A shopping mall roughly half the size of the Eaton Centre.

A permanent 900-seat Cirque du Soleil theatre.

A 10,000-spot underground parking lot. The plan would eat up 3,000 ground-level spots.

Use of Ontario Place parking lots for a “modernized” CNE midway.

Preservation of all heritage buildings on the site.

Rerouting of the Martin Goodman Trail along the Ontario Place lakeshore.

An extra floor of convention space in the Direct Energy Centre.

Improved road access from Dufferin St., better streetcar and GO Transit access and possibly a stop on the future downtown-Pearson airport rail link.

New bridges connecting Ontario Place and Exhibition Place and improved access north to Liberty Village.

A Canadian Music Hall of Fame at Ontario Place.

Tory said he still has concerns, particularly about transit access, but predicted the bold vision and prospect of big revenues for the city could convince some undecided councillors to get behind the casino.

But Milczyn, chair of the planning and growth committee, called his briefing by the casino proposal partners “counterproductive.

“I expected a pitch for a casino, but instead got a development proposal that I wasn’t particularly impressed with,” he said, questioning the need for a shopping centre at Exhibition Place.

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Milczyn, who is on the TTC board, also wondered if casino-dictated transit rerouting would bump the commission’s existing priorities and add costs that would offset the city’s extra revenues.

Dori Segal, of First Capital Realty Inc., said he left a briefing even more concerned about the effect on his development projects in neighbouring Liberty Village. He questioned why “a proposal of this magnitude would be made to a select few in a suite in the Sheraton hotel.”

One official who was briefed said the partners had obviously prepared a long list of possible objections and counter assurances. “It was almost like, ‘If there’s a stray dog, they’ll negotiate with the humane society.’”

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