Schenectady

Rush Street Gaming CEO Greg Carlin along with elected officials and top executives from his firm and Galesi Group donned hard hats and hoisted shovels of dirt for photos to mark the ceremonial start of construction on Rivers Casino & Resort.

Actually, construction is progressing so well, Carlin told the gathering under a tent on a soggy Wednesday morning, that the $150 million gambling hall is set to open by the first quarter of 2017 — ahead of schedule — "assuming the weather cooperates with us."

"We really wasted no time in getting shovels in the ground because we wanted to open this facility as quickly as possible," he said, crediting the construction crew and contractors for their hard work. "We at Rush Street couldn't be more excited about partnering with the county, the city and the great state of New York to be developing this exciting project."

Rotterdam-based Galesi Group and Rush Street joined forces on the $480 million project that along with the casino will feature a harbor with 50 boat slips, two hotels, townhouses, condos and retail establishments on the 60-acre site on Erie Boulevard.

David Buicko, chief operating officer at Galesi Group, said Rivers Casino & Resort at Mohawk Harbor is already starting to take shape with the construction of the Courtyard by Marriott hotel and hundreds of apartments with stores on the lower level. He noted that an announcement is in the offing about retail and office tenants. Schenectady County Community College and Proctors also are involved in the project.

"It's about tax base and it's about jobs, working with the community college, working with the other municipalities. We can put our young people to work and we can work with Proctors to create a diversified entertainment center here in Schenectady," Buicko said. "I'm looking forward to a long and beneficial relationship with Greg (Carlin), Neil (Bluhm) and their team at Rush," he said. Bluhm is chairman of Chicago-based Rush Street.

Buicko and other speakers, including Mayor Gary McCarthy, lauded Francesco Galesi, principal and CEO of the Galesi Group, who sat in the front row.

Buicko also recognized Schenectady Metroplex Development Authority Chairman Ray Gillen as a "deal maker" instrumental in bringing together Galesi and Rush Street. Buicko announced that Automated Dynamics is moving its operations to Niskayuna and the building housing the business at the casino construction site will be demolished.

County Legislature Chairman Anthony Jasenski said the project "is just not a game changer for the city of Schenectady, but this is a home run for all of us in Schenectady County."

Mary Cheeks, general manager of Rivers Casino & Resort, said the gambling hall will feature 1,150 slot machines, 63 table games, 15 poker tables and a 163-room hotel as well as a steak house with outdoor patio and entertainment lounge, day spa and banquet facility, all occupying 150,000 square feet. A parking garage will be attached to the casino.

"It might seem like today is all about shovels and dirt, but it's really all about you," Cheeks said. "I want to personally extend my thanks to this community which has been very open and welcoming."

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