De Laet’s Landing plan to be unveiled Thursday

PHOTOGRAPHER: Haley Viccaro

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Plans for a casino in the city of Rensselaer will be presented at Rensselaer City Hall at 7 p.m. Thursday.

Capital OTB President John Signor and representatives from Global Gaming Solutions, an arm of the Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma, will unveil their proposed casino project at de Laet’s Landing.

Rensselaer Mayor Dan Dwyer said Monday he does not know details of the plan and will be “surprised like everyone else.”

Capital OTB and Global Gaming Solutions are teaming with Flaum Management of Rochester after the developer abandoned plans for a casino in Albany off Exit 23 of the Thruway. David Flaum shifted his focus quickly to Rensselaer and is now looking to build a full-scale casino and resort on a 24-acre portion of de Laet’s Landing, on the bank of the Hudson River.

Global Gaming and Flaum Management declined to provide details of the casino project before the presentation Thursday. Signor could not be reached for comment.

Earlier this month the Rensselaer Common Council passed a resolution of support for a casino in the city, but some local residents voiced concerns about Flaum’s sudden change in plans.

The presentation comes after Clairvest Group and Great Canadian Gaming presented their proposal for a $250 million casino to the Florida Town Board on Monday and the Amsterdam City Council on Tuesday. But Clairvest and Great Canadian are seeking to slash the casino licensing fee to $25 million from $50 million. They are also asking the state Gaming Commission for a 60-day extension on the deadline to submit their application.

Applications are due by June 30, and sites will be chosen by the state in the fall.