Schenectady casino design gets green light

SCHENECTADY — This time the Schenectady casino’s design is final.

The city Planning Commission approved the site plan for the Rivers Casino and Resort at Mohawk Harbor — with one no vote — after a two-hour meeting Wednesday evening.

The green light from the commission was the last approval needed for the casino to be built. Now Rush Street Gaming only needs a license from the state Gaming Commission to operate it.

Discussion focused on the 80-foot-tall pylon sign planned for the casino. The commission plans to have a subcommittee meeting at a later date to discuss possible minor changes to the pylon sign, such as colors and materials.

Designer Mike Levin, principal with Development Management Associates, says the tall sign is needed due to poor visibility from Erie Boulevard.

“When you are coming west on Erie, we’re 21⁄2 blocks from the road,” he said. “So when someone is driving westbound and you have the roundabout, which is great for traffic movement, there’s no stopping there.”

Levin added that buildings on either side of the site, including STS Steel, will block the sign.

“People will be coming here two or three times a year,” he said. “We need people coming westbound to know where the casino is.”

The materials the pylon will be built with have changed from brick to metal, like the casino building. The sign will be lit 24 hours a day, seven days a week, also like the casino.