Schenectady casino seeks site plan approval

SCHENECTADY — The Rivers Casino and Resort at Mohawk Harbor will be 160,000 square feet with a 185-room hotel featuring a total of 14,929 square feet of signage.

Rush Street Gaming of Chicago is seeking site plan approval for one of the state’s first commercial casinos during the city Planning Commission’s next meeting on June 17.

The casino’s design has changed compared to previous renderings. The operator decided to make the two-story building less modern and instead play into Schenectady’s industrial history.

“Our team has been working diligently to finalize the plans for the new Rivers Casino,” Rush Street CEO Greg Carlin said. “I am confident the new layout, design and finish will make this a premier gaming facility.”

Instead of a white-colored building, the casino will be mostly brown with a large red sign mounted on its structure that says “Rivers Casino.” The casino will have metal panels, canopy ceilings and large windows.

The casino will also have a pylon sign by the entrance to the site — at Erie Boulevard and Nott Street — that will be 80 feet tall with a 32-foot digital display.

Under the zoning for the site, Rush Street is permitted to have a total of 19,000 square feet of signage and pylon signs up to 80 feet tall. Buildings can be up to 110 feet tall and at least 40 feet from the river.

“We’ve arrived at a design to complement the city of Schenectady and the Capital Region,” Carlin said. “We’re very proud of this vision and we are looking forward to starting construction.”

Rush Street has yet to receive a casino license from the state Gaming Commission. According to Gaming Commission spokesman Lee Park, the operator will receive a license by the end of the year.