Diamond
Jo Construction Update (Thursday November 29, 2007)
With an official groundbreaking ceremony held just a few weeks ago, and work
having begun on the former massive parking lot on Bell Street a few months
back, it's clear that the next iteration of the Diamond Jo Casino is well underway.
As part of our ongoing coverage of the America's River Project: Phase II, we
at 365 decided to check in on Todd Moyer, general manager of the Diamond Jo,
for an update on the casino's construction and an idea of what will be happening
in the coming months.
"The
project is currently on-schedule," reports Moyer. "We've
completed the piers and the grade beams, which completes
the work on the foundation. We're about 80 percent done
on the site utilities, the water and the storm sewer, and
work on that will continue through the winter."
Modern
Piping, the mechanical company contracted for the project,
has started its work for food and beverage service and
has begun installing the gas system in the building, which
is rather important, given that the new Diamond Jo will
feature some superb dining opportunities.
You
may have noticed the piping sticking up in the building
footprint at the moment. According to Moyer, that's from
the underground food and beverage piping and the underground
raceways. Conlon Construction has poured retaining walls,
which means that structural steel is next ... and that's
on schedule for beginning this week, along with the first
floor slab pour. Onlookers will begin to see some real
visible progress as December begins, and exterior wall
work begins.
"We've
completed all of our interior designs, as well," says
Moyer. "And we have some spectacular surprises that
we plan to be announcing shortly." And no matter how
much 365 begged, pleaded and offered bribes, Moyer was
resolute: Whatever these surprises are, they're sure to
kick ass.
Moyer
also pointed out that the Diamond Jo has continued to work
with the Clean Air Conservancy. The CAC was founded in
1992 as an environmental non-profit agency, establishing
legal framework for the donation and retirement of marketable
environmental permits, allowances and offsets, working
to reduce harmful gas footprints by structures.
"We
are rigorously tracking fuel usage," says Moyer. "And
we are taking steps to mitigate our carbon footprint, which
will in turn mitigate subsequent environmental impact.
When our construction phase is complete, the goal is to
be certified NETZERO by the Clean Air Conservancy. The
NETZERO program helps businesses track their daily greenhouse
gas emissions, and then the CAC retires the equivalent
amount in carbon dioxide emission credits."
The
Diamond Jo has also been actively working with Mayor Roy
Buol and City staff to find parks for the planting of trees,
in the effort to absorb future carbon dioxide emissions.
All of this is part of the Diamond Jo's ongoing campaign
to minimize the environmental impact of its construction,
and it's great to see such "green"-oriented construction
in the Port of Dubuque.
"You
know, we can all make a difference," says Moyer. "We're
just following the three basic principles: Reduce, reuse
and recycle."
Make
sure to stay tuned to future pages of 365ink for more information
on the ongoing construction at the Diamond Jo Casino ...
and hopefully, maybe, possibly, they might let us know
what their surprises are! Everyone loves surprises..
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City
of Dubuque and Diamond Jo Groundbreaking Celebration
Kicks
Off America's River Phase II
Click here for photos from the groundbreaking
event.
Dubuque, Iowa
-- The City of Dubuque and the Diamond Jo Casino
broke ground today on the Diamond Jo's new casino and entertainment
complex and the City's parking facility. Representing more
than $100 million in new construction, the new casino and parking
facility are the first two projects of America's River Project,
Phase II. The new casino, state-of- the-art bowling center,
dining and entertainment facility and phase one of the parking
facility will be complete in fall 2008. "The
City is proud to be a part of the continued redevelopment
of Dubuque's riverfront," said Dubuque Mayor Roy D.
Buol. "The
Diamond Jo expansion and the new public parking facility
are great examples of the partnerships that are making Dubuque
a better place to live, work, and play. These two projects
compliment each other and are sure to spur additional development
in the Port and beyond."
About
200 community leaders, Diamond Jo Team Members and invited
guestsparticipated in
possibly the largest groundbreaking
event
ever hosted in Dubuque. "The people in this community
lead us to begin our journey here. We are proud to now
return the support and appreciations we have received form
this
community by making a significant reinvestment in Dubuque.
On what we
believe will enhance this area as not only one of the best
places to visit in the country but the best place to live
and raise a family as well." Brent Stevens, C.E.O.
Peninsula Gaming said, "So to our customers, team
members and the entire tri-state community. Thank you.
Thank you. Thank
you."
Vision
Iowa Board Chairperson Andrew Anderson and Dubuque County
Historical Society Board President Jeff
Bertsch
were also on
hand for the celebration. The America's River Phase II
grant application was recently approved by the Vision
Iowa Board
and awarded $8 million to the National Mississippi River
Museum and Aquarium's portion of Phase II.In September
2006, Peninsula
Gaming officials announced that the Diamond Jo would
begin a major expansion, during which it would become a
land-based
casino. The $75 million project, set to open in the fall
of 2008, will include 1,000 slot machines, 17 table games,
and
a poker room in a new 35,000 square-foot casino. Also
included in the project are a 36-lane bowling and entertainment
center, three restaurants and retail stores.
The
Port of Dubuque Public Parking Facility is a City-owned,
four-story
parking structure which has been designed
to accommodate 1,130 vehicles, meeting the anticipated
parking
needs of
both the new Diamond Jo Casino and the neighboring
Portside Mixed-Use
Development Project and other activities at the Port
of Dubuque.
The
casino's expanded operation and the City of Dubuque's parking
facility are part of the "America's
River Project: Phase II", which will also involve
a major expansion of the National Mississippi River Museum
and Aquarium. The museum
will take over the Diamond Jo's existing Portside Building,
as well as the riverboat.
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An
earlier rendering of the casino project... 
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