Des Plaines OKs 57 signs for coming casino
Gambling center’s backers hope to break ground this month

The Des Plaines casino signage rendering. (City of Des Plaines / March 19, 2010)

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Tourism and Leisure By Krystyna Slivinski, Special to the Tribune

March 19, 2010
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It won't be Las Vegas, with its flashing signs.

Instead, Des Plaines' future casino will advertise its presence with large-scale LED monitors and electronic murals.

The City Council this week unanimously approved a special sign ordinance for the casino that will allow for 57 signs in and around it.

At the same time, aldermen gave a final nod to the plan for the 20-acre casino site off the Tri-State Tollway (Interstate 294) at Devon Avenue and Des Plaines River Road.

Midwest Gaming, the developer, hopes that will allow it to finalize its financing and perhaps break ground by the end of the month.

Ken Ambrosini, design director at Portland, Ore.-based Ambrosini Design Ltd., told council members that the electronic signs will be controlled by a computer system that adjusts the level of light emitted throughout the day.

"We can control the intensity of that light," he said.

The LED monitors won't contain any flashing lights, motion or video, and their images will change no faster than every 7.5 seconds.

A 68-feet-tall LED display is planned for the main entrance to the casino's parking off River Road and will be double-sided to display coming events. The signs will advertise only events or specials related to the casino.

Several electronic murals — similar to full-size color posters whose images can change — are planned for the casino's parking garage.

"We want to create a fun and exciting environment," said Michael Levin, casino project manager of Chicago-based Development Management Associates. "I think we will have that here."

The first phase of construction will include the 45,000-square-feet gambling hall, planned to hold 1,200 individual gambling positions and will be connected to a parking garage via a skywalk. Another 30,000 square feet will be designated for restaurants and bars. The yet-to-be-named casino is expected to open in fall 2011.
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