September 10

In Sparks Nevada, real estate developer and gaming lobbyist Harvey Whittemore fought for a new casino on the north edge of Sparks before a testy crowd of more than 250.

Whittemore, who is a Reno lawyer, explained would-be plans Wednesday night for the $35 million to $55 million entertainment complex with a casino along Pyramid Highway in Spanish Springs.

He even threatened to walk out of the public meeting when the boisterous crowd's criticism became pointed.

The development would be the first in the neighborhood a few miles north of the Reno city limits.

Whittemore said it would consist of only 200,000 square feet amid millions more square feet of commercial development already approved or in the approval process in the same area. Pyramid Highway eventually would have six lanes, he said, and his project would not be a traffic generator.

Also planned are 10 to 16 movie theaters, a children's arcade, retail space, a full-service restaurant and a 24-hour cafe, he said. The casino would have 600 to 800 slot machines with a "minor table game pit."

Over and over, Whittemore stated that studies show high demand for the types of amenities he wants to build, including the casino.

When several residents asked to see the studies, the developer said he would be happy to oblige. When two impromptu calls for an informal vote on the project came, he moved on to the next question.

Whittemore said he has the right to build a 19,500-square-foot gaming facility within his Wingfield Springs development and intends to build a casino there if the Spanish Springs project falls through. That made the crowd grumble.

Whittemore reminded the audience he had built 4,000 homes that pumped millions in tax revenue into the region.

He also said that he people in those homes didn't care that he took that risk. He said that they were glad. The homes are now worth much more.

After nearly 45 minutes, Whittemore left to attend another business meeting, while an associate answered further questions.

Vallea Rose, chairwoman of the Spanish Springs citizens group, said the board had limited power to deal with the issue and urged those present to attend Sparks City Council meetings in the coming months.

Whittemore got the license to build a new 'grandfathered' casino when he developed a partnership with the owners of the Peppermill Hotel-Casino in south Reno.

The partnership took control of the Old Reno Casino in downtown Reno in 2003. It was then sold to the city of Reno for $1, and the city said it would condemn the property.

Whittemore now owns only an option to buy into that partnership, he told the crowd, and he does not have a personal gaming license.

Whittemore can't present his plans to Sparks City Council until late February, when a moratorium on building casinos in the city expires, Margaret Powell, a Sparks city planner, said earlier this week.