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| By Robert Vitale, The Columbus Dispatch, OhioMcClatchy-Tribune Regional News Feb. 6--Penn National Gaming Inc. completed its purchase yesterday of the former Delphi auto-parts plant, where it is expected to build a casino. The 123-acre site near W. Broad Street and Georgesville Road, east of I-270, was chosen by Penn National nearly three weeks ago as the preferred location for its Hollywood Casino Columbus. Penn National bought the land for $2.5 million, according to documents filed with the Franklin County auditor's office. The new location remains subject to approval by Ohio voters, but spokesman Eric Schippers said the company wanted to get to work as quickly as possible on an environmental cleanup and other preparations. Because a constitutional amendment approved statewide in November specified land in the Arena District for a Columbus casino, any address change must be approved by voters. The issue is on Ohio's May 4 primary-election ballot. "We're very confident we're going to succeed in May," Schippers said. Penn National paid $36.2 million for 24 acres west of Huntington Park and Nationwide Arena, which includes the casino site authorized in the Ohio constitution. The company will sell the Arena District land if voters approve the Delphi site, company officials have said. If voters reject the move, Penn National plans to build in the Arena District. rvitale@dispatch.com ----- To see more of The Columbus Dispatch, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.columbusdispatch.com. Copyright (c) 2010, The Columbus Dispatch, Ohio Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. NASDAQ-NMS:PENN, |
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