MILIUX
November 21st, 2007, 05:45 PM
JAMES Packer's dream of building the tallest tower in America has been dealt a blow after the US Federal Aviation Administration ruled the structure would pose a hazard to air traffic.
The FAA this week ruled Mr Packer's proposed $5.6 billion Crown Las Vegas casino-hotel - which is intended to rise a staggering 576m - could be no taller than 324m.
The powerful US Government agency decided the building, as planned, would pose a serious threat to unsuspecting pilots.
The decision effectively ends the billionaire's desire to own a building 122m higher than the current tallest structure in the country - Chicago's Sears Tower.
Mr Packer plans to build his tower on the Las Vegas Strip as part of a 5000-room development which will include retail stores, restaurants, casinos, a spa and a convention centre.
The top of the tower will feature restaurants, an observation deck and an outdoor terrace.
Currently, the gambling mecca's Stratosphere hotel, which stands at 350m and features thrill rides at the top of the tower, is the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River.
An FAA spokesman said a tower higher than 324m on the Crown site would pose a hazard to air traffic at Clark County airports including McCarran International and Nellis Air Force Base.
The proposed tower, set to be built on the former Wet' n Wild water park site south of the Sahara hotel, is 4km north of McCarran Airport's runways.
Crown Las Vegas is a partnership between Mr Packer's company New York-based private equity firm York Capital Management and Texas-based IDM Properties, which is owned by developer Christopher Milam.
The conglomerate, which has been granted planning permission to build the resort, has until December 19 to appeal.
Mr Packer's foreign casino ventures have so far been cursed by bad luck and design faults.
Gamblers at the Crown Casino in Macau said it had bad feng shui, a belief that dictates the daily lives of many Chinese.
"The gaming floors are a big problem because they are triangular and point in towards the wall with no visible flow path . . . it is keeping people away," one visitor said.
Crown Macau's bid to create good feng shui on the exterior of the building with a fountain have also faltered. The fountain, which was to have run down the face of the entrance, is in a constant state of disrepair.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22800198-5013605,00.html
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How dare James Packer not build a tallie for Australia! That Aussie home boy has lost his way!
The FAA this week ruled Mr Packer's proposed $5.6 billion Crown Las Vegas casino-hotel - which is intended to rise a staggering 576m - could be no taller than 324m.
The powerful US Government agency decided the building, as planned, would pose a serious threat to unsuspecting pilots.
The decision effectively ends the billionaire's desire to own a building 122m higher than the current tallest structure in the country - Chicago's Sears Tower.
Mr Packer plans to build his tower on the Las Vegas Strip as part of a 5000-room development which will include retail stores, restaurants, casinos, a spa and a convention centre.
The top of the tower will feature restaurants, an observation deck and an outdoor terrace.
Currently, the gambling mecca's Stratosphere hotel, which stands at 350m and features thrill rides at the top of the tower, is the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River.
An FAA spokesman said a tower higher than 324m on the Crown site would pose a hazard to air traffic at Clark County airports including McCarran International and Nellis Air Force Base.
The proposed tower, set to be built on the former Wet' n Wild water park site south of the Sahara hotel, is 4km north of McCarran Airport's runways.
Crown Las Vegas is a partnership between Mr Packer's company New York-based private equity firm York Capital Management and Texas-based IDM Properties, which is owned by developer Christopher Milam.
The conglomerate, which has been granted planning permission to build the resort, has until December 19 to appeal.
Mr Packer's foreign casino ventures have so far been cursed by bad luck and design faults.
Gamblers at the Crown Casino in Macau said it had bad feng shui, a belief that dictates the daily lives of many Chinese.
"The gaming floors are a big problem because they are triangular and point in towards the wall with no visible flow path . . . it is keeping people away," one visitor said.
Crown Macau's bid to create good feng shui on the exterior of the building with a fountain have also faltered. The fountain, which was to have run down the face of the entrance, is in a constant state of disrepair.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22800198-5013605,00.html
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How dare James Packer not build a tallie for Australia! That Aussie home boy has lost his way!