Developer to start over with Aurora on old casino boat

If Aurora deems a floating restaurant and banquet facility a bad fit with its RiverEdge Park plans, businessman Arvind Thakore says he'll walk away from his offer to buy the now empty City of Lights I riverboat.

But the Aurora real estate investor is convinced his plan to invest $3.4 million into restoring the old Hollywood Casino boat would be a welcome addition to the park that eventually will run through downtown on both sides of the Fox River.

Thakore has run into some resistance from the city staff; an official contends Thakore's plan is incomplete and doesn't mesh with the city's plans for the park.

"I have a beautiful plan to build a banquet facility on the first two stories, perfect for weddings along the park and river," Thakore said Wednesday. "The upper two floors would consist of an upscale restaurant on the third floor and an outdoor snack- and sandwich-type shop where students and others can sit outside and use free Wi-Fi."

Thakore said he has discussed his plan with and received the blessings of many key organizations, including the Army Corps of Engineers and the state department of natural resources.

"The city's economic development commission is standing in my way of going before the city council," he said. "On June 1, (Economic Development Commission Executive Director) Sherman Jenkins told me I would not be eligible for (about $1 million in) financial help from the city and I would not get an easement to locate the boat along the RiverEdge Park."

Jenkins did not return a phone message Wednesday, but in a published report he said Thakore didn't submit a business plan. Thakore says he has.

Hollywood Casino officials also did not comment. The casino no longer uses the boat because the casino has been land-based since 2002.

Thakore said his business plan is aimed at employing 75 residents - as many as 25 with disabilities and special needs - and he would like to present it to the council instead of being pushed away.

"I have a daughter (Suchita, 18) who is severely disabled and it has long been a dream of mine to be able to employ people like her and give them something to do and a place to learn life skills," he said. "I want to give them something to feel happy about and I will be happy when I see them happy."

On Tuesday night, some special needs students from Waubonsie Valley High School, led by Thakore's daughters Armeeta, 17, and Suchita, questioned the morals of some aldermen and accused them of putting their desire for a park before an effort to help people with disabilities.

The often-personal attack caught some aldermen by surprise. Many said they didn't know anything about Thakore's plan because it hadn't been presented to the council.

Alderman at Large Bob O'Connor, presiding over the meeting in Mayor Tom Weisner's absence, addressed some of the comments.

"I believe the discussion is in reference to a project that had been discussed and proposed, which I'm not sure all of the council members have even had any discussion on because nothing has been done formally in regard to presenting this project," O'Connor said.

"I know the strengths of your feelings and opinions here tonight. I don't think I've ever had so many characterizations as I've heard tonight in regard to the bad things that we do. I can tell you we have nothing in front of us in order for us to make decisions. We've made no decisions. Nothing has occurred in regard to this project."

Thakore said he intends to apologize to the council on behalf of his "daughters and their friends if they said or did anything harmful or inappropriate."

He also intends to meet with members of the mayor's staff early next week.

"I'm going to start the process over again with my discussions with staff," he said. "If they like the plan, great. If not, I have no hard feelings. I live in Aurora and we'll go on."

Riverboat: Developer will meet with mayor's staff next week