By Bob Friskel
of the Kansan
Thursday Dec. 14, 1995
A proposal to build an Indian casino at Seventh Street and Minnesota Avenue “is not a rumor, its a reality,” Avenue Area Inc. Executive Director tom Overby told board members at their monthly meeting Wednesday.
Overby said the prospective developer, Frank Shinookl has told him he is considering a Las Vegas-stlyle $50 million to $300 million project.
It would include a new building to extend over the Huron Indian Cemetery and the razing of the va cant former Security Bank, the Huron Building and other buildings in the block west of the public library, including the former Mazsonic building at 803 N. Seventyh St. that now houses McCurry’s Visiting Nurses Inc.
The gambling and entertainment complex would be a project of the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma. The State Legislature in its last session authorized Indian casinos and three others are planned, primarily in northeast Kansas.
AAI members said they don’t have enough information to support or oppose the project but directed Overby to stay in contact with the developer and attempt to get more information.
Shinook, who lives in the Chicago area, has developed other large Indian casino projects, Overby said. He is not Indian, but he would be the developer for the Wyandotte Tribe of Oklahoma which claims to own the Huron Indian Cemetery. AAI members hope to have Shinook as a guest speaker at their next meeting Jan. 11 or at a later meeting.
Richard J. Schwarz, vice president, Security Bank of Kansas City, accross the street from the proposed development, said there is not enough information now for the AAI to take a stand on the issue, but indicated he favors further study.
he expressed concern, though, about the Woodlands and the effect a downtown casino could have on its casino if the Legislature takes action that could permit one.
Mark L. Myer, senior vice president, UMB Bank, on the Sixth Street corner said the bank does not support the Missouri riverboats nor seek their business and “I anticipate a strong reaction from my company” to a casino in the same block.