Casino Magic tower added to Biloxi’s blighted list

BILOXI — The former Casino Magic hotel tower has been placed on Biloxi’s list of blighted buildings.

Biloxi wants the properties fixed up or torn down.

More than 50 properties are on the blight list.

The city can require inspections of Hurricane Katrina-damaged commercial properties, and if a property is blighted, require the property owner to take action.

Katrina damaged the high-rise Casino Magic building on the waterfront off U.S. Highway 90 in 2005. It has remained empty since the storm.

It was to be part of a larger casino development by Caesars Entertainment, which the gambling giant started but never completed. That unfinished casino isn’t on the list.

“It’s not eligible because it wasn’t damaged by Katrina,” said Jerry Creel, community development director.

Casino Magic

The Casino Magic tower is the largest building on the list, which includes the old White House Hotel and commercial and apartment buildings primarily in the storm-surge areas of East Biloxi.

Caesars Entertainment declined to comment on the city action.

Creel said within the last few months he asked company officials what they planned to do with the buildings. He said Caesars replied in a letter that the company was not working on any projects for the site.