• Home
• News
• Local News
• Atlantic City

ATLANTIC CITY — Call it the summit before the summit.

On the eve of Mayor Lorenzo Langford’s high-profile economic summit Tuesday, city leaders will gather for another summit of sorts hosted by a nationally acclaimed development company.

Cordish Co. has invited the mayor and other government officials, members of the business community and casino executives to a meeting Monday that will focus on what the company says is “our common goal of ensuring Atlantic City’s ongoing economic vitality.”

Cordish is the developer of the popular shopping and entertainment district — known as The Walk — that rejuvenated a formerly blighted area at the foot of the Atlantic City Expressway. Cordish has also been recognized for urban development projects across the country, including an extensive facelift of the Inner Harbor in Baltimore, the company’s hometown.

Chairman David S. Cordish is offering his company’s help to pull Atlantic City out of its economic malaise. The casino city has been battered by the weak economy and competition from slot parlors in surrounding states.

In an invitation to Monday’s meeting, Cordish noted that his company has just started construction on a $15 million expansion of The Walk and is planning another phase — called Atlantic City Live! — that will add an array of entertainment attractions ranging from nightclubs to outdoor concerts.

Cordish said The Walk has been racking up higher sales despite the three-year slump in Atlantic City’s gaming market. He called for the development of even more “unique entertainment and nongaming attractions” to give Atlantic City a competitive advantage over casinos in neighboring states.

Cordish said his company is prepared to do its part to revive the city, but warned that an economic recovery plan is destined to fail unless there is cooperation among government leaders and the business community.

“While we can share our experience, and be part of the solution, without everyone’s cooperation and input, a renaissance in Atlantic City is impossible,” Cordish wrote in the invitation.

Don Marrandino, president of the four Harrah’s Entertainment Inc. casinos — Harrah’s Resort, Bally’s, Caesars and Showboat — praised Cordish for taking the initiative.

“I’m a big fan of Cordish’s work, and I expect big ideas coming out of this meeting,” Marrandino said.

Cordish’s forum, to be held at the Carnegie Library Center, is likely to hit on the same themes as the mayor’s major summit at City Hall. Members of the business community say a comprehensive economic and transportation plan is needed to transform the city into a safer, more attractive tourist destination.

Jeffrey Vasser, president of the Atlantic City Convention & Visitors Authority, noted that a third group, the Greater Atlantic City Chamber of Commerce, is also working on an economic agenda for the region. He said the chamber’s plan should mesh with the summits held by Langford and Cordish.

“Obviously, Cordish and the chamber need the mayor’s support and the mayor, conversely, needs help from the business community,” Vasser said. “Ultimately, all three groups need to work together. I don’t view it necessarily as three competing organizations.”

George Lynn, a former president and chief executive officer of AtlantiCare, is heading the chamber’s efforts. Pledging the chamber’s cooperation, he said the organization will help coordinate the economic plans that emerge from the different meetings.

“I think it’s terrific that the mayor is holding a strategic summit. I think it’s great that Cordish is stepping up,” Lynn said. “Probably our biggest task is making sure we are not stepping on each other’s toes, but are coordinating our agendas for one vision.”

Contact Donald Wittkowski:

609-272-7258

DWittkowski@pressofac.com

6 comments:

• BernieSchwartz (645) posts 6:09 pm

  Cordish announced their meeting first then I guess Lord Langford heard about it and presto he's in the mix. Two groups, two meetings, cooperation has already gone awry. City "leaders" are just so pathetic. I feel sorry for them.

• beachone (79) posts 11:00 am

  I want to laugh when I hear poeple refer to politicians and the need for chnage, no what needs to change first and foemost is our way of thinking. Politicians and those who make the rules do so because we allow it to happen. They feel since they won an election that most of the people didnt participate in gives them all the right to keep with the program. It is only when you see election turnouts in the 90% range will anyone of power listen. We have nobody to blame but ourselves. We live in a country where we are free to vote for whoever we choose but are those who represent us really have our best interest. Nobody can tell me that the recent election of your new govenor will change anything. You want change start demanding change, whether it is to improve the quality of living in your community or better employement or better healthcare etc. Our system of government is the best in the world however we do not have the best in the leadeship positions. Money, power and the deep pockets will always control the way things are done. It isnt a white thing or a black thing a republican idea or democrat it is our failure as citizens of this country to demand better from our elected officials. I want everyone to remember one thing, we have nobody to blame but ourselves. b1

• lighthouse (50) posts 9:20 am

  The summit before the summit is the summit. Cordish, the ACCVA, the Chamber, the hotel casino industry have great talent to bring to the table. Langford on the other hand has also invited some top talent to his confab but may, as some say, try and shine the light on himself. Maybe he will surprise everyone, pledge full city support and just quietly sit back and listen. Talk of a private sector shadow government moving feasable planning along might work.... if if they can keep Langford at arms length. And remember..from the City side..Langford only proposes, Council decides.

• RandomX856 (158) posts 1:57 am

  These summits give hope to A.C. I hope they put this hype into action.

• RandomX856 (158) posts 1:55 am

  Trash comes in all colors, B4Real. You're a fine example of the white-colored kind.

• B4real (371) posts 1:24 am

  Demographics is an anchor around Atlantic City's neck. Until that changes, the fundamentals will stay the same. Just ask Cordish how his Inner Harbor investment or even the most recent election of Obama has changed the people...it hasn't.

PressofAtlanticCity.com offers everyone the opportunity to comment on published stories. However, it is impractical for editors to screen all comments.
If you believe a comment is offensive, please click on the abuse-reporting link and your objection will be considered by an editor. We encourage participants to use their real names, but inoffensive screen names are acceptable. Comments are the sole responsibility of the person posting them.
Please post responsibly. Do not post comments that are off topic, defamatory, obscene, abusive, threatening or an invasion of privacy.
Be polite. Don’t hate. Users who don’t play by the rules may be blocked from participating.

View our full terms of service and privacy agreement

Click here to report a comment as abusive.

You must login to post a new comment