Hollywood Casino wants to remove riverboat from Fox

It's been nearly eight years since gamblers won and lost big on Aurora's Hollywood Casino riverboat. But that hasn't stopped its patrons from "goin' to the boats" that have been parked outside since 1993.

Later this summer there may be no more boats to go to as the casino plans to dismantle the City of Lights I riverboat and remove it from the banks of the Fox River.

Chief Development Officer Bill Wiet said the casino contacted the city to inform them they wanted to pull the boat out of the river.

"I'm not sure of the significance of wanting to do it right now, but I know they said it could take three to six months to get it out," Wiet said. "There's some state EPA permits involved, and they are only allowed to do the work during certain times of the year. So I'm sure that has something to do with it."

City Planner Stephanie Phifer said this is the second time the casino has asked for such a license, the first being in 2004 when the City of Lights II was dismantled.

"They will be utilizing the land that is just south of the CSO overflow plant on Broadway. And they will be constructing a temporary gravel haul road to be able to bring their equipment in and out. And they will actually get the boat to that location in the water and dismantle it," she said. "They have agreed to leave the stone on site and will be moving it to our requested location for use on local construction in the park."

The point where the boat is to be dismantled is planned to one day be the location of the Riveredge Park Music Garden.

Last June, Aurora businessman Arvind Thakore planned to invest $3.4 million into restoring the old riverboat and turning the first two stories into a floating banquet hall facility and the top two stories into an upscale restaurant on the third floor and an outdoor snack- and sandwich shop.

Ultimately, city officials did not think his plan was a good fit for the planned Riveredge Park and declined to finance him with about $1 million in tax increment financing funds.

Aldermen passed Tuesday's license agreement onto the full city council which is likely to approve the plan on April 13.