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For sale: Four blast furnaces, in good shape but inoperable. Buyer must be willing to take over and manage adjacent $800 million casino property.

Safe to say, the rumored sale of the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem to MGM Resorts International comes with a few strings attached. And it's the strings --  developed and undeveloped parts of former Bethlehem Steel land in and around the casino -- that will determine whether a new boss in South Bethlehem will be good or bad for the city's post-Steel aspirations.

Neither local officials nor industry experts were surprised by Sands owner Sheldon Adelson's reported desire to sell his only casino outside of Las Vegas and China, and it isn't because Bethlehem is losing money. It's one of the most profitable among Pennsylvania's 12 casinos. Just a few months ago Sands officials announced a $90 million expansion to add restaurants and more space for table games and slots.

Is that expansion still a go? That's one thing Bethlehem officials, the city's Redevelopment Authority and others in the area would like to know.

The casino employs 2,500 workers. It's a major taxpayer. Its success led to construction of a 300-room hotel, outlet stores and a concert hall. Plans to open a Bass Pro Shops in the No. 2 Machine Shop are still unfulfilled.

Unused Steel buildings and undeveloped parcels are hanging in the balance of any deal between Sands and MGM. Among those are the former General Office Building and the old machine shop. The SteelStacks campus, located on land donated by Sands BethWorks Retail, would not be part of a casino sale.

Mayor Bob Donchez, city council and the Redevelopment Authority are hoping a new owner would continue working with city officials to develop those properties, or be willing to sell them to other parties. The Redevelopment Authority administers a tax fund for infrastructure improvements on former Steel land, and the city Parking Authority is looking to build a new parking garage on Third Street.

Two other events could be factoring into Adelson's feelings about the Bethlehem casino -- the recent unionization of the casino's 146 security guards, and legislative movement in Harrisburg to legalize online gambling, which Adelson has long opposed, even though casinos would manage the internet services.

MGM could be a welcome successor to Sands, given its interest in establishing  casinos in the Northeast U.S., but Bethlehem is a unique market. Eight years ago Las Vegas Sands, as part of its license approval, made a commitment to preserve the historic nature of the former Steel property, along with building a casino, an  arts/entertainment complex and residential development. Though that vision has come a long way, it's far from fulfillment. The non-gambling part of the redevelopment plans is still marked by empty buildings and open space.

City officials and local state legislators should use whatever clout they can wield  through the state Gaming Control Board -- which must approve transfer of a casino license -- to ensure a new owner will commit to development of leftover Steel land and buildings, or unload them. It's critical that the current and future owners of this lucrative casino remember it owes much of its success to the town and its taxpayers, who are expecting a return on their gambling investment, too.