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Six months after a casino in the south suburbs received initial approval from state gaming regulators, construction is getting underway.

For those driving past the 24-acre site southwest of the Interstate 80/Halsted interchange, the work might not be very obvious as most of it will be taking place below ground, with the installation of utility lines and similar infrastructure.

Other work such as tree removal and earth grading are part of the initial preparation for the site, according to Wind Creek Hospitality, which will operate the casino.

Much of the site is in East Hazel Crest and the rest in neighboring Homewood.

Contractors involved in the work are planning to meet later this month with village department heads in both communities to talk about the construction timetable, East Hazel Crest Mayor Tom Brown said.

Activity on the site will increase as the months go on and construction of the casino itself begins.

“It will be a busy, busy time,” Brown said.

The project will create about 600 construction jobs, according to Wind Creek, which early last December won preliminary approval from the state to build and operate the casino.

Once finished, officials estimate the project will create about 800 permanent jobs. The casino could be ready for customers by late summer or early fall of next year, with a 252-room hotel to follow in 2024.

The 70,000-square-foot casino will feature 1,350 slot machines and 56 table games, according to Wind Creek.

Wind Creek is a subsidiary of PCI Gaming Authority Inc., which manages 10 casinos and other gambling properties on behalf of the Alabama-based Poarch Band of Creek Indians.

The casino would have a 13,000-square-foot buffet area and 10,000-square-foot entertainment area, according to plans.

Wind Creek has no plans to build a temporary casino.

“The Poarch Band is very sensitive about first impressions of their properties,” Brown said.

He said the Poarch had estimated it would cost $25 million to build a temporary gambling facility that would be up to its specifications, and instead decided that money would be better spent getting the permanent casino up and running as quickly as possible.

Under a revenue sharing agreement, East Hazel Crest and Homewood would keep 2% of monthly adjusted gross receipts, or the revenue left after winning bets are paid, while another 3% would be shared among dozens of other area suburbs.

Wind Creek has estimated that $3 million in tax revenue would flow annually to Homewood and East Hazel Crest, and another $4 million a year to the other communities.

“For our little village, it’s a huge opportunity,” Brown said.

He said that East Hazel Crest has been trying to win a casino for years, and can now see it becoming a reality.

“Our village residents are on Cloud 9,” he said. “They are excited for the job opportunities.”

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A chunk of a bit more than 7 acres is in Homewood, where Wind Creek plans two parking garages with a bit more than 1,200 spaces. Those would be in addition to a surface lot with a capacity for 700 vehicles.

East Hazel Crest also recently agreed to hire an outside consultant, the engineering and architectural firm Wiss, Janney, Elstner Associates, to review plans as construction progresses.

Wind Creek, East Hazel Crest and Homewood have also agreed to contribute gambling revenue to the Southland Public Benefit Fund.

The fund will provide scholarships for qualifying students at Moraine Valley Community College in Palos Hills, Prairie State College in Chicago Heights and South Suburban College in South Holland. The money will also help provide health services offered through Advocate South Suburban Hospital in Hazel Crest and Ingalls Hospital in Harvey.

The two host communities have agreed to put half their annual gaming revenue, for four years, into the fund, and Wind Creek will contribute $2 million each year for five years.

The Fund will distribute $150,000 per year to the combined recipients for the first five years of operation, but once the fund’s balance reaches $20 million, the annual distribution will increase to $1 million, according to Brown and Wind Creek. A foundation will be established to disburse the money, Brown said.

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