Over the objection of the city’s casinos, who said it could hurt the city’s tourism and convention industries, a state agency approved a plan Tuesday to reduce the Sheraton Atlantic City Convention Center Hotel’s 500 rooms by half, turning the rest into age-restricted apartments.
The Casino Reinvestment Development Authority held a nearly hourlong private meeting to discuss the proposal, which drew passionate debate on both sides, before ultimately approving the plan.
While many of the commissioners said they were unhappy with the plan — and a revelation from the developers that they would “probably not” be able to carry it out if they don’t get a state economic development grant — they voted for it, saying the only matter legally before them was whether it conformed with land use regulations.
