Casino plans for Miami Herald building on hold

MIAMI (AP) -- The company that purchased The Miami Herald building is putting its proposal for what they said would be the world's largest casino on the back burner.

Resorts World Miami spokesman Tadd Schwartz says phase one of the bay-front project will instead focus on a luxury hotel and two condominiums.

The original project had plans for the entire 14-acres and a massive casino. The initial five-acre plan includes underground parking and a few stories of restaurants, shops and meeting rooms that will have an open-air vibe that Schwartz says is pedestrian friendly. Between 200 and 500 rooms will be available from a hotel of at least four-star caliber.

The plans are more modest than the $3.8 billion project Malaysia-based Genting Group announced in 2011 after buying the property for $236 million.

(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)