Revel's chief engineer resigns, new owner open to selling property

The chief engineer for the former Revel casino resigned Tuesday, a day after its new owner said he was open to selling the property if the right opportunity and price presented itself.

John Lezenby, executive director of facilities and engineering at Revel Entertainment, stepped down Tuesday, saying he was ‘Revel’d out,’ according to the Press of Atlantic City. He had been an employee at the troubled property since day one.

“It wasn’t fun babysitting an empty building,” Lezenby told the paper. “I want to be in a building that has customers.”

Nine engineers remain in the building to oversee operations “24 hours a day, seven days a week,” according to Press of AC. Four security guards also remain.

The engineers "will protect that building with their life,” Lezenby said.

Prior to Revel, Lezenby served as director of construction at Trump Entertainment Resorts and executive director of facilities at Resorts Atlantic City.

Selling Revel

Florida developer Glenn Straub bought the Revel property in April for $82 million, 14 percent less than the original deal. The closing date was March 31.

Straub said Monday a night club could open as early as next month and tribal operators are interested in running the casino, plus he’s considering offers from international parties who want to buy the property, according to the Press of Atlantic City.

The developer said Revel is not for sale, but a $200 million offer could have him weighing his options.

“I’ll go and sell it to international people. That’s what we need,” he told the Press of AC, who reported that Straub insisted “his strategy hinges on high-rollers ferried and flown to Atlantic City.”

Straub isn’t the only developer making waves in the troubled city.

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Another Florida developer, Joshua Wallack, is currently in talks to develop a roller coaster/drop tower hybrid on the Boardwalk. It would most likely be located on the site of the former Sands Hotel & Casino.

Wallack, however, said he isn’t interested in buying a vacant casino property.

“What I’d rather do is ground lease for decades, to build the polercoaster and complex and let them build around me,” Wallack said in an earlier interview. “I’m not there to build a casino or hotel; I’m there to build a roller coaster.

Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein announced Monday he's partnered with two Philadelphia companies, The Garces Group and Bonfire Entertainment, to curate entertainment and cuisine at his The Playground project, a redevelopment of The Pier Shops at Caesar’s.

This would be The Garces Group’s return to Atlantic City after operating four restaurants in Revel. It’s currently one of the tenants renegotiating its lease in the property.

Revel was one of the casinos that closed last year, resulting in about 10,000 jobs lost. Revel employed about 3,000 people.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal