NATCHEZ &045; Developer Charles Cato on Tuesday closed a deal on 21 acres of riverfront land, the site on which he plans to locate the Emerald Star Casino.

The purchase agreement comes less than one week after the Florida-based developer received approval of the site and of his development plans from the Mississippi Gaming Commission.

&uot;It’s officially ours now,&uot; Cato said, referring to the site, which he purchased from Utah-based Landmark International, which Cato said had acquired the property from Dwayne Williams. Cato wouldn’t divulge the purchase price, saying with a laugh that &uot;it was quite a few pesos.&uot;

The land is located just south of the Mississippi River bridge and adjacent to the Ramada and The Briars bed-and-breakfast inn, both of which Cato said he is on track to purchase by April 1.

Cato said he plans to submit to the city’s planning staff later this week information needed to obtain the necessary permits from the Planning Commission and Zoning Board for the development.

Cato will submit a financing plan to the commission for approval in March or April. Emerald Star must also secure environmental permits as well as approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard.

The developer is also expected, in March or April, to ask the Gaming Commission to approve a financing plan for the casino.

The 87,000-square-foot casino itself would include 35,000 square feet of gaming space, 800 slot machines and 30 table games. Cato has said he hopes to open the casino and renovate the Ramada by November.

&uot;I’m excited about it. The project is going forward,&uot; Cato said Tuesday. &uot;I can’t tell you how happy I am to be part of this community.&uot;

Cato said people he doesn’t even know have come up to him while on his trip to Natchez, &uot;saying ‘If there’s anything we do for you to make this project a success, just let us know.’ Natchez is that kind of town.&uot;