The Atlanta-based company planning to put a casino at the Roth Hill riverfront site hopes to begin development of the area by summer and open the casino by early 2008.

Representatives from Lane Company spoke at the Natchez Rotary Club Wednesday, providing history of the company and background on the diverse projects the company has undertaken in its 35-year history.

Natchez aldermen in December approved Lane Company’s bid for a casino development. The Roth Hill land will be leased to Lane once the site design is approved and the Mississippi Gaming Commission issues a license to the company.

Ted Doody, southeast development associate for Lane, told Rotarians he expects the company to be on the February agenda of the Gaming Commission.

“We have wonderful gaming partners in Matt Walker and Fernando Cuquet,” he said. “Between them they have about 30 years in gaming.”

The Lane plan includes a floating casino adjacent to the northern part of the site and a public park on the southern half.

“This park won’t be just open space, but one of the most attractive, sought-after parks in the Southeast,” Doody said.

In fact, the company wants the park to be incorporated into the Trails Project, Doody said.

That project calls for trails along the riverfront and throughout the historic downtown with markers to explain historic sites, buildings and events.

City Engineer David Gardner is chairman of the Trails Project. He said the offer of professional help from Lane Company is a shot in the arm for the project.

“To have their landscape architects and engineers put their professional touches on the project will be wonderful,” Gardner said.

“For them to want to be involved in the project shows their genuine desire to be a community participant.”

Doody said his company sees great potential in Natchez, where all the “framework and bones are wonderful.”

When the company designs projects for big cities, “what we try to take to drop into the city is something like Natchez already has,” he said.

Designs are still in planning stages, but Doody said he does not believe the site should be busy with retail businesses.

“If we try to make it very busy, I think we take away from the energy at the top of the hill,” he said.

Doody said the economic impact on the city should be significant, estimating about $4 million a year alone “coming into the city coffers.”

When the lease is signed, the company will donate $1 million for a city project; each year after, the company will donate $250,000 to the city.

Natchez Alderman Bob Pollard said city officials are excited about the partnership with Lane Company.

“This is a wonderful opportunity we’re being presented with,” Pollard said.

Development of the casino and the site has been estimated to be a $48-million project.

“We understand where the market is and where it is going, and I think we understand what the impact of the economic development of Roth Hill will be on Natchez,” Doody said.