Heavy equipment begins demolition of the parking lot at the corner of High and Walnut streets on Monday. The lot is the future site of the $40 million Lawrenceburg Event Center and Hotel. Mike Perleberg-Eagle 99.3

(Lawrenceburg, Ind.) - The ceremonial groundbreaking was held a year ago, but the first scoops of dirt are just now being moved at the site of the Lawrenceburg Event Center and Hotel.

The $40 million project will include a hotel, event space, and a restaurant when it is complete. A Fall 2013 opening was originally eyed for the facility which will be owned and operated by Hollywood Casino parent company Penn National Gaming, but that date is likely to be pushed back due to various delays in the planning.

Construction crews have just begun demolition and excavation at the site this week, almost a year after the City of Lawrenceburg and Penn National Gaming held a formal groundbreaking on October 18, 2011. Former Mayor Bill Cunningham and former members of city council wanted to celebrate an agreement with Penn National before they would be leaving office following the November 2011 general election.

Downtown Lawrenceburg businesses are celebrating the start of construction Tuesday afternoon. Business owners will have an impromptu champagne toast at 12:15 p.m. at the corner of High and Walnut streets.

Bruce Tumlin with Cincinnati-based Messer Construction, the firm hired to oversee the event center construction, said only a few heavy equipment operators will be on site initially, but crews will begin to ramp up towards the end of October.

Tumlin also reminded downtown businesses and residents that if they have construction related concerns they can contact him by e-mail or phone.

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