FRENCH LICK, Ind. -- Town officials are looking to change the face of the southern Indiana community's downtown as they anticipate the state's newest casino opening late next year.

 

The revitalization plan calls for several new buildings and features on property the town is buying around Indiana 56 near the French Lick Springs Resort hotel.

 

The concept includes a downtown fountain that recalls the purported healing waters that attracted visitors to French Lick and neighboring West Baden Springs during the early 20th century, said David Roth, an urban designer with Indianapolis-based Storrow Kinsella Associates.

 

"In some ways, it (water) is to be celebrated," he said. "It is part of the heritage of the valley."

Other possible projects include a new town hall, along with construction of restaurant and retail space, a medical clinic, a traffic circle and a town green.

 

"We think this new town hall is really a true civic building in the broadest sense of the word," Roth said. "We want it to be part of the life of the community. It's not going to close at 5."

 

The French Lick hotel closed last month to allow quicker construction work on the new casino, being built by the Blue Sky Casino partnership, which includes Cook Inc., a Bloomington medical device manufacturer founded by billionaire William Cook.

 

Developers say the resort about 50 miles south of Bloomington is to reopen with 440 rooms in December 2006.

 

Plans for the $300 million project include a complete renovation of the French Lick hotel and its 18-hole golf course, plus construction of an 80,000-square-foot casino, a convention center and a parking garage.