On the eve of its “Year Won” anniversary celebration, SugarHouse casino officially announced a major expansion to their Delaware Avenue facility. The proposal would add space to its gaming floor, a hotel tower, residential and office spaces, a parking garage, and restaurants.

Plans are in early development stages, and cannot move forward without official approvals from a city commission.

If given the nod, the upgrades would more than double the current gross square feet of the complex from 106,000 to a whopping 250,000.

“This will bring our total investment to Philly’s first and only casino to over $500 million,” Wendy Hamilton, General Manager of SugarHouse casino said on Friday at a presentation.

“These expansion concepts are essential for realizing the ultimate vision of having SugarHouse serve as a full serving entertainment destination here on the Delaware waterfront.”

This beefed-up SugarHouse will align more closely with the plans of the casino that were initially released, but later scrapped during the casinos long zoning battle.

SugarHouse estimates that the expansion will create 500 new permanent full-time positions in the facility as well as over 700 construction jobs.

“It was a challenging process … but they stuck with it and the result is 1000 jobs here that didn’t exist before and the best casino on the east coast,” Councilman Darrell Clarke said at the presentation.

Clarke also spoke about the effect of the casino on the area. “Despite all of the concerns, I’ve received zero complaints.”

Councilman Frank DiCicco, who was initially opposed to SugarHouse’s location on the waterfront, mirrored Clarke’s praise, saying, “Traffic and concerns for the community have not come to fruition, and I am extremely grateful for that.”

Construction, if approved, will occur on the north side of the facility along Delaware Avenue, and will not affect the daily operations in the game-room.

The expanded space would also include several new restaurants complete with outdoor dining, art installations, and a large ballroom. The current river walk would also be made larger.

Changes would see the gaming floor grow from 51,000 square feet to 90,000, space that can hold approximately 3,000 gaming positions.

The updated plans also introduce a new high-limit room, a dedicated poker area, and more slot machines and table games, according to SugarHouse officials.

A new seven-story parking garage will make 2,400 spaces available.

The 24 month project, pending approval, is slated to begin in summer of 2012 and be completed by fall of 2013. Follow updates as they occur right here in The Spirit.