Don Barden is delaying plans for construction of an outdoor amphitheater and boat dock at his North Shore casino and is altering the look of a riverfront promenade, all in a bid to save money.

The proposed changes drew a rebuke from the Riverlife Task Force, which maintained that Mr. Barden was cutting corners on amenities that sold the state Gaming Control Board on his project and won him the city's sole slots license.

At a briefing yesterday, architect Michael Stern told city planning commission members that Mr. Barden wanted to delay construction of the amphitheater, a dock and access paths for three years.

The casino also will alter the look of the proposed riverfront promenade, one that will double as a link in the North Shore trail, by restricting the brick paving to an area in front of a 90-foot drum atrium, the building centerpiece. As originally proposed, most of the promenade was to be brick. Now most of it will be exposed aggregate concrete.

Among other changes, Mr. Barden also plans to eliminate crisscrossing sidewalks just east of the casino and replace tall native grasses with lawn.

Spokesman Bob Oltmanns said the delay in the amphitheater and dock construction and the other modifications are being proposed in an effort to save money and keep the project within its $780 million budget.

"We're looking at making incremental design changes that don't affect our ability to generate revenue and don't materially change the design of the project," he said.

He pointed out that the casino's construction started nearly a year late because of delays caused by appeals and lawsuits. That, in turn, caused the cost of the building to dramatically increase.

"We're doing what we can as a responsible developer to bring the project in on budget," he said.

He noted the delay in finishing the amphitheater is not new, as Mr. Barden had petitioned the gaming board more than two months ago to defer that construction and completion of a casino ballroom, and had spoken to county Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl about the need to postpone both.

He said Mr. Barden fully intends to complete the amphitheater, dock and access paths in the third year of the casino's operation.

"These are amenities that are going to be built," he said.

Mr. Oltmanns said the modifications had "nothing to do" with Mr. Barden's struggles to finance the casino. Work stopped at the site Monday after Mr. Barden failed to come up with $10 million owed to contractors for work performed in April and May.

Casino officials are hoping to get construction back on track within two weeks after Mr. Barden struck a deal early Monday morning with Walton Street Capital Fund 6, a private firm headed by Chicago billionaire Neil Bluhm, on a $120 million equity investment for the final piece of financing.

Still, the modifications detailed yesterday didn't sit well with the Riverlife Task Force or city planning commissioner Barbara Ernsberger. Both feared the amphitheater and dock not only will be delayed but could be eliminated altogether.

Riverlife attorney Cliff Levine said Mr. Barden sold his project to the city and the gaming board in part "on the basis that they were going to create a unique riverfront site."

"They are cutting every single amenity out that was part of the incentive that was presented to the planning commission and the gaming board," he said.

He urged the planning commission to force Mr. Barden to stick to his original plan. "We're asking only that they follow what they presented. We're not making up new demands," Mr. Levine said.

Ms. Ernsberger also said she would not like to see the amphitheater and other riverfront amenities delayed.

"One of the things I always liked [about the proposal] was the interaction with the riverfront. That's what made it unique," she said.

If the delay is granted, "I'm not confident that we'll ever see it," she added.

Mr. Oltmanns said the amphitheater and dock were part of the conditions for the award of the state license. As such, Mr. Barden must complete them or risk losing the license.

Mr. Oltmanns was particularly incensed about the Riverlife comments, charging that the agency, as one of the lead organizations in renovations to Point State Park, made modifications to keep that project within budget.

"To accuse us of changing the design we submitted to the gaming board is the height of hypocrisy," he said.

Riverlife Executive Director Lisa Schroeder said the Point State Park project was executed mostly as designed with "very, very minor adjustments."

The planning commission will formally consider the proposed casino modifications in two weeks.