If everything breaks his way, Don Barden hopes to start construction of his $435 million North Shore casino next month.

The timetable, discussed yesterday at a city planning commission meeting, is contingent on a favorable ruling from the state Supreme Court upholding the award of the Pittsburgh casino license to Mr. Barden's company, PITG Gaming LLC.

It also is predicated on approval by the planning commission of the casino's foundation and steel work, which will be the subject of a public hearing July 24, with a vote scheduled for Aug. 7.

But if Mr. Barden gets favorable verdicts on both, he plans to move quickly on construction. His goal is to have the casino finished in 14 to 16 months.

"You will see a huge mobilization as soon as we start," said Michael Stern, a principal in Strada LLC, the casino architect. "This project is going to go very quickly."

Mr. Barden already has city approval to demolish buildings and remove existing foundations on the 17-acre site between the Carnegie Science Center and the West End Bridge.

The ambitious construction schedule means the slot machine casino would be completed in October or December 2008. After winning the city's lone slots license last December, Mr. Barden had hoped to open the casino in March 2008.

That timetable was pushed back, however, as Mr. Barden and the two losing bidders, Isle of Capri Casinos Inc. and Station Square Gaming, await a ruling from the Supreme Court.

The court heard arguments of appeals by the Isle of Capri and Station Square May 15 but has yet to issue its decision.

Besides a favorable court ruling and planning commission approval, the casino needs a building permit from the city and a storm water runoff permit from the state Department of Environmental Protection before construction can get started, PITG Gaming spokesman Bob Oltmanns said.

While some experts have questioned whether Mr. Barden can complete the casino in 14 to 16 months, Mr. Oltmanns said he has no doubt that it can be done. He said Mr. Barden has put in place a "very experienced team of career casino professionals" to manage the project.

"I wouldn't want to be the guy to tell Don Barden you can't do something. My experience and my observation in having worked with him for two years is that he's capable of proving everybody wrong," he said.

PITG Gaming attorney Deborah Rouse said the decisions by the Steelers and the Pirates to appeal the planning commission's approval of the casino master plan would not affect the construction timetable.

"Our intention is to continue going full speed ahead," she said.

Also yesterday, commission members were briefed on plans to place the Heinz ketchup bottle sign on the east side of the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center in the Strip District.

The center hopes to have the 42¹/_2-foot-tall sign, which lit up the North Side for years, in place by fall to coincide with the relaunch of a new and improved Heinz 57 exhibit outlining the history of the H.J. Heinz Co.

History center President and Chief Executive Officer Andy Masich said the sign will need some refurbishing before it is erected.

"We do see it as an iconic artifact on the Pittsburgh skyline, one we don't want to lose," he said.

The history center also will be the repository for the Heinz Hitch wagon which for years was pulled by a team of eight black Percheron horses, thrilling crowds at the Rose Bowl parade and countless county fairs. The 150-year-old grocery wagon will go on display starting today in the center's Great Hall.

The H.J. Heinz Co. decided last year that it no longer could afford to sponsor the team. While the wagon is headed for the history center, the horses are headed for an undisclosed home.