Gov. Ed Rendell had encouraging words yesterday for Don Barden's latest plan to finance his North Shore casino, but doesn't support his bid to delay construction of major riverside amenities for three years.

With a proposed $120 million equity investment by a company headed by Chicago billionaire Neil Bluhm, Mr. Barden appears to be "lining up pretty solid backers who have equity in the project," Mr. Rendell said after a bill signing yesterday in Penn Hills.

"They're well-funded and I think they'll inject the equity into this that's necessary," Mr. Rendell said.

Mr. Barden turned to Mr. Bluhm's Walton Street Capital Fund 6 last week to complete the $780 million in financing for the casino after a $150 million deal with Apollo Strategic Value Fund LP fell through. The Walton investment would supplement more than $600 million in financing arranged through international lender Credit Suisse. Mr. Barden is still working to close on both.

The deal with Walton, reached June 30, wasn't enough to keep work going at the casino site near the Carnegie Science Center. It was suspended indefinitely that day when Mr. Barden was unable to come up with a $10 million payment for work completed in April.

Mr. Rendell expressed confidence yesterday that the stoppage won't last much longer.

"I think with this new influx of money, if the gaming board approves the new structure, I think we'll be back on track real fast," he said.

He also gave a vote of confidence to Mr. Barden, who has been under fire for not being able to complete the financing and for seeking to delay for three years construction of a riverfront amphitheater, docks and paths.

"Give Don Barden some credit. Not withstanding a very terrible credit market for borrowing money, he has kept construction going almost unbroken," the governor said.

He added he had no second thoughts about the city's lone slots license being awarded to Mr. Barden, a Detroit businessman who operates casinos in Indiana, Colorado, Mississippi and Las Vegas.

"It's a tough financial market for virtually everybody. The greatest names in the gaming industry are having trouble borrowing money for capital," he said.

At the same time, Mr. Rendell, according to spokesman Chuck Ardo, doesn't support Mr. Barden's request to delay completion of a 1,000-seat outdoor amphitheater, boat docks and access paths for three years, and eliminate other amenities, such as most of the brick on a riverfront promenade.

"The governor believes that Mr. Barden made a proposal. His proposal won the day and Mr. Barden is obligated to meet the terms of that proposal," he said.

While Mr. Rendell recognizes that Mr. Barden is operating under financial constraints, he "still believes the project should meet its intended goals."

"He wants to see it open as quickly as possible but he wants to see it opened as proposed. That would be the ideal," Mr. Ardo said.

Bob Oltmanns, a casino spokesman, declined to comment on the statements by Mr. Rendell and Mr. Ardo.

The Riverlife Task Force, Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato have expressed concern about the delays in completing the riverfront amenities. There are fears the plans could be scrapped altogether.

Mr. Oltmanns has said Mr. Barden intends to finish the amphitheater, docks and access paths as well as a casino ballroom, whose completion he is seeking to delay for two years.

He said Mr. Barden is looking for some flexibility so he can get the casino up and running by next May and do so within its $780 million budget.

Both the financing and the proposed delay in riverfront elements could come before the gaming board at its meeting Thursday, although nothing had been scheduled as of yesterday.