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Back in February, we learned that Ohio casinos might make another appearance on the ballot this November, after being shot down multiple times over the past decade. The big difference with this new proposal is that the Columbus casino location would sit very close to the heart of downtown in the undeveloped western portion of the Arena District.
Many on Columbus Underground have voiced their opinion on the casino proposal… some for it, and some against it… but according to this Dispatch blog post, the casinio gained a huge new opponent yesterday: Nationwide. NRI (Nationwide’s real estate development arm) has almost singlehandedly built the entire Arena District as we know it, and they’re making it pretty clear that they are anti-casino.
Anyone want to start placing bets on whether or not this will spell doom for the casnio proposal, or if the developers will simply relocate a few miles away to another location place that might not have such strong opposition?
I think Franklinton said they want some “edgy” development out there near the B&T metals site… I’m not sure this is quite what they had in mind, though.
They will just get support from a neighborhood more desperate for development and money.
of course they mean cooper stadium site. does anyone really think the nascar style race track is for real? it has to be a strawman for a less obnoxious use…like a casino.
Will my property value go up if I live two miles from a casino?
Sounds like some developmental bait and switch could be happening here.
by the way, we’re still wondering how the county is going to “reinvest” in Franklinton as promised. odot too.
I’m really not sure how to place my own bet here. With this being a statewide issue, I’m thinking that the casino developers may just say “eff Nationwide” and move forward with the ballot as planned. NRI doesn’t own the land where they want to build in the AD, and the voters for this issue are going to cover the entire state. Nationwide is a good local opponent, but I don’t know if someone who is pro-casino in Toledo really cares what NRI thinks in Columbus.
On the other hand… with a site like Cooper Stadium, there’s probably going to be less opposition from larger organizations like NRI, and possibly even more support from neighbors. I bet the folks in German Village would be happier with a casino that they would a race track.
bingo
I’m not familiar with how this balloting is going to work if it comes to it. Will people be voting for a casino in specific locations in each of the listed cities, or will it just be to allow those cities to build a casino if they want to?
I don’t see why voters in other parts of the state should be voting on specifics like whether a columbus casino would go in the AD or somewhere else.
If it weren’t for it showing up on the ballot, there’d be no reason to even bother discussing it. We need world-class cities, not just a casino.
NerosNeptune Says: Will people be voting for a casino in specific locations in each of the listed cities, or will it just be to allow those cities to build a casino if they want to?
I haven’t seen the ballot language (not sure if it’s even finalized?) but my understanding is that it needs to go to the state level as this type of gambling is illegal in the state. The legislation in the past wasn’t to allow anyone to establish casinos, but instead essentially grant a state-wide monopoly to a casino developer with plans for several very specific locations. In the past they limited themselves to one or two casinos, typically in rural areas outside of major cities. This time their approach is to go more urban and propose them in downtown areas in all of the major Ohio cities.
I’m sure we’ll be hearing more about it all summer long as more details slowly leak out.
i really don’t want to see a casino happen in columbus
our barscene will be greatly damaged
the economy is already pushing it down enough
the same number of employees the casino will employ, it will unemploy just the same
just my general opinion
how many of us actually travel even monthly to go gamble elsewhere?
AND even if we do, does anyone leave the casino, or the area of the casino? i never have. except when i stayed in biloxi to go to mardi gras in NO.
Not to mention the market saturation issues and the decline revenue that most casinos outside of (hell, even including) Vegas are seeing.
Casinos strike me as a last desperate grasp to revive a city when no other clear options exist. Columbus isn’t there and, by the looks of things, probably will never get to that point. We are an energetic, independent and creative city with brilliant minds. The next big thing will come along, just like the AD and Easton. We don’t need the same old, same old that nearly every city, it seems, is clinging too.
I mean do we really want to emulate Detroit?
Bethlehem, PA is opening a casino on Friday. I’ll probably keep an eye on the development (and possibly stop in there while visiting the parentals) to see what it’s like and what it does for that town.
The Franklinton area would really benefit much more on a development stand point then the Arena District would. As much as we all like to hate on Casinos, if done the right way they can greatly help a state and city. Just look at PA and MO. You not only get the jobs from the casinos, but all the other jobs it takes to support the casinos, like outside food, shopping, and lodging.
But what sets our casino apart from the 8 in Pennsylvania, the 11-12 in Indiana, the 21 in Michigan, the 8 in Kentucky and the typically cheap flights to Vegas?
Entertainment venues like say Nationwide Arena, King’s Island, Cedar Point do pretty well in their given areas because there really isn’t any other competition. I’m sure the Crew and the Jackets bring in good numbers because we don’t have any other MLS or NHL franchises in Ohio.
A casino built here in Central Ohio might attract some of the regional dollars we’ve lost to the border states, but how sustainable is that income? Will we face another City Center in 20 years? How likely is it that the casino owners will become an integral part of the community-like say Wexner or Nationwide?
Maybe a great short term solution, but what are the long term prospects?
Food for thought
jchem54 Says: As much as we all like to hate on Casinos, if done the right way they can greatly help a state and city.
“Done the right way” being key here. I’ve seen nothing in the plans to indicate that these developers want to do more than the absolute minimum in terms of helping our city or our state. The percentage of tax they’re offering is much lower than it is in other states, and their past plans have contained loopholes to allow them to potentially get out of paying taxes all together.
These out-of-state developers want to make money at the expense of Ohio citizens. I’m going to be voting a strong NO to that unless anyone can point me towards any convincing solid evidence or concrete plans that say anything otherwise.
Casino = bad idea.
Has anyone thought about the West Outlet Mall at Jeffersonville on 71 South? It’s already defunct, and would be a great place for a casino, since all the utilities and parking are in place. Has its own freeway ramp and is centrally located in the state. Tons of shopping at the Outlet Mall across the freeway, plus restaurants and several motels. And the whole area could use the jobs.
This damned debate again?
I obviously don’t have a problem with casinos, but they keep trouncing out the same, old, tired proposals.
Bailey: Yes, others – as well as myself – have thought of that area as a perfect place, if one were going to be built. Or how about up near the outlets near Lodi?
But once you say those places would be better suited, someone pipes up and says you’re giving a “NIMBY” response. I, however, don’t see it as a NIMBY issue. It’s more of a “where the hell would it make the most sense and work out the best?” issue. I don’t know what exactly the answer is, but it sure isn’t downtown.
And, seriously, what is so hard about the state making a blanket statewide issue that is a yes or no regarding the legality of gaming and the types, but letting counties and local cities approve the ifs, wheres and hows? I think it’s pretty silly to, like Walker alluded, allow someone from Toledo to vote on a casino in our downtown.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: every time proponents bring up this issue, they set it up for failure.