June 23, 201014 yr I think we're in agreement on that. I was disagreeing with your statement that Casinos work best in upscale areas. There are plenty of rural casinos that seem to do fine.
July 30, 201014 yr Catching up on some older casino-related stories. Both from the Dispatch: State kept unaware of environmental dangers at casino site: Delphi spent about a year identifying toxins at the West Side manufacturing plant it closed in 2007 but never told the state about what it found. It wasn’t required to. New owner Penn National Gaming has shared Delphi’s 3,000-page report with the EPA and plans to clean up the site before opening a casino in 2012. County creates tax breaks for area near Columbus casino
July 30, 201014 yr WEST SIDE PLANS Casino to seat 3,800 players Report reveals plans for 3,000 slots, 100 tables Thursday, July 29, 2010 - 2:54 AM By Mark Williams, The Columbus Dispatch The $400 million casino planned for the West Side will be among the biggest operated by Penn National Gaming. If every seat in the place were filled at Hollywood Casino Columbus, about 3,800 gamblers would be making bets at 3,000 slot machines, 70 table games and 30 poker tables, according to a regulatory filing this week. The company has spent $75.8 million so far at the old Delphi site in Columbus. "For a regional casino, it's a very good size," said Alan Woinski, editor of the Gaming Industry Daily Report newsletter in New Jersey. Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2010/07/29/casino-to-seat-3800-players.html?sid=101
August 26, 201014 yr Public improvements near casino may hit $10M with builder’s help Business First of Columbus - by Jeff Bell Sunday, August 22, 2010, 1:52pm EDT Franklin County and city of Columbus expect to spend an estimated $8 million to $10 million for road and other improvements near the new west side casino, but taxpayers won’t shoulder all the financial burden. Though funding details still are being finalized, casino developer Penn National Gaming Inc. will pick up much of the cost to upgrade about two-thirds of a mile of Georgesville Road between the Camp Chase Railway and West Broad Street, said County Engineer Dean Ringle. The work will include adding turning lanes, traffic signals, sidewalks and a bike path along Georgesville Road and repaving the county-owned highway, he said. The cost estimate also includes the city replacing water lines and storm sewers serving the casino area. Georgesville Road has four to six lanes between the railroad and West Broad Street, so it will not need to be widened for the casino project, Ringle said. “It handled Delphi and Westland Mall in their prime when they had a high volume of traffic,” he said. “It’s now more about managing the pavement we’ve got, adding turn lanes and making sure traffic is directed properly.” MORE: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2010/08/23/story9.html
September 21, 201014 yr Planning effort launched for casino corridor Business First of Columbus Monday, September 20, 2010, 2:39pm EDT Columbus, Franklin County and community groups are working on plans aimed at guiding cohesive development of the West Broad Street corridor in connection with a $400 million casino being built on the west side. Columbus Mayor Mike Coleman said in a release Monday that the city, county and Greater Hilltop Commission are amending the Greater Hilltop Plan to tie together development along West Broad Street between the Hilltop neighborhood along West Broad west of Interstate 70 and Penn National Gaming Inc.’s casino site at West Broad and Georgesville Road. The effort also includes the establishment of a regional commercial overlay that sets development standards along the corridor and plans for a market study. Franklin Township officials, who have jurisdiction over part of the corridor, are also involved in the process. Full article: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2010/09/20/daily7.html
September 24, 201014 yr Casino, City Still Negotiating Annexation Deal No Agreement Yet As Arena District Property Still Up For Sale By Patrick Preston, NBC4 Published: September 23, 2010 COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The battle between the city of Columbus and casino developer Penn National may not be over. Seven months after the city convinced Penn National to relocate its Hollywood Casino Columbus to the west side and more than four months after Ohio voters agreed to move the casino out of the Arena District, the city has yet to convince the company to move forward on annexation of the 123-acre future casino site on Georgesville Road near West Broad Street. The land is in Franklin Township on Columbus' border. Both Penn National and Columbus have said they want to complete the annexation. The casino is not expected to open until late 2012. Full story and video: http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/sep/23/casino-city-still-negotiating-annexation-deal-ar-239722/
September 26, 201014 yr More from NBC4: Sources: Penn National Wants City Compensation For Arena District Property Value Drop Annexation Talks Continue Without Agreement As Penn Explores Other Options By Patrick Preston, NBC4 Updated: September 24, 2010 - 6:58 PM COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Casino developer Penn National continues to engage the city of Columbus in a veritable high stakes poker game -- gambling that it can extract more money from the city as annexation negotiations continue -- with tens, even hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue at stake. Multiple sources with direct knowledge of the annexation talks between the two parties told NBC 4's Patrick Preston that Penn National has asked the city of Columbus to "make the company whole" on the money it stands lose on the Arena District property that Penn purchased in January. Before Ohio voters agreed in May to relocate the Columbus Hollywood Casino to the west side, Penn National spent $36 million to purchase land in downtown Columbus. Sources tell NBC 4 that private appraisals used by the city and county now value the property at about $11 million. In its second quarter financial report this year, Penn National announced it took a $30.5 million pre-tax impairment charge based on the falling value of the property. Thus far, the city has resisted Penn's efforts to obtain compensation for the Arena District losses. Dan Williamson, spokesperson for Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman, told NBC 4 the city did not make a private assurance to Penn National that it would make the company whole. Williamson said Columbus will not compensate Penn National for its entire Arena District losses, either directly or in a roundabout way, such as through tax breaks. Full story and video: http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/sep/24/3/sources-penn-national-wants-city-compensation-aren-ar-240645/
September 28, 201014 yr Joint district planned to boost development along W. Broad Saturday, September 25, 2010 By Robert Vitale THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Five months after agreeing with Franklin Township to share the benefits of any casino-related growth, Columbus has negotiated another accord with a western neighbor. Under the deal, businesses and workers in a portion of Prairie Township, which borders I-270 a half-mile west of the site of the future Hollywood Casino Columbus, would begin paying a 2.5 percent income tax. Half of the money would stay in the area and be used for improvements designed to make it more attractive to businesses. The city and township would share the rest of the money, free to spend it for whatever they choose. Columbus would agree not to annex land in the district from Prairie Township during the agreement's 60-year span. The township would continue police and fire protection in the area. Township trustees unanimously approved the agreement last week. Columbus City Councilman Andrew J. Ginther will host a public hearing Tuesday at City Hall before sending the agreement to the full council for final approval. MAP Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/09/25/joint-district-planned-to-boost-development-along-w--broad.html?sid=101
October 8, 201014 yr <b>Sources: Casino, City Annexation Negotiations 'Not Going Well'</b> By PATRICK PRESTON Published: October 06, 2010 Annexation negotiations between the City of Columbus and casino developer Penn National Gaming Inc. are not going well. Multiple sources tell NBC 4 that the two sides remain far apart with millions of dollars at stake for both parties. Penn National is aggressively exploring alternative ways to get water to the future casino site without joining the City of Columbus. The city provided water to the property when General Motors and later Delphi owned the property, but the city does not have records to indicate why the water was provided as far back as 1945 when General Motors bought the land. READ MORE: http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/oct/06/sources-casino-city-annexation-negotiations-not-go-ar-252555/
October 9, 201014 yr If it dates back any time during or before 1945 it's likely it had something to do with the war and a defense contractor swap. That'd explain the lack of records, I think things just "got done" back then.
October 26, 201014 yr Casino builder now seeking city incentives for its new site Sunday, October 24, 2010 By Robert Vitale, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Penn National Gaming has abandoned its go-it-alone approach to building a casino in Columbus. The company, which once said it needed no government help to build in the Arena District, now is seeking millions in public assistance, incentives and discounts for its new location near I-270 and W. Broad Street. Penn National's requests for city, state and county aid are detailed in a four-page document that The Dispatch obtained through a public-records request. The breaks easily could top $10 million initially, and some would continue for years. The company wants: • Twenty percent of the taxes that Columbus and Franklin County receive from gross casino revenue to be used for roadwork and other improvements around the future Hollywood Casino Columbus. That would amount to more than $8 million annually, based on Penn National's earlier estimates. • A 10-year, 75 percent property-tax break, not for the casino itself but for any hotel, parking garage or other improvement on the site. • Discounted rates for water and sewer services from the Columbus Department of Public Utilities, which city officials say would amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. • Official support on applications for state grants to fund environmental cleanup and infrastructure improvements. MORE: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/10/24/copy/casino-builder-now-seeking-city-incentives-for-its-new-site.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
October 27, 201014 yr Oh please, can't they just be happy with having a monopoly on casinos in this state?
October 27, 201014 yr I was never a fan of moving a high-density concept close to 270 (Ok, probably going to suffer a Joan of Arc fait by saying too) - Despite the non-family friendly concept an arena district casino brings it was still a dead part of downtown that could still have development potential despite a "gasp" casino in the area.
October 27, 201014 yr Council wary of casino requests Company's bid for city incentives is not going over too well Tuesday, October 26, 2010 By Robert Vitale, The Columbus Dispatch Columbus City Council members who would get the last word on any economic-development incentives for Penn National Gaming don't sound too fond of the idea at the outset. The company with the constitutionally guaranteed right to build a casino in Columbus should stick by its 2009 promise to pay for the project without government help, several council members said last night. As Penn National negotiates with Mayor Coleman's administration over details for annexation, plan reviews, building permits and inspections, the company also has requested millions in annual tax breaks and discounts on city services. A company spokesman described the requests as a "series of possibilities" rather than a list of demands, but City Council members are taking a skeptical stand even as they say they await further developments. MORE: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/10/26/copy/council-wary-of-casino-requests.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
October 27, 201014 yr Wow...kinda nervy...they shove it down Columbus' throat (something the majority did not want in the first place in Franklin County) and then ask for incentives (all this after promising the world if a casino was built). Well I guess if you don't ask....
October 27, 201014 yr They went from a hot entertainment spot that was virtually guaranteed to be maintained and improved over the years to an abandoned industrial site on a practically forgotten side of town. This would be like putting the Cleveland casino at Randall Park and not getting any guarantees that there would be dollars put into redeveloping the infrastructure in the area.
October 27, 201014 yr I thought the casino agreed to pay for insfrastructure around the casino? Sidewalks and the whole nine, along Georgesville Rd., right? Make them pay for everything. Worst case scenario, if they back out of the deal, the company already demoed a brownfield site for us.
October 27, 201014 yr They went from a hot entertainment spot that was virtually guaranteed to be maintained and improved over the years to an abandoned industrial site on a practically forgotten side of town. This would be like putting the Cleveland casino at Randall Park and not getting any guarantees that there would be dollars put into redeveloping the infrastructure in the area. I wouldn't call it a "forgotten side of town". People need to get their used cars somewhere! It was only like 10-15 years ago that they had a thriving regional mall and nice nearby shopping centers. I remember when the Superstore was a Media Play and the Thrift Store was a Sun TV! Also, that restaurant in the mall where they were distributing bricks of Heroin used to be a Chi-Chis! Besides, Ding Ho is still there and everyone knows they have the best Chinese Food in the city. Developers offered them a lot of money for their building, only Ding Ho wasn't selling. It doesn't matter much where you put the casino in the city; it's a regional draw regardless. No one cared about podunk Lawrenceburg, IN before.
October 27, 201014 yr I agree that the casino will in fact draw a crowd regardless, but Loretto's point makes me wonder if this will mean that the city will start to work with Highland West residents rather than against them to create a smaller revitalized urban district similar to the older Short North which would be a major, unique Columbus destination in addition to the casino. Hell, they did install meters along that strip recently, but in order to even make back the money spent on them people need a reason to go here and some nice empty buildings don't accomplish that. Yes, I know there is a disconnect between the casino area at W Broad and Georgesville Rd and the urban strip east of Hague, but the people heading out to either will most likely be doing so by car anyway. This is just what I'd like to see and not likely knowing how the city works: an urban district with a casino at the end. There would be a great benefit from re-urbanizing the stretch west of Hague out to the casino which could be supported by Hilltop residents and not depend heavily on casino traffic.
October 28, 201014 yr I was never a fan of moving a high-density concept close to 270... A single story casino with no hotel attached is what was proposed for the Arena District. You call that high-density? ;)
October 28, 201014 yr They went from a hot entertainment spot that was virtually guaranteed to be maintained and improved over the years to an abandoned industrial site on a practically forgotten side of town. This would be like putting the Cleveland casino at Randall Park and not getting any guarantees that there would be dollars put into redeveloping the infrastructure in the area. The Cleveland Casino is not a "Hollywood Casino" which is what the Columbus Casino is, so the comparison is not quite accurate. A Hollywood Casino would be a perfect fit out on West Broad. It would stick out like a sore thumb in the Arena District.
October 30, 201014 yr It wouldn't have mirrored the Windsor Casino situation with a built-in hotel and would have been embarrassing. http://maps.google.com/maps?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF8&q=windsor+casino&fb=1&gl=us&hq=windsor+casino&cid=0,0,14445647590674884995&ei=OZnMTPvqDYX7lwfWvKCwBw&ved=0CCkQnwIwAQ&hnear=&ll=42.322509,-83.034024&spn=0.007742,0.024419&t=h&z=16&iwloc=A In Windsor you have an entertainment district within walking distance (Downtown) including strip clubs and the like. On W Broad that would all need to be built from scratch and would require a road diet.
November 4, 201014 yr At long last, Hollywood Casino is unveiling the design for its casino in Columbus. And here it is!!! What Will The Columbus Casino Look Like? By Denise Yost, NBC4 News Published: November 04, 2010 COLUMBUS, Ohio -- A year after being approved by voters, Central Ohioans are getting their first look at what the Columbus casino will look like. Developer Penn National released preliminary plans for the building Thursday. The 123-acre west-side site on Georgesville Road near West Broad Street is much larger than other Penn National projects, but the Hollywood Casino will have a familiar look and feel. The casino is expected to open in late 2012 and the company plans to break ground on the $400 million project early next year. MORE: http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2010/nov/04/what-will-columbus-casino-look-ar-281157/ LINK TO A VERY LARGE VERSION OF THE CASINO SITE PLAN LINK TO A VERY LARGE VERSION OF THE CASINO EXTERIOR RENDERING
November 5, 201014 yr Typical. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 5, 201014 yr To the contrary. This plan shows exactly why it was a good move to get the Hollywood Casino out of the Arena District and into the west side.
November 5, 201014 yr ^I don't know, I feel like if it had been built in Downtown Columbus it woudn't/couldn't be built like a shopping mall. I think it would've been more compact/dense.
November 5, 201014 yr ^I don't know, I feel like if it had been built in Downtown Columbus it woudn't/couldn't be built like a shopping mall. I think it would've been more compact/dense. Agreed. A few lost opportunities I see with this. Losing out on helping build on the biggest entertainment district in the city (going to lose out on some of the young crowd). Also, missing on several million visitors that could be stopping by a bar/rest or shop. Less attractive to convention business downtown. Losing out on an advocate for a downtown streetcar. Not to mention not building a casino that is unique to Columbus! (looks like every other midlevel casino in the US)
November 5, 201014 yr I get what you guys are saying about the urban benefits of a higher density design over a lower density design. But please remember that this not the Argosy Casino model that downtown Cincinnati and downtown Cleveland are getting. Toledo and Columbus are getting the Hollywood Casino model. And that cannot be changed. Even if it were built in the Arena District, it would still look very much like this low-density design. Just without the surface parking lots because of space constraints. Penn National has always said they would build a single-story casino with an attached parking garage - even in an urban context like the Arena District. Why? Because that's what a Hollywood Casino is. The only thing it would add in the Arena District is a lame one-story building and tons of auto traffic to a two-lane dead-end street. There are more benefits to the west side location: (1) It removes an abandoned auto parts factory; (2) It cleans up the toxic waste left behind by the factory; (3) The Hollywood Casino low density design is not out of context with the surrounding area here - Westland Mall is immediately south of the site; (4) The larger west side site allows for an RV park and a future hotel. Allowing for some longer term visits that might benefit the surrounding area. And most importantly, (5) the west side needs the economic shot in the arm very badly. The Arena District doesn't, because it's doing very well as it is.
November 5, 201014 yr R...V...park? *dies* I hope they have some taco trucks at the very least! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 5, 201014 yr Fortunately, some of the best are just down the street. Unfortunately, the vast majority of casino goers won't know they even exist.
November 5, 201014 yr Instead of a RV lot, they should have a food truck lot! Weston Towne Centre. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
November 6, 201014 yr Instead of a RV lot, they should have a food truck lot! Weston Towne Centre. That's not a half bad idea about the food trucks! I heard someone say the casino rendering looked like a gold-plated Lennox Town Center. So the Weston name ain't too far off either!
November 6, 201014 yr Despite the release of the renderings, the battle goes on between Penn National and the City of Columbus... Casino group: City made promises Penn National seeking payback for location change Saturday, November 6, 2010 By Robert Vitale, The Columbus Dispatch Executives from Penn National Gaming said yesterday that they were promised financial support from Columbus when they agreed to move their casino from a voter-approved site in the Arena District. But city officials say they promised only support for a request for state environmental-cleanup money and political support for the move. Both sides describe talks on annexation, economic assistance and other development issues as constructive, but they fundamentally disagree about what was said early this year. At the heart of it is whether Penn National deserves compensation because it lost money in changing sites. "The Arena District land is not part of any negotiations or discussions with Penn National," said Dan Williamson, spokesman for Mayor Michael B. Coleman. "They might want it to be in the picture, but it isn't." Penn National paid more than $36 million for the Arena District land that was approved in a casino-authorizing amendment last year to the Ohio Constitution. After pressure from city leaders, business interests and residents, the company agreed to move the casino to a site near W. Broad Street and I-270. MORE: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/11/06/copy/casino-group-city-made-promises.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
November 7, 201014 yr A few lost opportunities I see with this. Losing out on helping build on the biggest entertainment district in the city (going to lose out on some of the young crowd). How many young people like to sit and pull slot machines? The majority of this casino is slots. It will be filled with busloads of older people, just like other Hollywood Casinos in other states. Also, missing on several million visitors that could be stopping by a bar/rest or shop. There are bars and restaurants inside the Casino, which often comp/discount food & drinks to keep gamblers from leaving. I've seen studies (and am looking for it to link to it) done that show how few casino patrons actually venture outside of the casino to spend money at other establishments. It's a pretty small percentage. Less attractive to convention business downtown. Possibly... depends on the type of convention, I guess. I don't talk to convention planners too often, so I don't know if "is there a casino nearby" is a common criteria when selecting convention locations. Doesn't sound like it would be. Losing out on an advocate for a downtown streetcar. Does Penn National have a track record for supporting transit development? I've not read that. Not to mention not building a casino that is unique to Columbus! (looks like every other midlevel casino in the US) Penn National announced over a year ago that they were building a Hollywood Casino branded ugly pit that would look similar to their other Hollywood Casinos: http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2009/oct/08/proposed_arena_district_casino_would_be_branded_ho-ar-18251/#When:21:55:07Z They've never had any plans on building something unique for Columbus. I'm happy that this isn't happening Downtown.
December 2, 201014 yr It looks like the showdown between Columbus City Hall and Penn National is getting ugly! Well-drilling request Casino developers to bypass city water? Tuesday, November 30, 2010 By Doug Caruso THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Casino developers want permission to drill wells that would free them from relying on Columbus' water lines. Wells would take Columbus' key bargaining chip - water service - off the table as city leaders seek to annex the casino site, now in Franklin Township near W. Broad Street and I-270. Penn National Gaming applied for permission to drill the wells on Oct. 27, shortly after company officials listed more than $10 million in tax breaks and other help they hope to gain from Columbus. "Mayor (Michael B.) Coleman views this as a shakedown tactic," Dan Williamson, the mayor's spokesman, said yesterday of Penn National's application to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency. MORE: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/11/30/copy/casino-developers-to-bypass-city-water.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
December 4, 201014 yr Casino can get enough water via wells Expert verifies quantity; quality is still uncertain Wednesday, December 1, 2010 By Doug Caruso THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Wells easily could supply enough water for Penn National Gaming's casino. "The limestone aquifer that's below the site would be capable of getting 200,000 to 300,000 gallons per day," said Jim Raab, a hydrogeologist for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. He said the agency has records of 54 wells in Franklin Township capable of drawing the 183,000 gallons per day that casino developers estimate they'd need. Penn National has applied to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency to drill wells on the casino site near W. Broad Street and I-270 in Franklin Township. The move could give the casino developers leverage as they negotiate an annexation deal with Columbus leaders. Penn National has listed more than $10 million in tax breaks and other help that it's seeking for the project. Columbus' key bargaining chip is its waterlines. Sewers are not an issue because the city committed to serve that part of Franklin County in a 2003 agreement. MORE: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/12/01/copy/casino-can-get-enough-viawells.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
December 4, 201014 yr I guess I am confused. I was under the impression that Franklin County was one of the few urban areas (of the four choosen to host the casinos) that acually did not vote in favor of the casino issue, exhibiting it was not much interested in it. Why would they offer tax breaks and incentives for something the citizens did not want in the first place? Don't you save those scarce resources for developments and businesses you want?
December 4, 201014 yr I guess I am confused. I was under the impression that Franklin County was one of the few urban areas (of the four choosen to host the casinos) that acually did not vote in favor of the casino issue, exhibiting it was not much interested in it. Why would they offer tax breaks and incentives for something the citizens did not want in the first place? Don't you save those scarce resources for developments and businesses you want? That's what this showdown between Columbus City Hall and Penn National is about. Penn National wants some compensation from the city (possibly though tax breaks and/or incentives) for moving from the Arena District to the West Broad site. The city says that no compensation was ever offerred for the move. Penn National is now saying they will build the casino, but won't annex into the city unless they get some type of compensation. Normally, the City of Columbus can simply force annexation though denial of city water service. No annexation, no city water. However, Penn National is trying to bypass city water with this well-drilling request.
December 9, 201014 yr An interesting look at the City vs. Penn National casino fight from our weekly tabloid, The Other Paper: Wish them well Penn National says it won’t be held hostage to the city’s water supply, so it might just dig its own damn well BY LYNDSEY TETER, THE OTHER PAPER Thursday, December 2, 2010 10:40 AM EST Suburban leaders who long have grumbled about Columbus’s control over their water supply might admit to offering some telepathic atta boys to the folks at Penn National Gaming Company this week. On Tuesday, the Dispatch reported that the gaming company had applied to the Ohio EPA for permission to drill a test well at the site of the proposed West Side casino. If successful, that test could eliminate the company’s need to tap into Columbus’s water supply, therefore eliminating the Columbus’s Almighty Bargaining Chip as casino owners try to negotiate a tax break. The city apparently has refused to provide some $10 million in requested incentives to Penn National, which has responded with more than a threat that it might just keep its constitutionally guaranteed casino, along with a projected $8 million in annual tax revenues, in Franklin Township. MORE: http://www.theotherpaper.com/articles/2010/12/02/cover_story/doc4cf7bc9b80c85900843933.txt
December 10, 201014 yr At least the Columbus casino will then have something no Vegas casino has -- its own source of water.
December 14, 201014 yr Wow, this is becoming quite the battle... Carringtons v Colbys anyone? City flexes its muscle with casino New sewer deal with county may force annexation Tuesday, December 14, 2010 02:51 AM By Doug Caruso If Penn National Gaming wants flush toilets at its central Ohio casino, it will have to build it in Columbus. Read more: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/12/14/copy/city-flexes-its-muscle-with-casino.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
December 14, 201014 yr ^The Casino played hardball with the City. Now the City's playing harder-ball. I liked the Other Paper story because I kind of feel the same way. I'm glad the single-story Hollywood Casino brand got moved to a more appropriate west-side location. But I don't really care if the Columbus casino is technically in Columbus or Franklin Township. That's between the casino developer Penn National and the City of Columbus. If the city didn't get a written agreement from Penn National to annex into the city, then that's the city's fault. Now we're getting charges of "shakedowns" and "bullying" being thrown around by both sides. Here's my take: First, the Casino bullies its way into Columbus. Then, Columbus bullies the Casino to the west-side. Then, the Casino threatens Columbus with loss of tax revenue because of non-annexation unless they get some money. Now, Columbus threatens the Casino with no water and no sewer service unless they annex. This is truly a battle of the heavyweights. Pass the popcorn!
December 14, 201014 yr Didn't the amendment mandate that the casinos be built inside of the cities? I remember voting for a casino to be moved to the west side of Columbus, not Franklin Township.
December 14, 201014 yr That would've been an easy-out... but the ammendment didn't designate city boundaries other than saying the casino intended for Columbus would move to a designated site within Franklin County.
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