The people have spoken! Now get out of the way! Bring on the casino!

How can they fight this? Wasn't the casino written into the state constitution once the issue was passed? I wish they chose another location for the Columbus casino (maybe somewhere less developed to spark a new district) but it seems futile to fight this now.

Mucalum49 - very few people in Columbus want to shut the casino out of Central Ohio - but a lot of people want it moved. There is an ongoing project aimed at persuading Penn National to put it elsewhere in Columbus - a couple of proposals I've seen in print are the Westland Mall site at I-270 and West Broad Street and the site of Cooper Stadium at the junction of 315/I-70/I-71 on the southwest side of downtown Columbus (about a mile from the designated location). A casino in either place would fit into the city redevelopment plan, while current site was marked for residential housing.

I think this will work - the city and county can make life very unpleasant and expensive for Penn National if they ram the current site down our the city's throat. On the other hand, PN could get some really good deals if they agree to another location. In addition, there is some twist to the law that does NOT require the cities to accommodate the selected sites - just "a" site.

If this fails, the anti-gambling groups and the Franklin County locating concerns will have no problem getting enough signatures to bring another proposed counter-amendment on the ballot next fall that will throw the entire deal for all locations into limbo for at least a year. The casino developers cannot financillay afford to let this happen - methinks that PN may be just playing the negotiation game.

The casino operators had the sites wrapped up well in advance - I wonder if their location concerns had as much to do with avoiding a run-up in the price of real estate for appropriate locations as anything else?

ccrunner609 wrote: People need to realize the money that is generated by gambling. THese people that are so high and mighty and think they need to protect us all from ourselves need to shut it.

If you are against gambling then dont go there.

Maybe you should learn what Stand Up Columbus's stance is before posting.

They aren't trying to block a Casino, it's the residents of the area and others don't want a Casino in the Arena District. I agree. I think there needs to be a new area in Columbus, the Casino District. Why lump everything in 1 place?

http://www.standupcolumbus.com/

I agree with LJ's stance, and there are some great places around the city, and outlying areas that would make a better place than the Arena District. I live close ENOUGH to the A.D. that I wouldn't want the thing there. Not to mention, it's already really, really intense down there on the weekends with everything that goes on, and I don't mind it now, but I can see myself minding it later if/when a Casino is built there.

My point is, it was democratically decided. I didn't want Obama as my President, but the majority spoke, and I'm stuck w/ him. Many people didn't want a smoking ban, but again, the majority passed it into law. The people voted for casinos in specific locations, and so it should be.

I have no problem with the casino in central Ohio, is the Arena District the best spot, I don't know. The proposed Westland Mall and the Cooper Stadium locations are not in the best neighborhoods and some may not want to visit the casino because of the surrounding areas/neighborhoods. I thought that City Center would have made a great spot for a casino.

se-alum wrote: My point is, it was democratically decided. I didn't want Obama as my President, but the majority spoke, and I'm stuck w/ him. Many people didn't want a smoking ban, but again, the majority passed it into law. The people voted for casinos in specific locations, and so it should be.

i think the area where it's going to be should have a say moreso than someone who lives not even in the same county. I called the plan shit even before it was finalized on the ballot, and people jumped on me for being against casinos. I think the majority of the state that passed the issue just wanted Casinos and didn't really know, nor care what the effect would be.

Do you know what it's like driving 670-315-Neil at rush hour currently?

joebaseball wrote: I have no problem with the casino in central Ohio, is the Arena District the best spot, I don't know. The proposed Westland Mall and the Cooper Stadium locations are not in the best neighborhoods and some may not want to visit the casino because of the surrounding areas/neighborhoods. I thought that City Center would have made a great spot for a casino.

City Center made so much sense it couldn't be brought up.

Yeah, now they're building some apartments where C.C. was, if I'm not mistaken.

And everyone is clamoring to live in downtown Columbus (for the asking price, that is.)

Would the Stand Up folks be singing the same tune if Gay Marriage was the issue at hand? What if the folks in Delaware county voted against but it passed for the entire state? Would they be justifed in attempts to block gay marriage in their county?

Little Danny wrote: Would the Stand Up folks be singing the same tune if Gay Marriage was the issue at hand? What if the folks in Delaware county voted against but it passed for the entire state? Would they be justifed in attempts to block gay marriage in their county?

What? This makes no sense.

I must say, Little Danny....I'm confused by the argument you just presented?

What's the difference between the two issues? If the matter was taken to a vote and the people democratically came to a decision, why should one county get to carve out the plan just because they did not agree with the issue or a certain aspect of the issue.

For the record, I agree the AD is not the best location and the City Center site would make the most sense.

because they are not trying to block gambling. Huge difference.

i think the area where it's going to be should have a say moreso than someone who lives not even in the same county. I called the plan shit even before it was finalized on the ballot, and people jumped on me for being against casinos. I think the majority of the state that passed the issue just wanted Casinos and didn't really know, nor care what the effect would be.

It's not a county issue though. It's a state issue. Stand Up Columbus should've taken their stance prior to the election. Perhaps Penn would've been more willing to negotiate another site @ that time, instead of waiting until now.

se-alum wrote:

i think the area where it's going to be should have a say moreso than someone who lives not even in the same county. I called the plan shit even before it was finalized on the ballot, and people jumped on me for being against casinos. I think the majority of the state that passed the issue just wanted Casinos and didn't really know, nor care what the effect would be.

It's not a county issue though. It's a state issue. Stand Up Columbus should've taken their stance prior to the election. Perhaps Penn would've been more willing to negotiate another site @ that time, instead of waiting until now.

Ah yes, screw the local zoning and the local residents (who did voice their opinion) everyone else decided their fate for them! There are certain things that should be voted on, but placement is a local issue, not a state issue.

Ah yes, screw the local zoning and the local residents (who did voice their opinion) everyone else decided their fate for them! There are certain things that should be voted on, but placement is a local issue, not a state issue.

Everyone gets screwed every now and again when democracy is involved. For instance, why are people who rent their home/apt allowed to vote on levies regarding property taxes?? They get to throw out a "yes" vote, without ever having to pay a dime for it. Many votes have gone against what I wanted, but the majority rules, and I deal w/ it. I ask again, where was this group prior to the election?

se-alum wrote:

Ah yes, screw the local zoning and the local residents (who did voice their opinion) everyone else decided their fate for them! There are certain things that should be voted on, but placement is a local issue, not a state issue.

Everyone gets screwed every now and again when democracy is involved. For instance, why are people who rent their home/apt allowed to vote on levies regarding property taxes?? They get to throw out a "yes" vote, without ever having to pay a dime for it.

Yes they do, as a landlord you can raise the rent if the property taxes go up. We always raised the rent.

Many votes have gone against what I wanted, but the majority rules, and I deal w/ it. I ask again, where was this group prior to the election?

They were around. But see the problem is, the majority ruling, is going about it the wrong way. The right way would have been saying "there is going to be a casino in franklin county and we will go through the proper zoning and ballot issues as well as economic studies to determine where it will be built". Not "I live in Zanesville, so I don't give a fuck where the casino is, but man I wanna gamble during my monthly trips to Columbus"

se-alum wrote: My point is, it was democratically decided. I didn't want Obama as my President, but the majority spoke, and I'm stuck w/ him. Many people didn't want a smoking ban, but again, the majority passed it into law. The people voted for casinos in specific locations, and so it should be.

Though it was a democratic process, it was still done in a stupid fashion, because this is Ohio and that's how we roll.

Anything regarding the casinos in WV comes down to county-wide votes in the home county of the casino, giving the say to the people actually living there... this is why only 3 of the 4 WV casinos have table games (Charles Town's county voted no). Had this happened, then the Columbus one would have been purged out of the plan since Franklin County voted no, and could have openly been up for reconsideration without going through another statewide vote to amend the Constitution.

I've signed the petition. I voted against the casinos in the first place but it still passed. If one has to be built in Central Ohio I do not want it in the arena district. If they build it there it will be the last time I go to a Clippers game, a Blue Jackets game or to any of the restaurants and shops in that area, including the North Market. I do not think the arena district is the appropriate location for something of this nature. I can't even count the number of people who voted for casinos in Ohio that didn't understand that the one for Central Ohio was to be built in the Arena district, they all though it was to be built in a cornfield - and they thought this because they didn't take the time/couldn't be bothered to really read about what they were voting for.

mucalum49 wrote: How can they fight this? Wasn't the casino written into the state constitution once the issue was passed? I wish they chose another location for the Columbus casino (maybe somewhere less developed to spark a new district) but it seems futile to fight this now.

As far as putting it in a new location I heard rumors of them putting it where the current Westland Mall is. I don't know if this is true or not, but that's what I've heard.

Columbus has elected poor goverment. The Casino can not go where city center is because Columbus is using the bailout money the city got (I think roughly 165 is what it will cost to build and about 10 years) to build a park. The park is supposed to be surronded by shops and apartments. This money is a complete waste as that park will just become a place for homeless to sleep and dealers to sell.

The casino should go somewhere inbetween German Villiage and the arena district. It could help bridge the areas and hopefully bring people all over the city. I have no problem with a casino being built in the arena district. The place is a ghost town monday - friday when there is no hockey game. Even when there are Clippers game parking is easily had. It would keep that area populated (something it needs to strive) and offer another hotel option.

As for other areas I think could work.

Close to Crew Stadium and the Fairgrounds (tear down some of the section 8 housing)

In the brewery distirct

Across the river (close to COSI)