Bally’s Corporation intends to pay attention as opposition towards a potential Richmond casino gains momentum and becomes more organized and vocal in the capital of Virginia.
Executives from the proposed developer and operator of the Bally’s Richmond Casino Resort are turning it into a formal event.
This week, Bally’s has organized a series of three sessions called the “listening tour” to engage in discussions about the proposed $650 million casino-resort. These sessions will occur on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Over the past few weeks, numerous Richmond residents have firmly opposed the potential establishment of a casino. The fate of the Richmond casino referendum will be determined by the city’s 226,000 voters on November 2nd, Election Day. If given the green light, Richmond will become the fifth city to have authorized Virginia casinos during the 2020 election period.
Bally’s Corporation listening tour details
Bally’s, alongside Cordish Co. and Urban One/Colonial Downs, emerged as one of the three finalists selected by the City of Richmond for the prospective casino project. The proposals put forth by the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, Wind Creek Hospitality, and Golden Nugget Hotels & Casinos were, however, rejected by the city on March 24.
In the previous month of November, the citizens of Bristol, Danville, Norfolk, and Portsmouth overwhelmingly supported the establishment of casinos in their respective cities, with a resounding 2-1 majority.
However, the final stages of the process have been anything but smooth for the three finalists in Richmond. Opposition is growing, and residents have even taken to the streets to protest against Bally’s proposed site. The plot, which spans 61 acres, is situated at the intersection of Powhite Parkway (VA-76) and Chippenham Parkway (VA-150), near Forest Hill Avenue.
The executives at Bally’s are optimistic that the listening tour will effectively tackle the diverse concerns.
According to Bally’s:
The purpose of the tour is to offer Bally’s and the residents and local business owners of Richmond, encompassing all nine districts, the chance to interact and discuss crucial matters concerning the casino selection process. The aim is to guarantee that the interests and values of the people of Richmond are effectively represented. Jonathan Davis, a Community Activist in Richmond belonging to the African American community, is collaborating with Bally’s to organize and execute the listening tour.
There are three events included in the tour, all of which take place in Richmond.
- On Tuesday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m., we will be gathering at Bryan Park located at 4308 Hermitage Road.
- Battery Park, located at 2803 Dupont Circle, will be the venue on Wednesday, April 14, at 1:00 p.m.
- Chimborazo Park (3215 E. Broad St.) will be held on Wednesday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m.
The issue? Location, location, location
There are several reasons why Richmond residents are against the three casino proposals.
According to Chris Suarez’s report on Richmond.com this week, the opposition to the Bally’s site is partially influenced by the existence of graves belonging to free and formerly enslaved Black individuals in close proximity.
Typical grievances commonly arise in large-scale projects like the Bally’s casino.
- Traffic and congestion
- Crime
- Environment impact
- The societal impact of gambling addiction
- Lower property values
- Impact on small businesses
Nevertheless, while residents engage in discussions about the three casino-resort proposals and their respective development sites, certain individuals opposing the Richmond casino have resorted to employing racist stereotypes in an attempt to influence voters. It is important to note that the proposed Bally Richmond Casino Resort is planned to be situated in the 4th District, which consists of a population that is 65% White.
There have been suggestions, through anonymous flyers and text messages, to construct the Richmond casino at a specific location. This particular location refers to the site proposed by Urban One and Colonial Downs Group, which is situated on the former Altria Operations Center site on South Commerce Road. This area falls within the 8th District, characterized by a population that is predominantly non-White, with only 17% identifying as White.
Related Articles
