The Bristol casino’s neighboring land, initially designated for residential purposes, is now poised to undergo a significant transformation into commercial lots.
While it is not yet officially confirmed, owner J.S. Roberts Jr. envisions his vacant three-acre property near the Virginia-Tennessee border, specifically near the Virginia casino on Grove Park Drive, being put to use.
Upon reviewing it, the Planning Commission decided to forward the proposal to the City Council for a public hearing scheduled in April.
Currently, the land is classified as R-2, allowing for single and two-family residential use. However, if Roberts’ rezoning proposal is successful, the lots will be converted to B-3, permitting general business activities.
Why it ‘makes sense’ for rezoning land near Virginia casino
This week, the presentation by Roberts was reviewed by the Planning Commission. According to Daniel Shew, the chair of the commission, he expressed no concerns regarding Roberts’ proposed idea. He further mentioned that connecting it from the Virginia side seems like a logical decision.
“It would be more logical for the casino or another entity to acquire the property and establish a connection from the Virginia side. In such a scenario, the access from Tennessee would become unnecessary, which would be a perfectly sensible decision.”
In addition to generating revenue within their premises, casinos also contribute to the spending of money in the surrounding area. Therefore, it is logical to take advantage of the potential economic benefits that the area offers.
According to Susan Long, a member of the commission, rezoning for that area is a logical decision.
Virginia has recently embraced casino gambling, and its rapid growth in popularity marks an exciting new era for the Commonwealth.
Shew informed the Herald Courier that the entire region is undergoing rapid transformation.
No concrete plans for homes ahead of rezoning effort
Randy Kennedy, the attorney for Roberts, stated during the meeting that he had no knowledge or information regarding the future plans for the land.
I’m unsure if he received an offer. I do know that when there was a lot of interest, he had discussions with individuals about building houses in that area. However, at present, there is no concrete offer available to him.
The Bristol casino property is easily noticeable directly across from the site, which logically suggests connecting it to the location. Nevertheless, there are a few residential homes already present on the same street in Tennessee. This is the only aspect that worries Shew when deciding what to do with the land.
We should solely focus on the existing houses on the street to ensure that any potential changes will not have a negative impact on them.
Full-service Hard Rock casino will generate jump in revenue for Bristol area
When Rivers Casino Portsmouth, the first full-service facility in Virginia, opened earlier this year, Virginia witnessed the occurrence of this event. In the initial month of its operation, the Portsmouth casino generated a revenue of $24.7 million. The remaining $13.7 million of the state’s total revenue of $38.4 million came from Bristol Casino, also known as the future home of Hard Rock.
The main idea is that customers were drawn to the new location because it offered a state-of-the-art casino with a wide range of games and ample space.<br><br>Customers were attracted to the new venue for good reason – the $340 million facility provided a cutting-edge gaming experience and an abundance of room for casino enthusiasts.
When the full-service Hard Rock location in Bristol opens in spring 2025, we can expect a similar outcome. Currently, the temporary facility provides 890 slot machines, 29 table games, and a sportsbook. The upcoming 300,000-square-foot, full-service Hard Rock venue will offer 1,300 slot machines, 50 table games, and a sportsbook as well. Additionally, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Bristol will present a wide range of food and beverage choices.
As a result, experts anticipate that the final project will attract over four million visitors and generate a staggering $1 billion annually for the Bristol area.
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