Headwaters Resort & Casino (Proposed)

[andyfried]

I'm very disappointed with this design .

[carolinaboy]

Jeebus. This project gets worse every time I see it.

[vdogg]

Why were the renderings for Richmond so tall and yet we get this crap? I knew this would happen. Bait and switch yet again. I hope this doesn't get past design review. At this point I think we should give Cordish another chance. So tired of this happening.

[vaceltic]

I'll be sure to prepay for my round trip Amtrak ticket before I lose my shirt at the Pamunkey casino.

They can always add more development to the resort later if its wildly successful. 

[vdogg]

If I'm Cordish I would have been sending in an unsolicited proposal the minute I saw this trash. We have a lot of wiggle room in the contract, and can change the preferred operator if we need to. So glad we didn't go the federal route.

[zeppelin14]

Also I want to add that with these new renderings, half of the rooms no longer have the water views. They now face east and the horrible run down neighborhood below.

[andyfried]

The ones planned for Danville and Bristol looks better than this . How can that be ?

[lammius]

they Norfolked it up 

[BFG]

Like with the Gateway 2.0 design, I like it.........for another part of Hampton Roads. It looks like it belongs next to the surf park in VB or the Summit Pointe development in Greenbrier. IMO it's too suburban for downtown. Had they put a casino at Military Circle, this would make more sense. 

I don't see what was wrong with the initial design, or even the one for Richmond.

[vdogg]

The bad thing is, it's actually not horrible design wise. And if this had been their initial pitch, I might have actually been for it. But don't sell us some outsized bill of goods, and then downsize it later. I'm so tired of that. Show us what you actually intend to do, be truthful and honest, is that really too much to ask?

[carolinaboy]

2 hours ago, vdogg said:

Why were the renderings for Richmond so tall and yet we get this crap? I knew this would happen. Bait and switch yet again. I hope this doesn't get past design review. At this point I think we should give Cordish another chance. So tired of this happening.

Well, anything Cordish would do couldn't be worse could it? I hate everything about this proposed casino. I actually hope it withers and dies.

[BFG]

The one consolation is that HKS is a highly-respected architecture firm, having designed the Cowboys and Rangers stadiums in the Dallas-area (Arlington). They also designed SoFi Stadium in LA, where the Rams and Chargers play.

That said, they also did this casino in Arkansas. I think I'd much rather have that design here.

[Buildthetowers]

4 hours ago, Arctic_Tern said:

It's a bit disappointing to have the shorter building, but all in all I'd say it's fine. Height in that area is less of a concern for me, and it looks like it's at least a well planned out building with quality materials. Much better than what they were trying to feed us with the new renders of the Gateway Tower. I think it fits the area pretty well and if the casino is helping fund the pedestrian improvements between the river and stadium then that's even better.  The infinity pool overlooking the stadium is a nice touch too. I will say it looks a bit blander than the other design, which I think had a very striking design, but all in all I think it looks fine.

It sucks as usual! 

[baobabs727]

I sent an email to Jared Chalk, the Mayor and the City Council. I would like to know why we are not considered as good of a casino market as is Richmond, Bristol or Danville. Clearly. Just look at the end products (proposed) and by whom. And why did we not put out RFPs like Richmond? And why is Cordish not in the mix? 

[Qdeathstar]

I feel like we all should remember that this is only the first downsize. By the time it is built there will likely be other concessions.  Probably loose the infinity pool and that over hang bit.

 

kinda lame, but we shoulda knew it was going to head this way after the underwhelming bid Pamunkey  delivered to Richmond, and there, they had competition.

[carolinaboy]

What, were the elevators going to be too expensive? They'll VE this thing to look like a Wal-Mart attached to a parking garage. The city should now be very wary of the viability of this whole project as should we all here be.

[vdogg]

I can understand why they designed it this way. There is SOME logic to it. Obviously they’re trying to make the ball Park the centerpiece of the project. The hotel is designed to maximize views of the park. “Come watch the game and gamble while you’re at it”. It’s an attractive pitch, they have a captive audience, and being next to the train station people will make a weekend of it. The vast majority of the rooms have some view of the park. There’s a synergy involved that can’t be denied, but d@mn I wanted that tower.  I’m far more disappointed about the gateway redesign than I am about this one, but it still sucks.

[vdogg]

A couple of articles talk about this being “phase 1”, so there is hope for something better if they expand in the future. Hopefully that hotel remains fully booked year round.

[elkman]

7 hours ago, vdogg said:

A couple of articles talk about this being “phase 1”, so there is hope for something better if they expand in the future. Hopefully that hotel remains fully booked year round.

Ah, just what we have been waiting for...They will definitely have four restaurants, for seafood (Long John Silvers), for beef ( McDonald's), for breakfast (Waffle House) and southern cooking (Churches fried chicken.  Probable served by two four person elevators and have an outdoor pool area featuring a 20 x 20, three foot deep wading pool with elephants painted on the floor.  An indoor jet spa that will seat three people.  Each hotel floor will have a communal bathroom with one shower.  They will get Knights Inn to manage the hotel rooms.  The gaming rooms will have ten double wide mobile homes tied together to provide space for the 40 slot machines that will make up the most of the gaming, card games will feature old maid, rummy and hearts.  Instead of roulette, spin the bottle will suffice.  Parking will be controlled and provided by the teamsters.  Each room will have it's own HVAC with a quarter slot control that gives twenty minutes of air  per quarter.  Definitely a .3 star operation.  Really, this design has DUMP written all over it.  I knew when I saw the original sketches, they were there to entice people to vote for this.  Had voters seen this mess, it would have been turned down by a landslide.  Here is the deal.....nothing short of 25 floors (350 ft), minimum 350 rooms.  Rooftop restaurant with quality company.  Separation of the hotel tower from the parking decks in view, three level entertainment area and large outdoor pool and recreation deck.  Large indoor pool with with multiple bars.  Three grades of hotel space, suites, adjoining rooms and singles.  All baths with high end features.  What they have shown us is like three tenements shoved together.   

[SuffolkWahoo]

As negative as we are on this thread, the vast majority of "regular joes" on Facebook love it.  That said, I too am disappointed in the fact that we are not getting a tower as advertised.  Maybe they will build a couple towers across from in in the next five years or so (as shown in the original rendering).  Here's to hopin!

Edited April 22, 2021 by SuffolkWahoo

[carolinaboy]

I agree, this was sold to voters as a high-end resort styled casino that would transform an industrial/working waterfront and the latest renderings do not bear that out. The latest renderings show a value engineered squat building that looks like a motel rising above a swamp peering into a minor league ball park.  

[carolinaboy]

4 hours ago, elkman said:

Ah, just what we have been waiting for...They will definitely have four restaurants, for seafood (Long John Silvers), for beef ( McDonald's), for breakfast (Waffle House) and southern cooking (Churches fried chicken.  Probable served by two four person elevators and have an outdoor pool area featuring a 20 x 20, three foot deep wading pool with elephants painted on the floor.  An indoor jet spa that will seat three people.  Each hotel floor will have a communal bathroom with one shower.  They will get Knights Inn to manage the hotel rooms.  The gaming rooms will have ten double wide mobile homes tied together to provide space for the 40 slot machines that will make up the most of the gaming, card games will feature old maid, rummy and hearts.  Instead of roulette, spin the bottle will suffice.  Parking will be controlled and provided by the teamsters.  Each room will have it's own HVAC with a quarter slot control that gives twenty minutes of air  per quarter.  Definitely a .3 star operation.  Really, this design has DUMP written all over it.  I knew when I saw the original sketches, they were there to entice people to vote for this.  Had voters seen this mess, it would have been turned down by a landslide.  Here is the deal.....nothing short of 25 floors (350 ft), minimum 350 rooms.  Rooftop restaurant with quality company.  Separation of the hotel tower from the parking decks in view, three level entertainment area and large outdoor pool and recreation deck.  Large indoor pool with with multiple bars.  Three grades of hotel space, suites, adjoining rooms and singles.  All baths with high end features.  What they have shown us is like three tenements shoved together.   

If this is the case, I don't even want to know what the strippers will look like. (This is meant as a joke, please do not get offended)

[BFG]

4 hours ago, elkman said:

Ah, just what we have been waiting for...They will definitely have four restaurants, for seafood (Long John Silvers), for beef ( McDonald's), for breakfast (Waffle House) and southern cooking (Churches fried chicken.  Probable served by two four person elevators and have an outdoor pool area featuring a 20 x 20, three foot deep wading pool with elephants painted on the floor.  An indoor jet spa that will seat three people.  Each hotel floor will have a communal bathroom with one shower.  They will get Knights Inn to manage the hotel rooms.  The gaming rooms will have ten double wide mobile homes tied together to provide space for the 40 slot machines that will make up the most of the gaming, card games will feature old maid, rummy and hearts.  Instead of roulette, spin the bottle will suffice.  Parking will be controlled and provided by the teamsters.  Each room will have it's own HVAC with a quarter slot control that gives twenty minutes of air  per quarter.  Definitely a .3 star operation.  Really, this design has DUMP written all over it.  I knew when I saw the original sketches, they were there to entice people to vote for this.  Had voters seen this mess, it would have been turned down by a landslide.  Here is the deal.....nothing short of 25 floors (350 ft), minimum 350 rooms.  Rooftop restaurant with quality company.  Separation of the hotel tower from the parking decks in view, three level entertainment area and large outdoor pool and recreation deck.  Large indoor pool with with multiple bars.  Three grades of hotel space, suites, adjoining rooms and singles.  All baths with high end features.  What they have shown us is like three tenements shoved together.   

The design reminds me of a modern motor lodge that you'd see on Atlantic Ave. or OV in the late-50s, except I don't think they were going retro. It makes things so bizarre when you look at their other designs, including the Arkansas casino I referenced.

Also...you had me at Long John Silvers.

[EJ_LEWIS]

Why does Norfolk hate highrise towers?  I agree the design is decent and incorporates the waterfront surrounding pretty well, but the midrise tower greatly decreases my enthusiasm for this project.  

[vdogg]

1 hour ago, EJ_LEWIS said:

Why does Norfolk hate highrise towers?  I agree the design is decent and incorporates the waterfront surrounding pretty well, but the midrise tower greatly decreases my enthusiasm for this project.  

Norfolk doesn’t hate highrise towers, it’s these developers that keep coming into this area and selling us short. They’re always undercutting our true potential because...reasons. The only problem Norfolk has is that we just keep accepting this crap without demanding better. This needs to stop, hopefully design review takes a stand and at the very least demands a better overall design.