Keetoowah Cherokee tribe wants to build Arkansas' first casino in Fort Smith

[Mith242]

They do not have land in Arkansas, it's on the OK side near FS. They used to have land here, they're trying to reclaim some of it since it's adjacent to their current reservation in OK.

That makes more sense to me. I didn't think there were any reservations in Arkansas but someone had told me that they did have land in Ft Smith.

[Mith242]

There was an article today about the proposed casino in today's Arkansas Democrat Gazette . The tribe wants the city's blessings. Although someone with the city admited they weren't sure if the tribe really needed they're blessing or not for the project to go ahead. The city and state would both get 7.5% each of the revenue generated by the proposed $131Mil casino.

[thewizard16]

While I the economic benefit to Fort Smith would be good, I'm sure that it will also come with the unpleasantries that most casinos have, and I imagine there will be a considerable opposition to any effort to put in a casino as much as there would be support.

[dimebag1980]

While I the economic benefit to Fort Smith would be good, I'm sure that it will also come with the unpleasantries that most casinos have, and I imagine there will be a considerable opposition to any effort to put in a casino as much as there would be support.

Unpleasantries? Care to elaborate?

[Mith242]

There was an article in today's Arkansas Democrat Gazette (or at least the northwest edition of it) about the possible casino. There was a layout of it with a Ft Smith street grid and a small rendering of it. It doesn't look like anything particular fancy. I'll have to see if I can find a rendering online and post it here. Anyway looks like the developer to trying to reassure the city about the casino and making some legal agreements to make sure they are held responsible for the project. Trying to make it more appealable to the city and the residents.

[mcheiss]

^

Please don't tell me it looks like a warehouse with the words "Casino" "Booze" and "Nightlife" on it.

[Mith242]

^

Please don't tell me it looks like a warehouse with the words "Casino" "Booze" and "Nightlife" on it.

No nothing really that bad. But I seem to recall seeing some possible renderings a while back and it's nothing extravagant either. I'll see if I can find a pic online to post here.

[Mith242]

Ugh, I've having no luck so far. I don't think I would get in trouble for taking a pic of the rendering in the paper and posting it. I think they certainly wouldn't mind me posting info on it. But it's such a small rendering I don't know if I could get a very good pic of it.

[dimebag1980]

^

Please don't tell me it looks like a warehouse with the words "Casino" "Booze" and "Nightlife" on it.

Don't forget "Girls!!" What respectable establishment doesn't include all those words?

There was an article in today's Arkansas Democrat Gazette (or at least the northwest edition of it) about the possible casino. There was a layout of it with a Ft Smith street grid and a small rendering of it. It doesn't look like anything particular fancy. I'll have to see if I can find a rendering online and post it here. Anyway looks like the developer to trying to reassure the city about the casino and making some legal agreements to make sure they are held responsible for the project. Trying to make it more appealable to the city and the residents.

Rod, what developer? The tribe? By the way, I'm not sure if we discussed this on the Arkansas board or whatever, but didn't that Dallas-based "developer," who had huge plans for numerous casinos throughout Arkansas, finally withdraw his proposals? I know this is a different subject, but I'm trying to collect my thoughts here!

[Mith242]

Rod, what developer? The tribe? By the way, I'm not sure if we discussed this on the Arkansas board or whatever, but didn't that Dallas-based "developer," who had huge plans for numerous casinos throughout Arkansas, finally withdraw his proposals? I know this is a different subject, but I'm trying to collect my thoughts here!

Yeah the more I think about it that was a different developer. This is a local Ft Smith area developer I believe. I believe it's the Westphal Group. The tribe is in the topic title Brian. The Keetoowah Cherokees.

[dimebag1980]

Yeah the more I think about it that was a different developer. This is a local Ft Smith area developer I believe. I believe it's the Westphal Group. The tribe is in the topic title Brian. The Keetoowah Cherokees.

Well yeah I know, but you're talking about a developer, and I thought the tribes developed their own casinos.

In other words, I'm corn-fused.

[Mith242]

Well yeah I know, but you're talking about a developer, and I thought the tribes developed their own casinos.

In other words, I'm corn-fused.

I don't know how these casinos are usually done but this appears to be in conjunction with a local developer. He appears to be very much behind this project. You almost wonder if he was the one to get the ball rolling about this in the first place. I'm not sure whether this project will ever come about. There seem to be so many people set against it including the mayor. I understand people's feeling against gambling. I personally don't care to gamble. But I can't see how people keep talking about how it's going to have such a negative impact on Ft Smith when there's a Cherokee casino just west of Ft Smith and Van Buren in Oklahoma. To me it seems so obvious that people from Ft Smith and Van Buren are visiting that casino. It can probably be argued that there are more Arkansas people there than Oklahoma people. It isn't like you're suddenly opening gambling up to people, you're simply keeping them inside the state line and keeping money being spend inside the state. I can't see how someone can tell me having a casino a few miles to the east/southeast of the one in Oklahoma is going to ruin Ft Smith. There's already one in the area! But Oklahoma is reaping all the money being generated. Anyway I guess that's just the way I see it. Obviously many people in Arkansas don't see it the same as I do.

[gmariam]

This what your looking for?

I couldn't get the image to post, (apparently there is some attachment option I can't see) so I'm providing a link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42905072@N00/216555865/

[dimebag1980]

This what your looking for?

I couldn't get the image to post, (apparently there is some attachment option I can't see) so I'm providing a link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42905072@N00/216555865/

If you're having problems showing just the image, try getting rid of the ?v=0 at the end of the filename.

Here you go... I hope this helps. Sorry if I misunderstood you!

[mcheiss]

I had no idea an art museum was part of this idea, sounds cool.

[johnnydr87]

If you're having problems showing just the image, try getting rid of the ?v=0 at the end of the filename.

Here you go... I hope this helps. Sorry if I misunderstood you!

Ew........It's a brick factory building with a mildly aesthetic entrance.

[mcheiss]

Ew........It's a brick factory building with a mildly aesthetic entrance.

A lot of buildings in Ft. Smith look like this actually.

[johnnydr87]

Yeah I guess. Talk about uninspiring.

[Mith242]

This what your looking for?

I couldn't get the image to post, (apparently there is some attachment option I can't see) so I'm providing a link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/42905072@N00/216555865/

Yes, it is, thanks. Where did you find this by the way?

Ew........It's a brick factory building with a mildly aesthetic entrance.

Maybe they're trying not to have it stand out to make more peopleopposed to it happy.

By the way thanks for your help on posting the pic Brian.

[gmariam]

Thanks for posting the pic.

I got it off the Gazette's website.

[Mith242]

Thanks for posting the pic.

I got it off the Gazette's website.

Hmmmm....I thought I looked there and didn't see a pic. Anyway thanks for your help.

[johnnydr87]

Yes, it is, thanks. Where did you find this by the way?

Maybe they're trying not to have it stand out to make more peopleopposed to it happy.

By the way thanks for your help on posting the pic Brian.

I suppose.

Or maybe they wanted to save money because they knew that IF this did get approved, they'd be the monopoly in town. No need to impress anyone if you're the only game in town.

[Mith242]

I suppose.

Or maybe they wanted to save money because they knew that IF this did get approved, they'd be the monopoly in town. No need to impress anyone if you're the only game in town.

True, but as you said that's if they ever can get this approved. I somehow have my doubts this will happen anytime soon if ever. Despite gambling being located just across the border in a number of areas, there just seems to be enough people dead set against gambling, to have it happen here in Arkansas. The only exceptions seem to be opening up some other possibilities at eaither Hot Springs or West Memphis.

[dimebag1980]

Maybe they're trying not to have it stand out to make more peopleopposed to it happy.

I actually like casinos with lots of neon and flashy signage. Maybe it's just my love for cheap entertainment, but I enjoy walking through downtown Shreveport's casino district with the neon on the casinos, the neon on the bridge, the neon on the strip clubs, and the neon-colored lights in the riverfront park.

But I know not everyone likes that kind of thing...

[bchris02]

Fort Smith really needs something like this. The radical conservatives, which Ft. Smith has a large share, are so against this though. They see it as a threat to Christianity. Don't know how though, they dont have to go to it if they don't want. I don't gamble personally, I see it as a waste of money, but I am a realist and understand how great this would be for the community. Fort Smith has to do something to attract more jobs, people, and tourists to the area. If not, the city will continue to decline in importance and lose jobs to NWA.

To any radial conservatives, if you don't want a casino, a baseball stadium, a sports complex, or an amusement park, what do you propose to do that will revive Ft. Smith?