Catawba Casino Complex

[Urbanity]

The Catawba Nation has filed a lawsuit to build a substantial gaming complex in York County just outside the 485.

From their Filing:

The project will consist of approximately a 220,000 sq/ft gaming facility and two hotels with a combined 750 rooms. Included in the gaming facility will be numerous commercial and retail outlets and restaurants and other entertainment venues. The gaming facility and hotels are expected to be in operation by the year 2013.

SC legislatures are threatening to fight this, but they may have an uphill battle. Here is the related Press Release as well.

What's the board's take on it if it happens in regards to Charlotte.

Edited January 26, 2012 by Urbanity

[southslider]

^Economists usually say casinos lead to displaced dollars that would otherwise have been spent on similar entertainment venues that have comparable accessibility within a region.

Personally, I wouldn't mind if this would translate into fewer gentlemen's clubs across Charlotte.

[HopHead]

I like the idea of this casino as long as it becomes a regional attraction for the Carolinas, and not just some place for locals to go to. To build something of this size with 750 hotel rooms isn't exactly small scale either. It would be even better if it became a mini version of Foxwoods. Obviously that would take time. But it would be a great addition in that regard and only help Charlotte more.

[Windsurfer]

At the risk of sounding anti-growth, I don't like this idea. The Catawba River is already in danger and the location of this casino is very close to one of the last parts of The Catawba that isn't developed. Sprawl is sprawl.

[caterpillar2]

I would love to see one on College Street.

[ah59396]

We will probably have to slap a couple police stations around it. Crime rates will go up and city aura will drop. Plus local watchdog groups will be out calling for the head of the mayor.

Oh wait, that's in sim city 3000. I'm all for it and I don't even gamble.

[nonillogical]

When I was a freshman at WCU, I delivered pizzas in Cherokee, often to the Casino/Harrahs hotel. Cherokee is a pretty desolate, poor place honestly, and I always found the distinction jarring, but I didn't get the sense that it was a cause of that or a real detriment to the community since it almost exclusively catered to tourists and employed local people.

[nashbill]

North Carolina should go ahead and allow casino's. Across the country, many cities have them. The people who want to play are going to do it, one way or another. Are they worse than the lottery? Having it across the state line will just mean that NC will once again be givng there money to another state. Does any one remember the lines of people at the convenience stores in SC to get lotto tickets when the prizes where huge. Personally, I find them boring. I don't like giving my money away.

[Guest]

We will probably have to slap a couple police stations around it. Crime rates will go up and city aura will drop. Plus local watchdog groups will be out calling for the head of the mayor.

Oh wait, that's in sim city 3000. I'm all for it and I don't even gamble.

:rofl:

[dubone]

It would be kinda badass if they took over the PTL ruins to do this.

[Guest]

It would be kinda badass if they took over the PTL ruins to do this.

Thats exactly what I was thinking dubone

[southslider]

^^That would certainly bring another whole layer of meaning to "Heritage USA."

[Guest]

^^That would certainly bring another whole layer of meaning to "Heritage USA."

I almost posted Jim Bakker would be turning in his grave, then I double checked and found out he's still alive. It would make me SO HAPPY, to know how pissed off that'd make him.

[ah59396]

This is what a "world class" casino (MGM) looks like in downtown Toronto.

I think casino's get a bad rap. This isn't some smoke filled s**t hole filled with old people and mafia guys. Casinos are now just a small part of the entire experience. I get that Toronto is far more heavily visited than Charlotte, but if we were ever to even add half of the above proposal to our "uptown", it would do wonders in attracting people from across the state and likely the southeast.

[Urbanity]

I would be thrilled with just the density of that illustration (and maybe an observation tower!)

Back to point - has anyone heard anything recently about the Catwaba proposal?

[vassago]

I would be thrilled with just the density of that illustration (and maybe an observation tower!)

Back to point - has anyone heard anything recently about the Catwaba proposal?

 

An application to U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs was filed today.

 

 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/09/09/4300183/catawbas-file-application-for.html#.Ui4uLz-wV8E

[ah59396]

I love this.  I actually like the look of that building too.

[cltbwimob]

I love this. I actually like the look of that building too.

I do as well.

Does anyone know if our state legislators and self-appointed purveyors of arbitrary right-wing morality must approve the casino? Hopefully their blessing is not needed or this casino and the thousands of jobs that will follow are DOA.

[Niner National]

I do as well.

Does anyone know if our state legislators and self-appointed purveyors of arbitrary right-wing morality must approve the casino? Hopefully their blessing is not needed or this casino and the thousands of jobs that will follow are DOA.

The article said the republican lead General Assembly was not in favor of it. I'm not sure if they have the power to stop it.

 

I think McCrory is in favor of it, but I could be wrong.

[vassago]

I do as well.

Does anyone know if our state legislators and self-appointed purveyors of arbitrary right-wing morality must approve the casino? Hopefully their blessing is not needed or this casino and the thousands of jobs that will follow are DOA.

 

An article last week in the CO said that 100+ legislators had signed a letter of opposition but it also seemed to imply that the Department of Interior has ultimate approval.

 

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2013/09/03/4285092/nc-house-members-opposed-to-casino.html#.Ui484z-wV8E

[Urbanity]

Just wondering aloud, but Could the push for the NC site be for the purpose of leverage with SC over their original (and denied) plans for one in South Carolina in the Fort Mill area?

 

If you think about it - if approved - they still own all that land in SC which SC collects no taxes on, and now won't be able to get any of the share of gambling proceeds if it happens in NC.

[ssh214]

Just wondering aloud, but Could the push for the NC site be for the purpose of leverage with SC over their original (and denied) plans for one in South Carolina in the Fort Mill area?

 

If you think about it - if approved - they still own all that land in SC which SC collects no taxes on, and now won't be able to get any of the share of gambling proceeds if it happens in NC.

SC didn't approve the casino because it would completely go against what they decided back in 2000 when they shut down Video Poker; there would be huge outcry if they went and accepted a casino to be built after they spent so much effort kicking everyone out. 

 

If this casino gets built I would be one happy camper as I would do everything to make sure my company gets games in this casino and make every necessary push to keep away as many Vegas manufacturers out of there. I ultimately don't think this casino will go through however because of the Cherokee's will do everything they can to prevent this from happening as they will certainly lose almost all of their business east of Asheville...

[kermit]

The CBJ has a nice interview with the attorney which represents the Catawba on the casino issue.

 

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/outside_the_loop/2013/09/initial-ok-up-to-the-feds-for-casino.html?ana=RSS&s=article_search&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&page=all

[midtownclt]

Just read an article on shelbystar.com "Why does Raleigh oppose proposed resort?" - meaning the casino.

It tells of many NC state legislators that signed the petition opposing the new casino in Kings Mountain

have benefited from political donations from the Cherokee Indians that run Harrah's.  The information they

provide comes from followthemoney.com.   It is also interesting that Cherokee is being considered for the

2014 NC GOP Convention according to the NC Republican Party chief of staff.

 

House Speaker Thom Tillis has received $8,000.00, Gov. Pat McCrory $8,000.00, Senator Tom Apodaca

(Henderson, Buncombe, Polk Counties) $25,000.00 and he played a key role in Harrah's amended contract

that allows for class 3 gaming since 2011.  Many others listed as well. 

 

The Republican political games seem to be never ending.  This casino will benefit NC and the metro area

with jobs that offer good wages for the Cleveland County - Shelby/Kings Mountain area.  The gaming

industry is already well established in this state with what has been allowed in Cherokee!  I hope the Department

of Interior can see past their intentions.

 

 

[cltbwimob]

According to the Observer, McCrory also opposes the casino now, even though a couple of weeks ago.  While he never publicly supported the casino before, I was hopeful that he would, considering he had been quiet on the issue even though the casino drew the ire of the semi-righteous and arbitrarily moral members of the General Assembly upon it's mere mention.  When asked about the casino, he said that he has heard absolutely no argument in favor of the casino.  I guess he has not heard that the investment would be massive. I imaginge thousands of jobs in an area with stubbornly high unemployment does not resonate with the governor either.  It looks like yet another issue in which, the governor could have shown some leadership and broke away from the uber-con Legislature.  Instead, it looks like, yet again, the Legislature is playing the role of Dominatrix, and McCrory is happy to be the submissive.  This type of cowardice from a governor who is supposed to be the face of leadership in our state is infuriating.