Downtown Ottawa Casino - Page 8

J.OT13 · #**141** Posted **Oct 3, 2012, 9:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeremy_haak

Aghk! Did I just read monorail?! I strongly associate monorail with boondoggle. It's reinventing the wheel to look more like the Jetsons without any discernible benefit.

I think lrt's friend was thinking something like Expo 67 or Vegas for the monorail, so some short touristy ride connecting the attractions that would be owned by the casino/amusement park owner.

If they do build some big, original entertainment district on Albion Road (casino amusement park, maybe some things similar to Montreal's Olympic park like biodomes and botanical gardens...), it might actually work.

You could have the monorail connect the ORT to the attractions so that no modifications are necessary to the currently planned ORT route.

But again, our politicians, and even private business in Ottawa, can’t connect the dots and come up with something big and interesting. We will likely end up with an expanded Rideau Carleton Raceway forever surrounded by nothing or a cheap basic casino downtown that will be just enough to take back some money from Hull. So don’t expect anything spectacular.

Here’s to hoping I’m wrong.

Postmaster · #**142** Posted **Oct 4, 2012, 1:49 AM**

The problem in Ottawa is that everything is more of the same. Stores from Place D'Orleans all the way to bayshore all offer the same anchor stores and the same shops. If you are going to build a casino at RCR it MUST stand out and be unlike anything the downtown NCR can boast. It's tough to outdo the C du LL unless you either place the new casino very conveniently or make it the most amazing locale in the city if it's far out. As far as I'm concerned, the issue is very black and white.

S-Man · #**143** Posted **Oct 4, 2012, 2:31 AM**

Quote:

I strongly associate monorail with boondoggle.

But I've sold monorails to Brockway, Ogdensville and North Haverbrook!

J.OT13 · #**144** Posted **Oct 4, 2012, 1:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by S-Man

But I've sold monorails to Brockway, Ogdensville and North Haverbrook!

And if I remember correctly, it sure put them on the map!

trebor204 · #**145** Posted **Oct 4, 2012, 1:55 PM**

Local Version

But I've sold monorails to Brockville, Ogdensburg and North Augusta

Kitchissippi · #**146** Posted **Oct 4, 2012, 3:03 PM**

Do they look like this?

• Video Link

Cre47 · #**147** Posted **Oct 5, 2012, 8:53 AM**

Not sure if someone mentionned, but the Mayor of Clarence-Rockland (who was at the Ottawa consultation this week) has shown interest to have the casino in his area - though he doesn't think there is a big chance that it will be built there.

(French article only)

http://www.lapresse.ca/le-droit/actu...9_section_POS3

AuxTown · #**148** Posted **Oct 7, 2012, 2:39 PM**

I have been doing a lot of thinking about this one lately and I only see one location in downtown Ottawa suitable for such a facility. There's nowhere in the CBD with enough parking (that isn't already completely full 5/7 days per week), NCC land is a non-starter, Dow's Lake doesn't have enough parking potential (not to mention the UNESCO issue), and a casino at Lansdowne would probably cause a revolt in the Glebe resulting in the death of our mayor and multiple city councillors. I think it pretty much has to go into an expanded Rideau Centre. It would be on the LRT tunnel, multiple floors of parking can be added to the garage (it was built with expansion in mind), height seems to be less restricted in that area allowing for a tall hotel, and its location in the centre of Ottawa's tourist sites (walk from Parliament, along the Ridea, accross from Byward Market) all make it the ideal location. Not to mention the fact that poor U of O students are only one stop away. They can hop over with their fresh OSAP cheques and try to win themselves a free education and/or a spot in a gambling addict rehab program. The casino could take up the entirety of a newly-renovated Ogilvy building and the empty space between it and Rideau Centre could house stores fronting onto Rideau as well as a 38-storey high-end hotel. I suspect there have already been talks along this line, but the mayor and council will pretend to consider all options before, eventually coming to this foregone conclusion.

J.OT13 · #**149** Posted **Oct 7, 2012, 3:41 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

I have been doing a lot of thinking about this one lately and I only see one location in downtown Ottawa suitable for such a facility. There's nowhere in the CBD with enough parking (that isn't already completely full 5/7 days per week), NCC land is a non-starter, Dow's Lake doesn't have enough parking potential (not to mention the UNESCO issue), and a casino at Lansdowne would probably cause a revolt in the Glebe resulting in the death of our mayor and multiple city councillors. I think it pretty much has to go into an expanded Rideau Centre. It would be on the LRT tunnel, multiple floors of parking can be added to the garage (it was built with expansion in mind), height seems to be less restricted in that area allowing for a tall hotel, and its location in the centre of Ottawa's tourist sites (walk from Parliament, along the Ridea, accross from Byward Market) all make it the ideal location. Not to mention the fact that poor U of O students are only one stop away. They can hop over with their fresh OSAP cheques and try to win themselves a free education and/or a spot in a gambling addict rehab program. The casino could take up the entirety of a newly-renovated Ogilvy building and the empty space between it and Rideau Centre could house stores fronting onto Rideau as well as a 38-storey high-end hotel. I suspect there have already been talks along this line, but the mayor and council will pretend to consider all options before, eventually coming to this foregone conclusion.

When the Casino debate started, Rideau Centre management clearly said they were not interested in a casino, stating they want to keep available space for high end retail.

Same goes for Cadillac Fairview, there background is in shopping centres, office buildings hotels and, on a lesser note, condos (the Canadians building at the Molson Centre). I doubt they would go for a casino; they want patrons to spend their money on shopping, not lose it on gambling.

Realisticly, I think the casino will end up at Rideau Carleton or the city's land on the escarpement in west downtown.

Luker · #**150** Posted **Oct 9, 2012, 5:34 PM**

A well written piece by Joanne Chianello on the OLG driven process for a new downtown Casino:

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Ch...808/story.html

eternallyme · #**151** Posted **Oct 9, 2012, 6:24 PM**

This whole thing smells to me like an OLG-McGuinty scandal like the Samsung sweetheart deal on the Green Energy Act...

I think if Watson is seen as a "yes man" to the bureaucrats, he will get defeated big time in 2014 (not sure by who though).

Luker · #**152** Posted **Oct 10, 2012, 7:09 PM**

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Ot...516/story.html (I've reached my ottawa citizen reader limit, if someone could post the article below, thanks!)

K-133 · #**153** Posted **Oct 10, 2012, 7:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Luker

http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Ot...516/story.html (I've reached my ottawa citizen reader limit, if someone could post the article below, thanks!)

.

Quote:

Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson urged councillors to move forward in favour of a casino motion Wednesday, Oct. 10, 2012.
Photograph by: Garth Gullekson , Ottawa Citizen

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Ot...#ixzz28vTi1pKt
OTTAWA — Ottawa city council has voted in favour of a motion to signal interest in bringing a casino to Ottawa.

After a debate that was at times impassioned, and an address by Mayor Jim Watson urging councillors to move forward, council voted 19-5 Wednesday afternoon in favour of the motion.

Councillors voting against the motion were David Chernushenko (Capital), Diane Deans (Gloucester-Southgate), Mathieu Fleury (Rideau-Vanier), Scott Moffatt (Rideau-Goulbourn) and Tim Tierney (Beacon Hill-Cyrville).

More to come.

Read more: http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Ot...#ixzz28vTAits4

Uhuniau · #**154** Posted **Oct 11, 2012, 2:24 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by O-Town Hockey

I have been doing a lot of thinking about this one lately and I only see one location in downtown Ottawa suitable for such a facility. There's nowhere in the CBD with enough parking (that isn't already completely full 5/7 days per week), NCC land is a non-starter, Dow's Lake doesn't have enough parking potential (not to mention the UNESCO issue)

That goddamn Unesco thing is going to be an excuse to oppose anything within eyeshot of the canal forever, isn't it?

J.OT13 · #**155** Posted **Oct 11, 2012, 11:44 PM**

Quote:

Senators Sports and Entertainment mulling casino

The company that owns the Ottawa Senators is deciding if it will make a power play for a new casino.

Scotiabank Place has been mentioned as a possible location for a new betting house in Ottawa, but Cyril Leeder, president of Senators Sports and Entertainment, said the company is still unsure if it will respond to a casino tender issued by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp.

“We’ve been watching the casino debate from afar and we’re still trying to determine whether we have an interest in that or not,” Leeder told the Sun Thursday.

OLG, which currently runs slots at the Rideau Carleton Raceway, wants a larger gambling facility in the Ottawa area. Council on Wednesday endorsed the idea.

Leeder said if the SSE is interested, it would do it alone rather than finding another partner.

“We, on our own right, have a fairly sizable land holding so if we had interest it would be as a proponent, not with another developer,” he said.

A successful casino would call for close proximity to other “attractors,” Leeder said, and that also requires parking and being close to major transportation infrastructure, like Hwy. 417.

“In our case, we’re drawing a couple million people to the site already, so that’s important I think from a draw perspective,” Leeder said. “Casinos work really hard to draw people into their facilities and if you’re close to a major attraction you have that built in.”

Leeder can expect to receive a letter from Stittsville Coun. Shad Qadri, who wants to feel out SSE on the casino issue. Scotiabank Place is in Qadri’s ward.

“I will be approaching Mr. Leeder and asking him if they are interested,” Qadri said.

Qadri this week voted in favour asking the OLG to pre-qualify the Rideau Carleton Raceway’s bid for a new casino.

Qadri said he supports the rural raceway and if the OLG declares it the preferred choice, he would vote for it.

And, if the OLG would select Scotiabank Place, Qadri said he would vote for that.

Since the OLG has indicated it’s only bringing one proposal to council in 2013, Qadri won’t be faced with selecting one or the other.

SSE would produce a very credible proposal if the company enters the fray, Qadri said.

“They are a viable choice because of the fact they are good entertainment operators,” Qadri said.

Qadri said getting an indication from SSE on its level of interest could help spark a debate at council on potential casino locations.

http://www.ottawasun.com/2012/10/11/...mulling-casino

Postmaster · #**156** Posted **Oct 12, 2012, 2:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eternallyme

This whole thing smells to me like an OLG-McGuinty scandal like the Samsung sweetheart deal on the Green Energy Act...

I think if Watson is seen as a "yes man" to the bureaucrats, he will get defeated big time in 2014 (not sure by who though).

Diane Holmes? lol

eternallyme · #**157** Posted **Oct 12, 2012, 10:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Postmaster

Diane Holmes? lol

She'd get little support in the suburbs, and virtually no support in rural Ottawa. More likely someone would have to come from the right wing.

Zach6668 · #**158** Posted **Oct 13, 2012, 3:59 AM**

Really hope SSE doesn't build a casino by SBP. What a waste that would be. I guess the mistake of building the arena in Kanata can't be fixed now, so maybe it's help to make it more of a destination, and maybe this would help draw nightlife closer to the arena? I guess that's a slight positive.

But really, the catchment area would be just the areas west of downtown, as anywhere else, you'd be better off just going to Lac Leamy. They won't be recapturing a majority of the Ontario gambling dollars, as that's clearly a big goal of this casino.

It should be downtown. We're a world capital city. We should be allowed nice things.

Abe Simpson · #**159** Posted **Oct 13, 2012, 11:54 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zach6668

Really hope SSE doesn't build a casino by SBP. What a waste that would be. I guess the mistake of building the arena in Kanata can't be fixed now, so maybe it's help to make it more of a destination, and maybe this would help draw nightlife closer to the arena? I guess that's a slight positive.

But really, the catchment area would be just the areas west of downtown, as anywhere else, you'd be better off just going to Lac Leamy. They won't be recapturing a majority of the Ontario gambling dollars, as that's clearly a big goal of this casino.

It should be downtown. We're a world capital city. We should be allowed nice things.

I agree with you 100%!!! Pretty sure the OLG will not put it in Kanata, when they already have one in the middle of nowhere at Rideau Carleton Raceway. They really want one downtown where all the major events happen. Like the rest of Ottawa's suburbs, Kanata is just suburban hell!!!

eternallyme · #**160** Posted **Oct 13, 2012, 5:13 PM**

OLG are a bunch of Toronto bureaucrats that probably have never been to Ottawa, certainly never been in the Ottawa neighbourhoods.