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Posted Oct 10, 2012, 1:46 PM
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Ottawa has been entertaining a similar option, with a familiar site selection dynamic. Its council votes on the casino today.
Sherring: Don’t rush casino decisions
(Ottawa Sun, Susan Sherring, Oct 9, 2012)
At Wednesday’s council meeting, politicians are being asked to approve a proposal by the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) to allow proposals to go out and solicit interest from the private sector for a casino.
OLG will choose the winner.
And only then will the operator and the site be revealed to council for its approval and rezoning.
A majority of councillors polled by the Sun have confirmed their support for the process, with only three definitive nay votes.
“I remain a skeptic,” said Capital Coun. David Chernushenko, adding that unless “something really new comes up late in the game” he’s voting no.
“There’s no certainty where it would be. It’s too much of an unknown proposal. Unless they come up with a different process, we don’t know what we’re voting for.”
Chernushenko, along with Gloucester-Southgate Coun. Diane Deans and Rideau-Vanier Coun. Mathieu Fleury also plan on voting against the proposal.
Fleury has made it clear he doesn’t want a casino in the downtown - and understanding the process - accepts he has to vote against the proposal for fear it might end up in his ward.
“My worry is more about downtown councillors having an actual say about a potential site selection here. Although I will not be supporting the report, I continue to be supportive of the existing facility in the south of Ottawa,” he said.
The process has given him no choice but to vote against.
As such, he’s not going to gamble on the outcome.
Good on him.
“We haven’t heard from anyone or group in the ward who is in favour of having a casino. We’ve heard strong opposition from Byward BIA, as well as Action Sandy Hill and Lowertown Community Association and reservations from other groups,” Fleury said.
Rideau-Rockcliffe Coun. Peter Clark doesn’t want it in his ward either, but he’s willing to see where the process takes the city with a ‘yeah’ on the motion.
“Personally, I don’t think there’s any room in (the) downtown. My concern is if OLG thinks we have to tear down half of downtown,” he said, pointing out the Rideau Carleton Raceway gives the province more money than Lac Leamy gives to Quebec.
“Do they plan on tearing down half of the Rideau Centre? No. Now, maybe if they’re talking about tearing down the Parliament buildings, then maybe! If they want to go play in the sandbox, fine,” said Clark, tongue in cheek.
One of the strongest contenders among councillors remains the Rideau Carleton Raceway, which has enough land to expand, the proper zoning, a regular visitor base and the strong support of its ward councillor, Osgoode Coun. Doug Thompson....
A full-fledged casino could be a great thing for Ottawa.
But council needs to take its time, weigh its options and let OLG know that any major decision in Ottawa is council’s to make.
Downtown location unlikely for casino: Councillor
(Ottawa Sun, Susan Sherring, Oct 9, 2012)
A downtown casino seems unlikely as it would struggle to fit into the city’s official plan.
Alta Vista Coun. Peter Hume says a suburban location is more likely to work in Ottawa.
Hume, the chair of the city’s planning committee, spoke to the Sun about how the official plan would restrict where a casino could go. A downtown location appears unlikely.
There just aren’t many appropriate or available spots in the downtown core.
At present, the only place in the city that a casino could be compliant with the zoning bylaw is the Rideau Carleton Raceway.
“To establish a casino in another location, you would have to submit a rezoning application,” Hume explained, adding it would have to conform to something called Major Urban Facilities.
Some of the biggest policy requirements are being located by a rapid transit station and having direct access to an arterial road.
At present, the only downtown locations that would meet the test of the official plan would be the University of Ottawa or the Rideau Centre. Neither seems likely.
“What was very interesting in the OLG presentation was that they expect the private sector to put up the money for the facility. So I would expect that potential proponents are hunting for a site that could function as a larger destination with hotel, golf course, etc.
“As well, you need about 80,00-sq ft. for the gaming floor and another 1 1/2 times that for back-of-house operations, so you are looking at a 200,000 to 250,000-sq. ft. location.
“As a city, our downtown blocks are very small and would not lend themselves to this type of facility. In fact, the only site that could do the job would be on the west edge of downtown – parking lot and Glue (Pot) Pub building.
“I think the locations in the suburbs – while not the best from an urban design perspective - along the transitway present a much better opportunity to create the destination-type of facility that the private sector will ultimately want.
“To the crystal ball, (I am excluding sites that are in government ownership like Lebreton and only telling you about ones on the transitway) – moving from the west – Scotiabank Place, Brookstreet/Marshes Golf Course (on future transit), Bayshore, Glue Pot (Pub) site, Rideau Centre, CE Centre, St. Laurent, Gloucester Centre, Orléans Town Centre.
“I don’t know if all of those sites have a location, but they are on the transitway.”
Council votes on Wednesday whether to give the OLG the green light to proceed with bids for an Ottawa casino.
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"Where architectural imagination is absent, the case is hopeless." - Louis Sullivan
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