Resort Information
The revised casino deal, which now includes Boyd and excludes Yarbrough, was approved by the Norfolk City Council last week. Boyd will now assist the tribe in generating funds to build a casino resort overlooking the Elizabeth River, next to the city’s Harbour Park Minor League Baseball stadium. This project is projected to need an investment of $500 million.
The casino consortium has contracted to maintain complimentary parking for Amtrak passengers. Within the resort’s 1,300-space parking garage, a minimum of 103 places will be specifically allocated for Amtrak passengers.
During the building phase, Boyd and the tribe have also made a commitment to provide a shuttle service for Amtrak customers who have purchased tickets. The specific temporary parking location for this service has not yet been chosen.
The Norfolk Amtrak railway station is situated to the south of Interstate 264, namely on the eastern periphery of the parking lot of the baseball stadium. The casino’s development agreement with the city stipulates that Boyd and the Pamunkey Tribe, operating under the name Golden Eagle Consulting II, LLC, would purchase just over eight acres of the city-owned parking lot for a sum of $10 million.
The initial intention was to acquire a 13.5-acre plot of land, but the resort location was reduced in size due to the inclusion of a 17-foot-high barrier along the riverside in the infrastructure plan published by the federal and state governments. The project will lead to a decrease in net land area.
Smoking permitted
Virginia’s 2009 Clean Air Act prohibited smoking inside in the majority of businesses and public areas without exception. The Act, however, grants exceptions for parimutuel racetracks and off-track betting parlours specifically. Furthermore, the 2020 commercial gaming legislation granted casinos the privilege of grandfathering into the smoking loophole.
Accordingly, casinos in Virginia have the authority to permit smoking in any location. Representatives from Boyd have confirmed that smoking would be permitted at the upcoming Norfolk casino.
“Our goal is to establish a pleasant, inclusive atmosphere that caters to both smokers and nonsmokers,” said Uri Clinton, the executive vice president of Boyd Gaming. “The current technology enables that to occur.”
The most recent Norfolk casino design proposes the use of “state-of-the-art ventilation systems” to minimise the emission of secondhand smoke from ostensibly nonsmoking zones. According to the CDC, the most effective method to sufficiently safeguard casino employees and visitors from secondhand smoking is to enforce a smoke-free policy that governs the whole floor.
Examination of Economic Impact and Community Engagement
The Norfolk casino enterprise is expected to have a substantial effect on the local economy. During the development phase, developers anticipate the generation of more than 1,300 employment opportunities, and an additional 2,000 permanent roles will be created once the casino is operational. The employment prospects will include a wide spectrum, from slot machine operations to hotel services. Boyd and the Pamunkey Tribe have underscored their dedication to employing individuals from the local community, therefore enhancing the local economy and offering avenues for community engagement and professional growth.
Factors to Consider Regarding Community and Environment
Furthermore, apart from the economic consequences, the project developers are determined to reduce environmental effects and improve the well-being of the neighbourhood. In addition to being a utilitarian need to safeguard the region from possible floods, the building of the 17-foot-high barrier also serves as a means to conserve the shoreline. The developers want to integrate sustainable criteria into every aspect of the construction process and operations in order to conform to contemporary environmental regulations.
Expected Characteristics of the Casino Resort
The casino resort will have a diverse range of facilities designed to provide a complete evening entertainment experience. The proposed development has a cutting-edge casino floor equipped with slot machines and table games, a variety of restaurants catering to both upscale and informal eating preferences, a sports bar with live broadcasting, and a high-end hotel boasting more than 300 rooms that provide breathtaking views of the Elizabeth River. A multifunctional entertainment facility, equipped to accommodate concerts and other events, is also being designed to establish the casino resort as a prominent attraction in Norfolk.
Community Feedback Response
Boyd and the Pamunkey Tribe have been proactively interacting with the Norfolk community to effectively respond to issues and collect invaluable input. Based on community feedback, the developers have committed to implement several measures, such as ensuring sufficient parking capacity and preserving free parking spots for Amtrak passengers to acknowledge and enhance public transit accessibility and convenience.
The developers have shown their commitment to sustain this negotiation, guaranteeing that the casino not only achieves commercial goals but also enhances the cultural and economic well-being of the local population.
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