Residents of Central City are divided over plans for a proposed casino in Colorado. The new casino resort that includes a 27-story hotel tower is raising questions about the impact on the town’s historic character, as reported by The Denver Post.
The Gregory Gulch Gaming Resort, proposed by Raleigh, North Carolina-based G3 Gaming, would feature a 600-room hotel, a 100,000-square-foot casino, multiple restaurants and workforce housing.
Key Takeaways:
- Longtime residents oppose the new 27-story hotel tower for its impact on historic character
- The project could significantly boost local tax revenue and fund infrastructure
- City planning commission recommends rejection, community remains divided over future
The project site is in Gregory Gulch, located below the city’s historic district. At 345 feet tall, the hotel tower would exceed Central City’s building height limit of 53 feet and become the tallest structure in the city. It would also be one of the tallest in the region, second to Black Hawk’s 34-story Ameristar casino.
Heritage vs. High-Rise: Locals Clash Over Proposed Casino in Colorado
Many longtime residents oppose the plan, expressing concerns about its scale and effects on the community. Bob Powe, 74, told the Denver Post the tower would block sunlight and invade privacy by casting shadows on his home, a Victorian Gothic house built in 1865.
Powe told the reporters the sun’s warmth has been essential to heating his home over the years. Other locals voiced worries about noise, loss of views and the change such a large modern structure would bring to a town known for its Gold Rush-era heritage.
City officials and some residents argue the project could provide economic benefits to Central City, which has struggled financially compared to nearby Black Hawk. In the last fiscal year, Central City generated about $1 million in state gaming tax revenue, far less than Black Hawk’s $12.2 million.
City Weighs Impact of Gregory Gulch Resort
Several historic buildings in Central City require expensive preservation work. Supporters of the resort say it could bring up to $8 million in annual tax revenue and funding for infrastructure improvements and historic preservation.
The Central City Planning Commission unanimously recommended rejecting the project, according to The Mountain Ear. Commissioner Dena Hunter described the situation as a “dilemma,” acknowledging that the proposed tower is “the huge elephant in this room” but also saying the city is “dying” and the project “could be a saving grace.”
Critics, including Peter Droege of the Belvidere Theater Foundation, questioned whether a development of this size fits with the town’s historic district and identity.
G3 Gaming stated that the design, by Denver-based Obermeier Sheykhet Architecture, is intended to complement Central City’s character without replicating historic architectural styles. Sammie Mason, the company spokeswoman, said the project “could provide meaningful, long-term benefits – funding improvements to roads, utilities and other essential infrastructure while supporting historic preservation efforts.”
The Central City City Council is scheduled to review the proposed casino in Colorado on November 4. The community remains divided between preserving the town’s heritage and supporting economic revitalization through gaming expansion.
