The Richmond, Virginia city council recently reintroduced the $562 million ONE Casino + Resort project which voters narrowly rejected in November 2021.
The project would include a casino, luxury hotel, live entertainment venue and 55 acres of green space, and create 1,300 jobs. Councilwoman Reva Trammell told local outlet WRIC, “I feel good. I feel really good. The message is going to be a lot clearer this time.”
In its latest version, ONE Casino + Resort would not use any taxpayer money and instead would draw from the General Fund and receive a one-time payment pending approval from Richmond voters. Casino revenue would be directed toward “city priorities,” including investing in education and creating new opportunities for Southside Richmond residents.
Mayor Levar Stoney told WRIC, “It is critical that we continue to find ways to diversify the revenue streams that feed our local economy, which is why I am excited about another shot at this game-changing development.”
Regarding the earlier defeat of the casino resort referendum, Trammel said voters’ rejection did not mean they didn’t want the project. “It was a referendum. You always get another chance, but this time the message would be clearer. A lot of people thought their tax dollars were going to pay for it. That’s not true.”
Following the failed Richmond referendum, in January 2022, Trammell introduced a resolution to hold another vote, adding a new property tax which, she said, made the plan different enough to hold a second vote. However, state Senator Joe Morrissey introduced a bill in the state legislature blocking another Richmond vote in favor of allowing Petersburg to hold a referendum. But his strategy was unsuccessful.
Richmond city council is expected to consider the ONE project at its June meeting. If it’s approved, the Virginia Lottery and Richmond Circuit Court will have to grant that the referendum be placed on the November ballot.
Bristol, Danville, Norfolk and Portsmouth all have passed casino referendums and have opened temporary casinos.
