On November 3, voters in Norfolk, Virginia will decide if they want a casino, owned by the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, to be developed in their city.
Officials said the $500 million casino resort would include a 300-room hotel with restaurants, a spa and 2,500-seat entertainment venue. It would create 2,000 construction jobs and 2,500 full-time jobs. The tribe projected the venue would have an estimated total economic impact of $850 million for the state, including $754 million for the city of Norfolk, and would generate $30 million in annual gaming tax revenue plus an additional $50 million ear-marked for Virginia public schools. The tribe also pledged 90 percent of the workforce would be local and 50 percent would be minority workers.
Tribal spokesman Jay Smith said, “Norfolk doesn’t want to get left behind. Portsmouth, Bristol, Danville, and next year, Richmond, will all be moving forward, possibly with their own casino.” Legislation passed earlier this year authorized the five cities to have a casino, if approved in voter referendums.
However, a “pro-transparency” group, Informed Norfolk, which is running a Vote No campaign, has some concerns. Spokesperson Jackie Glass said, “The process is just not right. It is a substandard approach to an unprecedented type of development. I want the city to, whatever they develop, whether it is a casino or a Starbucks, go through the process of making sure they are getting what’s best for the community.” She said the city should hire an independent firm to conduct an “economic health study.”
Smith pointed out, “Every single one of Informed Norfolk’s talking points starts with, ‘We’re not against casinos, we just think this is a bad deal.’ As if there’s another deal that’s somehow going to come along. We believe that the more people that know about this project, the more that they support it. That’s why we put more information on our website allinnorfolk.com than any of the other casino projects being proposed around the state.”
Smith noted taxpayers would not pay for any of the casino resort development. He said it would attract tourists to Norfolk, “but they don’t just come and stay in our casino, they’re going to go out and explore Norfolk, they’re going to explore the beaches. Bringing people to Norfolk, that’s going to help everybody.”
Glass questioned whether the cited by the tribe actually would become reality. “The numbers are just assumptions, not based in an independent truth. So I get it. I see the big numbers, I get excited about it because I know our city needs the revenue, but if we’re not looking at it without rose-colored glasses then we’re setting ourselves up for failure. I just don’t want anyone selling the community a dream. The positives with the negatives. You have to weigh them both when you’re developing.”
Glass also stated Covid-19 has impacted the tourism industry she questioned if the casino truly would draw visitors to the city. She also questioned the waterfront location of the development, along the Elizabeth River, would affect the environment. “That specific area is an EPA-certified brownfield, which means if you build there incorrectly, you’ll seep toxins into the bay. There is going to be a cost to build out that seawall,” Glass said.
Smith, however, said the tribe does not expect any major environmental problems, but would fully cover any environmental remediation work and contribute to Norfolk’s flood resiliency plan if necessary. “Our environmental engineers have looked at that site. It is completely able to be developed. We’re going to be the ones to pay for any remediation that has to be done,” Smith said.
Glass also brought up the tribe’s Civil War-era “Black Laws” that discriminated against members of African American descent. Smith replied the tribe repealed those laws last summer, applied retroactively so individuals with both Pamunkey and African American heritage can apply to become tribal members.
Smith said, “This is a re-investment back into the community. What we’re seeing is that people care about the jobs, they care about the revenue – because that’s what’s going to fix their schools, that’s what’s going to make their neighborhood stronger, that’s what’s going to provide them with the resources they need to grow as a city.”
Additionally, the Pamunkey tribe recently announced HKS of Dallas and Baskervill of Richmond will serve as architects for the tribe’s planned casino resort. Pamunkey Chief Robert Gray said, “The design team that we have assembled will create an amazing resort. These two companies bring the creativity, industry expertise, experience and drive to ensure that this facility will exceed the highest expectations set by the tribe and the city of Norfolk for this project.”
International entertainment venue architecture group HKS has 1,350 employees in 23 locations. Notable projects include Dallas Cowboys home AT&T Stadium, National Football League Rams and Chargers home SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles and MGM National Harbor Casino near Washington, D.C. HKS Principal and Director of Hospitality Luis Zapiain said, “It is an honor to be part of a project that will transform and create a positive impact for the Norfolk community. Along with bringing our design expertise and creativity, we are equally committed to working alongside our local partners and sharing the common goal of creating a destination like no other.”
Founded in 1897, Baskervill designed Norfolk’s Glass Light Hotel & Gallery and interior design for the Hilton Norfolk the Main. Baskervill President Bob Clark said, “We are thrilled to be working with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe alongside our partners at HKS on this incredibly exciting project for Norfolk and Virginia. As a longstanding Virginia-based firm, we know how important an investment like this can be for our communities. We’re proud to be a part of this.”
Also in Virginia, Caesars Entertainment recently released a list of more than 100 businesses in Danville that support a potential $400 million casino resort. Located on the former Dan River Inc. property in Schoolfield, the venue would create 900 construction jobs and 1,300 new jobs. If voters approve the project on November 3, Caesars will immediately give the city $20 million to help pay for a new police headquarters.
