Norfolk casino needs more time to finalize resort plans
The development team behind Norfolk's long-delayed casino project is scheduled to submit updated construction plans to the city's Architectural Review Board (ARB) on Monday. No plans were proposed.
Instead, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, the gaming partner of the city's only casino option, said it needed more time to address concerns raised by local government officials. The tribe and its project partner, billionaire Jon Yarbrough, want to build a commercial casino resort on the banks of the Elizabeth River next to Port Park.
“The Pamunkey Tribe continues to work diligently with its architectural and engineering teams to complete the additional design work necessary to meet City Council’s direction,” said project spokesman Jay Smith.
"We have asked the ARB to continue until this work is completed. Once we are confident that these plans meet the needs of the city and tribes, we will ask that they be placed on the ARB agenda," Smith continued. “We know many Norfolk residents share our desire to open HeadWaters Resort & Casino and once the design is complete we will pursue an ambitious construction program to bring the project to fruition.”
HeadWaters has undergone multiple design revisions since Norfolk voters approved its construction via a local referendum in the November 2020 election. More than three years later, the land remains untouched.
Seawall retreat
The latest design setback for the HeadWaters development comes as a result of Norfolk's $2.6 billion Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, which calls for the construction of seawalls near where the casino will be built.
Norfolk has one of the highest relative rates of sea level rise (RSLR) among Atlantic coastal communities. Federal, state and local officials say that puts the city at increased risk for flooding and damage from coastal storms like nor'easters and hurricanes.
Part of the project includes a flood wall in the city center.17 ft. T-Wall consists of a solid inverted T-shaped concrete wall to strengthen the river bank. The floodwall will stretch nearly eight miles along the north bank of the Elizabeth River.
HeadWaters originally planned to build a marina for boaters to dock and visit the resort, ballpark and nearby shops, but the seawall project made those plans impossible and the developers went back to the drawing board.
The casino's latest renderings, released in December, move the resort slightly inland to accommodate stormwater systems. The $500 million concept includes a 300-room hotel and 18,000 square feet of event space. The 65,000-square-foot casino features 1,000 slot machines, 25 gaming tables and a 180-seat sportsbook.
Resort amenities include multiple restaurants and bars, a spa and a 1,200-space parking garage.
The 2020 Norfolk Gambling Referendum gave the project five years to open. The November 2025 deadline appears to be approaching quickly.
City needs construction stage
HeadWaters developers had previously proposed building the resort in phases, building the casino first and then building the hotel and resort. The city rejected the plan because the host agreement with the tribe required the resort to be built immediately.
Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander said the tribe’s proposal to delay the development was “unacceptable.”
Virginia lawmakers passed a law in 2020 allowing five cities to consider casino projects. Like Norfolk, voters in Portsmouth, Bristol and Danville subsequently passed local referendums approving the casino resorts chosen by their cities. Richmond was the only city to vote against gaming development.
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Source: www.casino.org
