Waterfront Casino in Miami? Why not here?

[Ocklawaha]

I love Jax, but the Shipyards and JEA sites combined aren't superior to the Miami Herald site, for a casino/international resort.  Its (Herald site) in a rapidly growing DT in an international city, already has fixed mass transit (which will be directly tied into MIA), a skip and a hop away from a major cruise port and a water taxi ride away from South Beach.  Those are highly attractive environmental characteristics for a potential urban casino/resort site.  The market and money is already there.  All they need is the right to build and they've hit the jackpot.

We're not the equal of Miami, we haven't been since about 1950, and today we're not even the equal of Orlando, or Tampa and we're at risk of falling behind Savannah, Mobile and Charleston... I won't dispute the charms of South Beach, MIA, Biscayne Boulevard etc.  My point being, in spite of MIA, South Beach, et al when it comes to impulse stopping, and freeway tourist traffic, the ONLY location that could beat ours might be on I-75 somewhere north of the Wildwood Turnpike/I-75 split. Miami might have more net tourists in a day then we have pass through on 95, but they don't have more tourists entering the city from the north on the super slab. That single point would make the JEA site very attractive to a tourism type resort, casino, or hotel as it is highly visible and on a high tourist trafficked freeway.

I tend to agree with TUFSU though that as the casino phenomena spreads it dilutes itself and eventually will have virtually no impact at all.


OCKLAWAHA

[thelakelander]

Gotcha.  However, I figure most fly right into South Florida instead of driving down I-95 through Jax.

[Lunican]

Check out this Atlantic City photo thread on Skyscraperpage. It looks pretty run down.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=191401

[iMarvin]

Check out this Atlantic City photo thread on Skyscraperpage. It looks pretty run down.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=191401

Doesn't look run down to me.

[Jaxson]

Put a casino on the shipyards property.

Yea,that could be just like Jacksonville for 'ya after all ..........
A hell of a thing to do to our gracious front porch.

Do that and the 'Stay In Jacksonville' bucket list that has recently overflowed will get kicked in the river.

If Duval must have casino-there are plenty of places for one other than waterfront.
Attempt to place casino downtown and watch First Baptist come out of the woodwork-earning it's keep after all of the criticism,loss.

Bumper Sticker:  Florida's First Coast-where Miami begins!!

I second that.  There is no way that a casino would be able to set up shop without some resistance from the usual suspects!

[JeffreyS]

You definitely have to be careful with a casino. You don't want one that isn't a full blown resort.  You need something that can sell vacation packages.

[Captain Zissou]

Check out this Atlantic City photo thread on Skyscraperpage. It looks pretty run down.

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=191401

Speaking of Skyscraperpage, Jacksonville's list of tall buildings is inaccurate.   

[urbanlibertarian]

Destination casino bills to be filed in the 2012 session of the legislature:

http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=24749131&utm_source=not_lt_user&utm_medium=article_link&utm_campaign=current_email

[edjax]

Our state legislators need to handle this as passed in Ohio a couple of years ago. If the industry wants to open in our state you pass a law that says you must open one casino in Miami, Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville. It is all or nothing if you want to do business in our state. This way all of the state would benefit from this industry not just south Florida. Currently casinos are being built in Toledo Cleveland , Columbus and cincinnati as a result of the Ohio law. Florida is a much bigger destination than Ohio needless to say so if they want to come here make them play by our rules and benefit all of the state.

[Tacachale]

Our state has a standing contract with the Seminole over exclusive casino gaming rights, as well as a ban on non-tribal gaming and a desire, at least in some quarters, to not renege on our explicit contract and screw over the tribes just to make a few potential-but-not-empirically-certain dollars. At least we did until the Miami pork train rolled in.

[edjax]

But if we do go back on it. Then let all of the state should at least have the opportunity to benefit. Two separate issues. This would only be applicable if they agree to override the tribal contract. We just need it to be required to allow all of state to be involved if it happens.

[Tacachale]

^The true issue is that we shouldn't welch on our contract just to make some Monopoly money, no matter where said Monopoly money is going.

[Rynjny]

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/matt-dixon/2011-11-16/destination-resorts-get-first-legislative-hearing?cid=hp-justin

[simms3]

The last thing downtown Jacksonville needs is some sleazy casino.  Detroit's Greektown now has ugly hulking casinos that don't create street life, but in fact keep people in those buildings.

Putting casinos in should be viewed as a last resort thing, when all else fails.  Everything that gets built or gets done in Jacksonville gets built/done with a whole lot less money or thought than the same thing built/done somewhere else, our casinos would be no different.  Imagine eye sores with a lack of thought and respect for the community.

[thelakelander]

^I think for a casino, Detroit's Greektown Casino came out pretty nice.  It's set back from the street, allowing the historic strip to remain in place and directly ties into a people mover station.  The recent hotel addition was okay as well being a piece of modern architecture in a dated environment. 

Personally speaking, I would be an example of someone who has visited the casino who has dined multiple times in the mom & pop restaurants surrounding the place.  Now I park in the casino's garage on just about every trip into downtown Detroit, grab a bite to eat at a local restaurant and go to the casino to get my parking validated.  If that casino didn't offer the free parking, I'd most likely would avoid the surrounding restaurants and businesses on my trips to Detroit.  I'd probably spend more time in Midtown where parking is free, the restaurants are just as good, the walkability is decent and its easier to get in and out.







Out of the three casinos in downtown Detroit, I'd say it turned out the best.  The other two don't integrate at all with their surrounding environment.  With that said, if anyone is thinking that a casino is going to bring downtown back, they are mistaken.  There really is no one trick pony that can.