MGM’s pitch for a $1B casino in Downtown Atlanta (Springfield: mall, train station)

[AnsleyPark]

Originally Posted by cqholt

The Vegas Strip is a horrible car-centric, super block, fortress-style development that is meant to trap visitors inside. Don't we have enough of that with all the government buildings?

What's even worse, it is a showcase of drunks, folks throwing up, con artists, prostitutes, litter galore and God only knows what else. Heck, the cars are the least of the problem.

[fieldm]

Originally Posted by cqholt

The Vegas Strip is a horrible car-centric, super block, fortress-style development that is meant to trap visitors inside. Don't we have enough of that with all the government buildings?

Cherry picking..

Nobody mentioned this when the Falcons were talking about building a new stadium or any of the other new developments downtown

[cqholt]

Originally Posted by fieldm

Cherry picking..

Nobody mentioned this when the Falcons were talking about building a new stadium or any of the other new developments downtown

Absolutely many people are upset that Int'l Blvd is not being extended to connect with Northside Dr and create a grid, but a MUP connection was proposed. GWCC is a state agency, they require no rezoning, so there is little the public can do to.

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by fieldm

I feel what you are saying but nobody cared about "black-hole block" block with TF or the new Falcons stadium but now its a problem but it is what it is

That's straight up false.

People have been caring about Turner Field's impact on the surrounding neighborhood for years and years. Now that the Braves are gone, we can finally actually DO something about it. Notice how we're not keeping it the same super block of parking lots. We're filling it in with development, and connecting it with transit, and people couldn't be more happy to see it finally happen.

The Falcons Stadium has also been criticized for its impacts on the surrounding neighborhoods. Unlike Turner Field, however, the Falcons have put their money where their mouth is and matched a lot of city funds going into the area for new parks, and infrastructure projects. Similarly, we're seeing transit and increased development going into the area soon, if not already.

[Mossberg]

There's nothing that says we HAVE to allow MGM to build a casino that doesn't incorporate urbanism. Just because their other casinos are fortresses that don't integrate well with the street doesn't mean we can't require them to it differently here.

Hell, even big box stores have proven they can integrate urbanism when required to do so.

Let's not be so closed-minded and apply Vegas (and other cities) logic to what will be built in Atlanta. We can demand different!

I believe that people should be allowed to throw away their money in any manner they like (even though I'm not much of a gambler).

Let's just get the zoning and building requirements correct for something built into a vibrant downtown.

Also, the "Casino's bring crime" old mentality is on par with the "MARTA brings black people go to the suburbs to commit crimes" crap. Let's not generalize and stereotype things without having actual factual recent data on this.

[jsvh]

Yeah, my issue is mostly with the large mega-casino format.

If they want to fit into an existing historic-type downtown building with minimal parking, then that is fine. But I just don't see them doing that. So let them locate in some other part of the metro.

[tikigod311]

If downtown didn't have so much going for it right now, the location may be optimal. I used to think that the gulch would be a good area for a casino, but two things have changed since those posts:

1. Downtown has a lot of momentum right now, more than ever in my lifetime. There is a good chance that this will become a great urban neighborhood, a casino is not going to help that. Downtown just doesn't need it.

2. I went to the Hard Rock Casino in Tampa. Yes it's FL, but it's a pretty nice looking place. The people though... they looked so sad. It's the same look you see on the people who look so desperate playing those insane gas station slot machines already here. It's bad stuff for many people.

But, I don't want to legislate my moral stance and ban it completely. That desire for personal freedom overrides what really is common sense, a casino would cause more bad than good in Georgia. We shouldn't ban it, but downtown would not be an optimal location. O, and the Casino needs to pay well to play in GA

[fourthwarden]

Originally Posted by Mossberg

There's nothing that says we HAVE to allow MGM to build a casino that doesn't incorporate urbanism. Just because their other casinos are fortresses that don't integrate well with the street doesn't mean we can't require them to it differently here.

Hell, even big box stores have proven they can integrate urbanism when required to do so.

Let's not be so closed-minded and apply Vegas (and other cities) logic to what will be built in Atlanta. We can demand different!

I believe that people should be allowed to throw away their money in any manner they like (even though I'm not much of a gambler).

Let's just get the zoning and building requirements correct for something built into a vibrant downtown.

Also, the "Casino's bring crime" old mentality is on par with the "MARTA brings black people go to the suburbs to commit crimes" crap. Let's not generalize and stereotype things without having actual factual recent data on this.

Fair enough, but until they come with a full on plan with how to engage the sidewalks, bring business to the rest of the neighborhood and not kill the block, I don't think it's too much of a stretch to consider that they will do what they've done pretty much everywhere else.

I look forward to reviewing the plan should they ever make one.

[TheTravelinMan]

Look, as long as Nathan Deal is governor there isn't going to be any casino anywhere in GA so everyone might as well put this whole discussion on the shelf for at least the next couple of years.

[Hokiehaven]

Originally Posted by TheTravelinMan

Look, as long as Nathan Deal is governor there isn't going to be any casino anywhere in GA so everyone might as well put this whole discussion on the shelf for at least the next couple of years.

Based on everything I've read regarding casinos, it's bad news, it runs the area around it into the ground, creates greater poverty and income inequality.

The one area I could see it being a potential thing is a walkway from the airport directly, though there is no land.

Downtown has enough going on and it's growing on its own, it also needs to stop being a tourist trap and become a more livable, desirable destination, a casino would only continue that trend and assure that Downtown will be nothing more than a tourist trap.

I still don't like it, but I could see at the airport making sense as they are trying to hit up people passing through and of course GA has to get a huge cut for it to make sense.

Though I can agree with the fact that Deal won't approve it, which is fine by me.