MGM Resorts strikes agreement to build casino at National Harbor near nation’s capital (Baltimore: hotels, neighborhoods)

[justtitans]

Originally Posted by adelphi_sky

NH is bounded on three sides. One side is the river. The other is 495. The goal and intent of National Harbor was to be a riverfront development. at the edge of Ft. Washington. not in the MIDDLE of Ft. Washington. I'm not sure how else it could work. HOw would you integrate NH into Ft. Washington to make it accessible to the "locals?"

1. Have more than one entrance/exit
2. Create walking paths between NH and surrounding neighborhoods
3. Open up a road that would enter one of the local neighborhoods
4. Remove fencing around certain portions (i.e. Fort Foote neighborhood, it makes it look like the people who live there aren't good enough to live in National Harbor)

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by bowian

Casino drama? What's up with this???

3 Facts about the Backroom Deal for the Casino at National Harbor! | cloverleafsoa.org

PUBLIC INFORMATION ACT REQUEST REVEALS EVIDENCE OF BACKROOM COORDINATION BETWEEN RUSHERN BAKER AND NATIONAL HARBOR FOR A PRINCE GEORGE

Fact the organization behind this ad went through foreclosure earlier this year. Give me a break. Any organization's or person's actions could skewed to appear in a bad light.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by SparkleNFade77

Months and months ago Mel Franklin did a survey for/of his constituents of what their thoughts were on a 6th site and its location... Rosecroft actually beat out National Harbor... I went to a town hall meeting last night that Senator Muse put on to get district 26 residents opinions. Citizens of the 26th district did not seem to be be very please with National Harbor in a hole... and many of them also spoke up to say they would prefer it at Rosecroft over National Harbor...

I think that given the information that has come out since then that opinion has changed. As for the citizen's of dist 26th at that meeting. Most were probably that core group that shoot down every project around here. They will vote but you would be surprised about the number of active voters who don't go to the community meetings because they add no value

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by pgtitans

You still don't get it. How are the local benefiting from NH? They are closed out by a huge fence, they have to pay a huge amount for parking and they have to go out of their way just to get there. What makes the development, any different to them than Old Town Alexandria or downtown DC. Most people who have a development like that near them would want it to have some level of convenience. They have done very little to implement the local community. It is extremely isolated.

That's the real issue here.

But we all know or should know why the fence is there and it's due to the high crime that was and still persist in the surrounding community. I know that not everyone is a criminal but there is enough activity to justify the level of security to keep the knuckleheads out and to make the tourist feel safe. It's the same used at the suit land federal center. The parking has always been on par with most of the hangout/hotspots in the metro area. As for local benefit. Those that work in hospitality have benefitted from jobs also the gaylord donated money to pgcc's hospitality program as well as the money given to the national harbor community fund( the intent was there even though the county misused the funds).

[North Beach Person]

While everyone is staying orgasmic about a possible casino at National Harbor I hope you've noticed what's going on at Perryville with the turn back of 500 machines. Receipts were down at Ocean Downs also. What you're seeing is the market being cannibalized with too many venues too close together and Baltimore hasn't even awarded a license yet.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

While everyone is staying orgasmic about a possible casino at National Harbor I hope you've noticed what's going on at Perryville with the turn back of 500 machines. Receipts were down at Ocean Downs also. What you're seeing is the market being cannibalized with too many venues too close together and Baltimore hasn't even awarded a license yet.

IMO perryvile and oceans downs were alway high on the impact list since they are not near major city centers. Also remember that a lot of people still dont patronize MD because its only slots. Once they are built into full scale destinations the revenues will improves. Those that dont will fall to the wayside. That is the free market way

[North Beach Person]

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

IMO perryvile and oceans downs were alway high on the impact list since they are not near major city centers. Also remember that a lot of people still dont patronize MD because its only slots. Once they are built into full scale destinations the revenues will improves. Those that dont will fall to the wayside. That is the free market way

Won't happen. The state has too much of its budget balanced on the projected revenues, which are already falling short.


The theory with Perryville was that travelers would pull off the Interstate and come from Delaware for some gambling. Ocean Downs was predicated on two things: people already were there gambling on horses and people would scoot over from Ocean City.

If you remember one of the hang ups a few years ago was the tax rate. That tooks months to hammer out and the licensees based their projections on having just five venues. They accepted a higher tax rate with the promise that there would be no more venues created. That's why they're raising Hell about National Harbor and also why they're in renegotiation mode.

[UrbanScholar]

Originally Posted by North Beach Person

Won't happen. The state has too much of its budget balanced on the projected revenues, which are already falling short.


The theory with Perryville was that travelers would pull off the Interstate and come from Delaware for some gambling. Ocean Downs was predicated on two things: people already were there gambling on horses and people would scoot over from Ocean City.

If you remember one of the hang ups a few years ago was the tax rate. That tooks months to hammer out and the licensees based their projections on having just five venues. They accepted a higher tax rate with the promise that there would be no more venues created. That's why they're raising Hell about National Harbor and also why they're in renegotiation mode.

The Perryville theory was flawed from the beginning if that was there logic. That's like trying to have a corolla compete with a Mercedes. Unless you are competitive or adding additional value why would a consumer switch "brands" completely just because it's new or convenient. As for their strategic planning, it was very short-sighted. they should have always planned for additional competition be it in MD or out. Besides politicians come and go what guarantee would they have had that another assembly would not have come to another approach to gambling down the road?

[UrbanScholar]

Here are some details to the proposed bill. It will be interesting to see the commentary that will follow from current operators since there will be restrictions on their increase percentage.

Details On Maryland Gambling Bill Released « CBS Baltimore

[adelphi_sky]

Originally Posted by UrbanScholar

The Perryville theory was flawed from the beginning if that was there logic. That's like trying to have a corolla compete with a Mercedes. Unless you are competitive or adding additional value why would a consumer switch "brands" completely just because it's new or convenient. As for their strategic planning, it was very short-sighted. they should have always planned for additional competition be it in MD or out. Besides politicians come and go what guarantee would they have had that another assembly would not have come to another approach to gambling down the road?

Exactly! What prudent business man would hang their hopes on elected officials with limited terms? You HAVE to know the winds may change later on down the road. That's what you plan for. If YOU are successful and raking in the dough, you know the bigger fish are going to want in on the action and they have the money to wow local officials with jobs and revenue. This wouldn't be an issue if we were talking about Larry's Steamboat Casino on the Potomac.