Related story: Indiana town is example of casino success

As the bright sun tried to peek through an otherwise-gray sky, politicians, community leaders and white-collar casino executives used gold-bladed shovels to move brown dirt and begin Toledo’s plan to bring blue-collar jobs and some green to the city.

The pot of gold at the end of this rainbow is the Hollywood Casino Toledo, scheduled to open in 2012 as the first of Ohio’s four casinos. Toledo Mayor Mike Bell described the casino as a “life preserver” at the Aug. 12 groundbreaking.

Issue 3 on the 2009 ballot legalized gaming at a specific site in each of the state’s four largest cities. As decided by Issue 3, Penn National Gaming will build and oversee Toledo’s casino. The company received site approval from the Toledo Plan Commission in July. The casino will be located at 1968 Miami Street, just off Interstate 75, and is expected to bring jobs, tax revenue and tourists to Northwest Ohio.

At the Aug. 12 groundbreaking ceremony, from left: Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken; Penn National Gaming Vice President of Public Affairs Eric Schippers and President and COO Timothy Wilmott; Toledo Mayor Mike Bell; and Deputy Mayor of Operations Steve Herwat.

“This is a game-changer,” said Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken, who equated the ceremony’s importance with the 1997 Jeep plant and 2007 Lucas County Arena groundbreakings.

“This is the first day, if you listen very very clearly, you can hear that sucking sound of business starting to come back from Detroit,” said Tim Wilmott, president and chief operating officer of Penn National Gaming.

Friendly neighborhood casino

In addition to employment and tax revenues, one potential offshoot of the casino is business interest in the land surrounding the site. Penn National Gaming owns 44 acres along Miami Street. The casino will be built on a 37-acre parcel of land west of Interstate 75. The company also owns 7 acres east of the highway. Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Inc. (LOF) owns the parcels on either side of the casino, as well as vacant acreage just south of the build site in Rossford.

Pilkington Group Ltd. bought out LOF in 1986 and took control of its property. The vacant field behind Linmore and Selkirk streets has an address on Wales Road in Rossford. According to a statement from Pilkington North America Legal and Corporate Affairs Manager Yohko Minowa, Pilkington “has not been approached by anyone regarding the property on Wales Road, and if we are, we will consider the offer at that time.”

But other than the land LOF owns, most of the acreage surrounding the build site is residential. Bangor, Selkirk, Linmore and Woodmore streets jut off from Miami Street across from the casino’s future home. More than 50 houses fill the streets now, but that could change if businesses view the property as a chance to profit from Hollywood Casino.

“I wouldn’t be surprised if sometime in the next five or 10 years these homes all get bought out,” said Toledo City Councilman Mike Craig, in whose district the casino will be built.

None of this surprises residents Sandy and Dusty Anderson of 1743 Linmore St. They said they hope the casino will benefit the city, even if it forces them to move from the house they’ve lived in for 16 years. The Andersons can see the future casino site and the LOF property from their front yard.

“I would not have picked that site, just because I don’t think it’s big enough — unless they’re counting this property,” Sandy Anderson said, referring to the neighborhood. “I wouldn’t care if they bought out all three streets here. I’m not against progress. It’s what you’ve got to do, right?”

Anderson said neighborhood opinions about the casino differ. One of her neighbors hosted a meeting with the city about the casino, but the Andersons did not attend because they felt the meeting would not bring about change. She said many residents in the area are elderly and would likely sell their homes willingly if asked.

Ron Hawkins of 1734 Selkirk St. sees the residents’ ages as a deterrent to business interests.

“A lot of [homeowners] would hold out,” he said, adding that just about everyone in the neighborhood knew businesses might seek to buy the homes.

Elizabeth Anne Wayton of 1760 Selkirk St. was OK with the casino “as long as they stay on the other side of Miami Street.”

“It’s enjoyment for some people,” she said, adding that businesses might not acquire the LOF field because of problems existing from its previous use.

“I don’t think the property is that valuable,” she said. “I guess they had drainage and all that from the factory.”

The vacant field is zoned for commercial use, but Toledo Deputy Mayor of Operations Steve Herwat said any businesses seeking the residential land would need to have it rezoned before they could construct hotels, restaurants or other ventures.

“I would not be surprised if some of those residential property owners receive offers,” Herwat said.

A quick turn on the river

Officials say Penn National Gaming has worked tirelessly to get Hollywood Casino Toledo under way. An orange Rudolph|Libbe trailer indicates construction is imminent less than a year after Issue 3 passed.

“We actually received immediate approval by the planning commission, and so far so good on the permit process,” said Karen Bailey, director of public affairs for Penn National Gaming. “We’ve already filed for some of our permits, so construction will begin immediately.”

The timely start to the project is in line with the company’s reputation, said Mark V’Soske, president of the Toledo Regional Chamber of Commerce.

“Penn Gaming gets extremely high marks for doing what they say they’re going to do, doing it well and doing it quick,” he said.

Bailey said the construction process would require about 2,100 employees. The casino will employ about 1,200 workers once the doors open.

The gaming establishment will house 2,000 slot machines, more than 50 game tables and four restaurants. Eating options include a buffet, steakhouse, casual dining and Hollywood on the Roof, which will serve as a venue for local entertainment on weekends. The casino will have the same theme and general layout as Hollywood Casino in Lawrenceburg, Ind., but with two key differences: Toledo’s casino will not be a riverboat, nor will it have a hotel.

Full house

The casino will not have lodging when it opens for business because of an agreement Destination Toledo and Penn National Gaming signed. The contract states the casino cannot build a hotel onsite or within 10 miles until Downtown hotels reach 68 percent of its collective capacity.

“We wanted to make sure our hotels are taken care of,” said Cathy Miller, director of tourism for Destination Toledo.

“The intent there was a vibrant Downtown. We get a vibrant Downtown with 68 percent occupancy, then if they opened a hotel there that makes good business sense for all of us.”

A shuttle will take casino patrons to and from Downtown.

The casino’s website, www.hollywoodcasino-toledo.com, lists the Park Inn and Crowne Plaza as its “local hotel partners.” Both are about 4 miles from Hollywood Casino.

The closest hotel to the site is the Days Inn at 1800 Miami St., just off Interstate-75. The Comfort Inn South in Northwood is the next closest at 1 mile away. Days Inn Manager Alexis Myrice said the 145-room hotel is undergoing renovations and hopes to fill up fast when the casino opens.

“The boost in business would boost the morale of the employees and make everything flow better,” she said.

Myrice said other hotels might be interested in building near the casino, but space is limited.

“There will be bids out and people will be trying to buy,” he said. “There’s just a small amount of land to build on.”

The city splits the kitty

Just as lucrative as the promise of many jobs is the estimated tax revenue to be generated by the casino. In addition to property taxes, Penn National Gaming will pay and the income taxes from its employees, the passed constitutional amendment designates a third of all gambling revenues for tax use.

Ohio’s 88 counties will split 51 percent of the gaming tax, with larger counties claiming a slightly larger slice of the pie. All state public school districts share another 34 percent. Toledo will receive its share of 5 percent from the tax. The remaining 10 percent is shared among the state casino control commission, racing commission fund, law enforcement training fund and problem gambling and addictions fund.

Lucas County and Toledo will receive an estimated $25.3 million from the gaming tax annually, Bailey said.

Hollywood Casino Toledo is just yards away from Rossford, but the suburb will not see any of the tax benefits the “host city” will receive. Rossford City Administrator Ed Ciecka hopes that changes.

“We are treated as if we were in Portsmouth, Ohio,” he said.

“There is no provision in the constitutional amendment that gives any additional compensation to the City of Rossford. That is a concern of ours. We’re hoping with cooperation there will be some recognition of that host city designation.”

Wilmott called Rossford the company’s “second host community.”

Craig said Penn National Gaming has been cooperating with Rossford and has proven to be a strong corporate partner thus far. He cited the company’s decision to reimburse Toledo for expenses incurred while prepping the site for construction as an example.

A regional attraction

Not a single poker table at Hollywood Casino will be in place until 2012, but other local destinations are already using the venue as a bargaining chip. V’Soske said SeaGate Convention Centre is already booking conventions for 2012 and hopes to attract patrons by soliciting the casino as a potential entertainment destination. He said the casino will benefit, not compete with the SeaGate Centre.

“It’s another hook to get people,” V’Soske said. “When you sell conventions, you’re selling two to three years out. The marketing that Destination Toledo does promotes the Hollywood Casino for 2012.”

Raceway Park, also owned by Penn National Gaming, is Toledo’s other main gambling outlet. Although the harness racing track is not permitted to use slot machines, Director of Marketing and Guest Services John McNamara said he is not concerned about losing customers to the casino because horse racing and casino gambling are different.

“If anything, it’s going to enhance our appeal as a gambling outlet,” he said. “It’s going to be an easier sell for people to come out and give us a shot.”

Area taxi services hope to cash in when patrons cash out and leave Hollywood Casino for the evening. Jackie Hines of Checker Cab said driving home inebriated individuals is part of the company’s regimen.

“At night, it’s more people who have been drinking and don’t want to drive. A lot of people call to get a ride to the bar and get a ride home,” she said.

Scott Potter of Black and White Cab Company said his business will likely increase regardless of alcohol use because many casino patrons will be used to traveling by taxi, as is common in Las Vegas.

A safe bet

The Andersons said they rarely see Toledo Police officers patrolling their corner of the city. When the casino opens, they think that will change.

“They think we’re part of Rossford, so now we’ll probably have more police protection than we’ve ever had,” Sandy Anderson said.

The casino also affects the Toledo Fire Department. Station No. 6, currently on Starr Avenue, is the closest firehouse to the casino. Coincidentally, the station will be relocated closer to the casino to the corner of Oak and Fassett streets — a move in the works long before Issue 3 was passed.

“I’ve been on the job for 26 years, and for 26 years we’ve been trying to build a new No. 6,” said Deputy Chief Phil Cervantes with a laugh.

In case of a fire, Cervantes said the department would dispatch only Toledo fire stations. He said Rossford Fire Department would not be called in for mutual aid unless the fire escalated.

“I don’t anticipate a great influx of runs, no more than when anybody else builds a business,” Cervantes said.

But many view the casino as much more than just another business, including Mayor Bell.

“What we have to do is figure out how to bring it together, all together,” he said. “If we don’t fix this ship here, we’re all going to sink, and Penn National has given us a life preserver.”

Tags: Hollywood Casino Toledo, Mike Bell, Penn National Gaming

This entry was posted on Thursday, August 12th, 2010 at 5:00 pm and is filed under Casinos, Community, Featured.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.