[TOareaFan]

Some bad news for the "Go Markham Go" contingent in our electronic peanut gallery

http://www.thestar.com/news/cityhal...ino-threat-hollow-mgm-executive-suggests?bn=1

The chair of the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp., Paul Godfrey, warned bluntly last week that the province would build a casino-resort in “Mississauga or somewhere else first” rather than wait for Toronto to hold a referendum in 2014. Mayor Rob Ford said Monday that he is concerned the city will surrender the “prime opportunity” to a more aggressive Mississauga or Markham.

Minutes later, however, MGM Resorts’ senior vice-president of public affairs said neither of those cities are likely to attract the companies that create the kind of multi-billion-dollar entertainment destination the province is seeking.

“If you’re talking about a large-scale integrated resort, I’d be surprised if anyone found those areas viable,” Alan Feldman told reporters.

 

[MadMax]

Like I said before MGM and Caesers are only interested in Toronto....they will not build this anywhere else.

 

[Asmegin]

Toronto Star - Toronto casino push has Las Vegas Sands scouting the city

Woah...Sands is interested too??

 

[TrickyRicky]

I had a laugh looking at those pool pictures thinking that in Toronto the by-law would probably require you to put a chain-link fence around it or something.

 

[MadMax]

From this article I think we can safely rule out Ontario Place as the future Mega Casino site. Looks like OP's future may end up as Waterfront Condos instead. My gut feeling is that any future Mega Resort Casino will be located either at the Ex or the Portlands. I think the latter which would meet the least amount of resistance from the community as well as councillors. There certainly is plenty of space, but not sure how the previous Waterfront Toronto plans would be affected.

 

[Riverdale Rink Rat]

I wonder where we'd be today if, back in the 90s, Woodbine were sold off for redevelopment and Greenwood (aka "Old Woodbine") were kept instead...

Now that the parks have grown in and the mini-soccer is using the pitches, Greenwood has become a really lovely extension of the Beach community. I have some friends living there, and I was really skeptical about the tiny, tiny backyard (as their kids were small). However, the easy access to the park and the beach means even young'uns don't spend much time in their own place.

 

[TOareaFan]

This is a link to a video of CTV news' coverage of the MGM VP guy at city hall yesterday.

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/lo...ino-pitch-120514/20120514/?hub=TorontoNewHome

I believe the on air version was bit longer and included him stating that OP was not big enough (in terms of contigous land area) but that this facility at the CNE grounds could be a catalyst for a more vibrant public space at OP (my words interpreting what he said)...but that is not in this clip (so I either imagined it....or ctv edited it out....or I saw it on some other station as I flicked around the tv dial last night).

 

[TOareaFan]

I had a laugh looking at those pool pictures thinking that in Toronto the by-law would probably require you to put a chain-link fence around it or something.

As I looked at those pics I was focused on the third one and thought "that building again!!! are we destined to 3 or 4 more pages of debate over whether that is awsome or fugly"

 

[jaycola]

In my opinion, this is an opportunity that we would be remiss to let go. I think people need to look less at the negative social costs of gambling and focus on the economic benefits of thousands of construction jobs in the interim and thousands of permanent jobs in the future. Maybe there will be a direct economic benefit from the gambling but there are other benefits that ought not be overlooked. Add to that permit fees and property taxes and there are other long term benefits. A 3 Billion dollar project could bring $100,000,000 in property taxes alone.

Toronto is competing with many destinations for tourism and convention trade as well as growth as a centre for corporate headquarters. Toronto is within a day's drive of 40% of America's population. That positions us well to build on the tourists industry which already employs tens of thousands and as a draw for more corporate investment. We are just emerging as a city with a broad epicurean culture and the addition of a few celebrity restaurants will only encourage growth in this area.

It's time for the citizens to get behind this project. The goal should be to get the best project possible built where consideration is made to existing services, business and residents, not to block the project.

It does look like Ontario place is out of the running but the EX has moved into top position for my choice.
Give them all the land south of Princess Blvd to develop. Shift some of the exhibition action over to Ontario place grounds and the parks to the east and west of the Ex if necessary. A development like a casino can only help the rejuvenation of Ontario place into something we can be proud of.

 

[Towered]

This is a link to a video of CTV news' coverage of the MGM VP guy at city hall yesterday.

http://toronto.ctv.ca/servlet/an/lo...ino-pitch-120514/20120514/?hub=TorontoNewHome

I believe the on air version was bit longer and included him stating that OP was not big enough (in terms of contigous land area) but that this facility at the CNE grounds could be a catalyst for a more vibrant public space at OP (my words interpreting what he said)...but that is not in this clip (so I either imagined it....or ctv edited it out....or I saw it on some other station as I flicked around the tv dial last night).

He also wisely shot down the idea of locating this massive complex in a wasteland like Woodbine, which was always a stupid idea. Suburbs like Mississauga or Markham are also not in the running. He insists that it will have to be somewhere downtown, close to the lake. It's logical.

 

[coolcanadian]

The fact that so many companies are interested is great news!

Sands being interested is awesome! we have the potential to really build something great.

With four huge players already interested publicly (I'm sure others are thinking about it but haven't said anything yet), this could be huge!

We should definitely hold some sort of contest for the best complex.

It does not mean that Toronto will become a tourist city that doesn't care about its people. We are one of the most livable cities in the world, and that will not change because a huge resort casino that provides many jobs is built.

Letting a less-amazing complex be built in Markham or Mississauga would be a huge loss of potential.

 

[Frankie1984]

Speculation on my part but yesterday, when they were announcing the re-upping of the Indy race, there was a quote from one of the organizers stating that they might look at re-configuring the track, incorporating parts of Ontario Place.

He did, however, leave the door open for a redesign of the course, in future.

“Actually, when you think about it,” he said, “there may be some opportunities going forward where Ontario Place might give us some additional options. We have an open mind when it comes to the circuit. Whenever we can make it more ‘raceable,’ then it’s something we have to consider. - Kevin Savoree

Thought process at first was that they were looking at reinvigorating the race, but reading about how the EX grounds keeps creeping up to the top of the casino location discussion, I wonder if maybe the city kinda whispered in the ear of the organizers to be prepared with an alternative just in case the land around the track needs to be used for a casino development.

 

[coolcanadian]

A proposal of a 200,000-square-foot MGM gaming facility with 100,000 square feet of food and dining space and up to 2,000 hotel rooms. It could be a possible $5-billion investment.

That would be great for the city!! I can see this working great at the Ex, or anywhere downtown. The fact that it is not at OP leaves that open for other possibilities.

In fact, it has been said that if this is built, it could possibly help to save city programs that we currently cannot afford.

We should not say that we will not allow this because Woodbine would suffer. Jobs could be lost at Woodbine, but many more would be added to this facility, and it would be a major attraction.

 

[adma]

From this article I think we can safely rule out Ontario Place as the future Mega Casino site. Looks like OP's future may end up as Waterfront Condos instead.

Somehow, I can just as well see it morphing into a Harbourfront/Distillery/Brickworks hybrid--maybe with a little HafenCity action on the inland side, but...

 

[TOareaFan]

A proposal of a 200,000-square-foot MGM gaming facility with 100,000 square feet of food and dining space and up to 2,000 hotel rooms. It could be a possible $5-billion investment.

That would be great for the city!! I can see this working great at the Ex, or anywhere downtown. The fact that it is not at OP leaves that open for other possibilities.

In fact, it has been said that if this is built, it could possibly help to save city programs that we currently cannot afford.

We should not say that we will not allow this because Woodbine would suffer. Jobs could be lost at Woodbine, but many more would be added to this facility, and it would be a major attraction.

The other thing that was mentioned on the news last night but did not make the Web clip was that if the thing was built on city owned land and leased to a casino developer/operator it could generate as much as $50 million in land lease payments annually.

Of course you could just sell them the land for a much larger, albeit one time only, payment.