Michigan Supreme Court Orders Casino Proposal Put On Ballot

**jpbollma** · August-25-12, 03:02 PM

What do you guys think? Do you think Downtown could support another1-2 casinos? I am not opposed to this idea as long as there is a market for it. It could be much needed revenue to the city and look how busy Greektown always is. Perhaps if strategically placed, one or two casinos could help Downtown develop further? I never really understood why the three that are there are spaced so far apart.

http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20120825/POLITICS01/208250365/Michigan-Supreme-Court-orders-casino-proposal-put-ballot?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s

**downtownguy** · August-25-12, 03:49 PM

^^ Yep. All the arguments for them the first go-around. And see how much better things are now.

**BasementBeat** · August-25-12, 03:50 PM

Although casinos aren't really my thing, I hope some guidelines would be in place with placement and at least some development of the blocks they reside on [[ie accessibility to food vendors from the street like Coldstone and Five Guys) + If one was placed somewhere between Greektown & MGM / MGM & Motorcity. As of now, I have zero interest to walk from Downtown to MGM and definitely not Motorcity.

**softailrider** · August-25-12, 04:44 PM

Who cares? Put them all over the place. They don't bother me.

**jpbollma** · August-25-12, 04:48 PM

They don't bother me either. The only concern I have is whether the city has a market for more. I'd hate to see one or several of these large structures go vacant. There isn't much else you can do with them at that point.

**DetroitHabitater** · August-25-12, 05:29 PM

I think they create superblocks with their parking structures and make downtown less pedestriany

**EastsideAl** · August-25-12, 05:43 PM

Casinos, by their very nature as hermetically sealed spaces, suck the urban life out of cities. Just look at what has happened to Greektown, or the dearth of any of the promised development outside of the other two casinos. Both sit like big window-less monoliths surrounded by fortress-like parking areas, and their economic return to the rest of the city is dubious at best. Detroit certainly doesn't need any more of this kind of anti-urban development. What Detroit needs is development and renovation aimed towards being more of a city, rather than less of one.

**softailrider** · August-25-12, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by jpbollma

They don't bother me either. The only concern I have is whether the city has a market for more. I'd hate to see one or several of these large structures go vacant. There isn't much else you can do with them at that point.

Market for more? Around here, people LOVE to gamble. Build it, they will come.

**313WX** · August-25-12, 07:04 PM

If this is that same proposal where they will be putting 3 or 4 additional casinos in the suburbs, I will be voting no.

It's bad enough that Detroit will now have to compete with the Hollywood Casino in Toledo.

**downtownguy** · August-25-12, 07:09 PM

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

Casinos, by their very nature as hermetically sealed spaces, suck the urban life out of cities. Just look at what has happened to Greektown, or the dearth of any of the promised development outside of the other two casinos. Both sit like big window-less monoliths surrounded by fortress-like parking areas, and their economic return to the rest of the city is dubious at best. Detroit certainly doesn't need any more of this kind of anti-urban development. What Detroit needs is development and renovation aimed towards being more of a city, rather than less of one.

Not to mention the not so obvious cost to society. I lost a consulting gig thanks to an employee that embezzled funds from the org I was contracted to so she could double down at the MGM to try to take care of bills. Needless to say, the house won, and I lost a few buck of income. But the desperate people that do this are the real losers. Somehow, they never show up in the glamorous casino ads and TV commercials.

**D_Town** · August-25-12, 09:20 PM

Suburban casino's in metro Detroit, a big NO

GUSHI · August-25-12, 09:37 PM

2 more in Detroit , fine with me, none in the burbs, also they need to put a people mover type transit connecting all the casinos, put them by motor city/MGM, put restaurants around them, how about a new hockey arena, in the area, maybe a horse racing track, also a car racing track, go big or go home!

GUSHI · August-25-12, 09:41 PM

Some in fill, around them, how about. Condos And apartments, a movie theatre how about a MJR. make Detroit a destination, Vegas of mid west, Atlantic City of the mid west. GO BIG OR GO HOME!

GUSHI · August-25-12, 09:51 PM

I seem to remember a eyesore that would make a nice casino, um it use to be a train station or something, lol , with a tram stop there it would probally work.

GUSHI · August-25-12, 09:52 PM

When I go to Vegas I like to go casino hoping, in Detroit I don't I don't Wana leave greektown and drive to motor city and then drive to MGM. Would love to park and take a tram/train/people mover.

**JBMcB** · August-25-12, 09:53 PM

Originally Posted by jpbollma

The only concern I have is whether the city has a market for more.

They wouldn't be building them if there wasn't a market. Heck, they wouldn't be able to get the loans to build them if there wasn't a market. Banks are kinda skittish about major real estate loans these days.

I'd hate to see one or several of these large structures go vacant. There isn't much else you can do with them at that point.

You can turn them into police and fire department headquarters.

Shollin · August-25-12, 10:05 PM

The economic return for Detroit from the casinos has been great. The casinos account for 15% of Detroit's operating budget. If the economic impact was "dubious" why is Ohio building casinos, and one right across the border, to stop people from going to Detroit? Imagine Detroit's financial situation if they didn't have the 177 million dollars that get in revenue from the casinos, not too mention the hotel tax and income tax they receive. Some people think because the casinos didn't magically transform the city that they aren't a success.

GUSHI · August-25-12, 10:12 PM

Dan Gilbert should build a casino in Detroit.

**Wesley Mouch** · August-26-12, 12:16 AM

Originally Posted by jpbollma

They don't bother me either. The only concern I have is whether the city has a market for more. I'd hate to see one or several of these large structures go vacant. There isn't much else you can do with them at that point.

The investors will figure that one out.

I despise casinos.

I also despise cities and states getting into private markets and picking favorites. Why shouldn't the Zaneias of Majestic be able to participate in that market? Why shouldn't the Masonic be able to be converted into a casino? Let the market decide how many and where.

It is in a misuse of governmental authority for the city/state to limit casino competition and thus put money into the pockets of the favored ones.

**gthomas** · August-26-12, 01:20 AM

I will vote yes, if developers use the Old Train Station, Book Building, and Statler site for future casinos. The Old Train Station will be like "The Bellagio", the Book Building will be like "Hard Rock Casino & Hotel", and the Staler site will be the "Trump Hotel & Casino.

Oh, include a elevated tram connecting all casinos, including the three current ones. Some type of housing and commercial development around each development.

**Islandman** · August-26-12, 09:11 AM

Another reason for no one to take Detroit seriously. I, for one, would not want to move to a city full of casinos, yet all of the other quality of life issues are put on the back burner. This place needs new casinos like it needs another crack epidemic.

**Zacha341** · August-26-12, 09:54 AM

Well stated - Agreed. Anywhere, or how I can vote on Casinos, new or existing I will VOTE NO!

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

Casinos, by their very nature as hermetically sealed spaces, suck the urban life out of cities. Just look at what has happened to Greektown, or the dearth of any of the promised development outside of the other two casinos. Both sit like big window-less monoliths surrounded by fortress-like parking areas, and their economic return to the rest of the city is dubious at best. Detroit certainly doesn't need any more of this kind of anti-urban development. What Detroit needs is development and renovation aimed towards being more of a city, rather than less of one.

**Zacha341** · August-26-12, 09:57 AM

Yeah, who really wants to live in any town full of 'casinos, pay advance joints and pawnshops'? It seems to work in Vegas as there's the tourism factor above gambling.

The stupid casinos we have are already struggling, and minimally staffed.

Originally Posted by Islandman

Another reason for no one to take Detroit seriously. I, for one, would not want to move to a city full of casinos, yet all of the other quality of life issues are put on the back burner. This place needs new casinos like it needs another crack epidemic.

9mile&seneca · August-26-12, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by EastsideAl

Casinos, by their very nature as hermetically sealed spaces, suck the urban life out of cities. Just look at what has happened to Greektown, or the dearth of any of the promised development outside of the other two casinos. Both sit like big window-less monoliths surrounded by fortress-like parking areas, and their economic return to the rest of the city is dubious at best. Detroit certainly doesn't need any more of this kind of anti-urban development. What Detroit needs is development and renovation aimed towards being more of a city, rather than less of one.

Why not just let existing bars an restaurants have gaming? Then the area maintaines integrity,and small business gets to actually make money.

**jpbollma** · August-26-12, 10:34 AM

I'd love to see the train station converted. I agree that there needs to be a shuttle service or something that goes to all of the casinos. It is stupid to have them so spread apart. I'd rather see the Book converted to housing.