Fort Wayne Mayor Tom Henry told Indiana's NewsCenter that he will lobby for Fort Wayne to be the location of a new casino that had been proposed for Buck Lake Ranch.
An FWOb reader sent this analysis and alternative idea:
I think they would have a hard time locating it in Fort Wayne. Now, New Haven would sure get a boost from the revenue.
Think about it.
Most casinos are a smokers' paradise. I know there are a few non-smoking casinos in Vegas but most of the ones in the Midwest are full of smokers.
New Haven can float their boat in the old limestone quarries off of Landin Road. It would be close to I-469. Fort to Port and US 30 both funnel into New Haven. A New Haven casino would be closer to the Ohio people whose money we Hoosiers want to grab. It would be adjacent to northeast Fort Wayne.
It would be just a few miles from the Maplecrest and Adams Center corridor bridge. Why not use casino profits to fund that bridge instead of issuing property tax bonds?
Nobody in New Haven would have to worry about funding the Jury Pool waterpark once a casino hit town.
Mayor Terry MacDonald is also a Methodist pastor so the whole idea might not get much official [backing] but I bet a lot of people in New Haven would think the idea is smokin' hot.
Right river, but too far east...
Posted by: Mike Harvey | January 03, 2008 at 11:15 AM
This would have been nice to have known during the election.
Posted by: Bill Hedges | January 03, 2008 at 05:12 PM
Yes, let's turn New Haven into another Gary.
Posted by: Jason Blosser | January 04, 2008 at 10:15 AM
I like to joke around too, but this is serious business.
A casino downtown could have been a tremendous boon to the local economy, perhaps even helped sell the Harrison Square concept, by making downtown Fort Wayne a "destination" (which the stadium will not). But investors would be nuts to float a non-smoking casino here when there are so many less restrictive environments.
However, the smoking ban is less the problem and more like a symptom of a larger problem that exists. With City and County councils dealing with minutia like the smoking ban, dog leashing restrictions, yard sign restrictions, fireworks bans, etc ad nauseum, the message is that Fort Wayne/Allen County government is a holier-than-thou, restrictive and intolerant group that is more interested in micro-managing peoples lives and businesses than anything else.
Fortunately, a new Mayor and City Council have a fresh opportunity to reverse this trend. I'm not naive enough to think that any of the laws-of-intolerance will ever be reversed; just the faint hope that the new group will leave bad enough alone, and not delve into any new ways to micro-manage our lives.
Four years of no new restrictions would be a good start.
Posted by: Roger McNeill | January 04, 2008 at 11:29 AM
Riverboat gambling isn't a cure-all. But I think it could be a catalyst if integrated in the right way. I'm not convinced that Downtown is the best site. The 469/US27 interchange might be a better fit.
Posted by: Dave MacDonald | January 04, 2008 at 01:29 PM
*Preamble*
I have absolutely no clue who is who in the world of politics in FW. I'm liberal in some things. Conservative on other things. When the moon is full - I might be moderate at that time.
*End Preamble*
Here's what's disappointing.
Why doesn't Fort Wayne think outside of the box? If there is a need to attract more visitors to downtown or if there is a need to generate more revenue, what makes anyone (in their right mind) think that implementing a recycled novelty - well - that this is good for the city?
Posted by: Kristina Frazier-Henry | January 04, 2008 at 05:41 PM
Roger's comment is a dose of reality. I take back my previous enthusiasm.
Posted by: Mike Harvey | January 05, 2008 at 02:59 AM
id like to see it come to new haven we could use the jobs think of how much revenue that would bring to new haven an the area for that matter there are plenty of locations around new haven to put one why not the ole erie canal locks then your could name it the canal casino ' anyways im 110% behind it an i know several dozens of us out here would love to see one here so BRING IT ON'''' if ft wayne don't want the money show NEW HAVEN THE MONEY''''
Posted by: robert craig | June 10, 2008 at 08:31 PM
1500 new jobs, tax revenues, water park and theater for non-gamblers. sounds great for Ft.Wayne
Posted by: dave deckard | January 30, 2009 at 01:27 PM
Judging from previous decisions and projects from your (Ft Wayne) short-sighted politicians (not you though Mitch) that are beholden to nanny state special interests, my guess is this is how it would unfold: Ft Wayne would get the casino, but they'd mandate it a non-smoking venue, thereby giving your fair city a glorious new building with absolutely no one in it.
How much ya wanna bet? (pun intended)
Posted by: tim zank | February 03, 2009 at 03:55 PM
On April 8, 2009 I wrote the following "letter to the editor", as yet to be published...
"The letters, both pro and con (mostly con) to the editor are piling in about a gambling casino in Fort Wayne. Do Fort Wayne resident area citizens have a short memory as to how our fair city functions? Kinda' like Harrison Square...the ball park...tearing down a perfectly good stadium...building condos for those not yet identified...we the citizens are against a casino proposal (or moratorium)...those we have voted into power ignore our opinions...what we don't want...we always get anyhow...betcha' we get a gambling casino because the citizen majority is against it!"
Posted by: D.L. Buckley | April 25, 2009 at 03:45 PM