[west-town-brad]

Originally Posted by ardecila

There will always be people who find the idea of a casino controversial, so the tendency is to put the casino in a site that's empty, unwanted and far from existing businesses or residents. If it fails, it doesn't cast a pall on surrounding areas and it can be developed into something else later.

Not saying that's right approach for success, but it's certainly the politically easiest approach. Put it in Motor Row, you're dealing with the PDNA people and the South lakefront Black community, neither of which want to be next to gambling. Both Ald. Dowell and Ald. King were clear that they don't want a casino anywhere in their wards.

I do think a casino could be integrated into The 78 and have a successful neighborhood grow up around it, assuming the casino is compact and well-designed. You might even be able to dedicate the casino revenue to The 78's infrastructure needs and let the TIF expire, kill two political birds with one stone.

Yes perhaps but the report outlines in detail 8-10 U.S. based casinos that followed the politically easiest approach directly into financial failure and resulting in very few jobs and tax revenue.