13th Casino License Goes to Cape Girardeau!

Yes we have something to celebrate all right - the 13th Casino License Goes to Cape Girardeau!

Thanks to everybody who helped oppose the proposed casino at Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. All your letters and postcards and other efforts really paid off because we know our voices were heard by the State Gaming Commission.

Asked why St. Louis lost out, Gaming Commission Chairman Mathewson said: “We received stacks and stacks of opposition, just baskets of it, from the area. We also had a lot of positives. And I think probably the biggest single concern there is, is that market already well-covered” with casinos.

St. Louis Business Journal

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

Now we very much look forward to the sale of the Koman land to Great Rivers Greenway, so that we can then plan for appropriate development at the site at the foot of the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge that would protect and enhance the area for future generations.

On Whose Side ?

letter to the editor published in St Louis Post Dispatch, Nov. 24, 2010

On whose side?

Casinos don't manufacture anything except a dream of winning. They are designed to profit off the vice of others under the guise of entertainment. Winning is temporary. And, just like a regular gambler, city and state governments have had a taste of the casino profits — and they want more.

How we can trust a government that partners with casino developers while saying it will regulate casinos and represent the best interests of the citizens?

Residents of St. Louis' 2nd Ward are being told that it is all about jobs and that it is in our best interests that a new casino be built at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge within an area of rare riverfront parkland. Never do they warn us about the downside of casinos.

Another casino does not bring in new money; it bleeds money from our local economy. Every dollar gambled is a dollar not spent at a local store or restaurant or used to pay bills. Area businesses suffer. This area of north St. Louis already is seeing many foreclosures and pervasive unemployment.

Gambling pushes select groups of people deeper in debt and increases poverty. It would be naïve to believe that gambling promoters are unaware of the source of much of their income.

Casinos get the profits, but our community pays the costs. Whose side is City Hall on?

Chris Ballew • St. Louis

Chain of Rocks Is not the place for a new casino

Here is a well written argument against a casino at Chain of Rocks from the director of the Coalition for the Environment, Kathleen Logan Smith, which appeared in the opinion page of the Post Dispatch.

http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/article_c20206a1-8851-5df9-b5b5-222e785a5a9b.html

The Missouri Gaming Commission has one casino license to award. The competitors still in the running are Kansas City at Sugar Creek, St. Louis at Chain of Rocks and Cape Girardeau. This is one contest St. Louis can stand to lose.

The Chain of Rocks developer is full of promises, all of the usual sort. But developer Jim Koman is not promising what matters most.

A casino at Chain of Rocks would change everything. Land purchases up on the bluff suggest positioning to build a hotel or other entertainment complex. Like dominoes, the once-green, oxygen-making, air pollution-mitigating, flood-fighting forests on the bluff would fall because they block the view of the planned megaplex from the interstate. Soon pressure for more "development" would ensue.

St. Louis never can resist the promise of progress. Volumes of plans sit on shelves gathering dust, yet the city always believes the promises. We have the skeletons to prove it: St. Louis Centre, Ballpark Village and St. Louis Marketplace. With few meaningful standards in the city and St. Louis County and the lacking foresight of Minneapolis and Chicago, the area would be dotted with tacky malls or strip shopping centers trying to look like the small businesses they destroy. Ultimately, the natural green will be gone. When it disappears, it will be lost to us for generations.

The area around Chain of Rocks is undeveloped. To a developer and, often to elected officials, this is a tragedy. To the rest of us, it is a green and forested sampling of what the founders of our city must have seen when they first glimpsed the great river bluffs.

North Riverfront Park and the Riverfront Trail extend a thin green finger to the Chain of Rocks, where the pedestrian bridge spans the river, inviting visitors to walk, fish, bike and reflect. It is a place to bring international guests to show our natural heritage that is unique in North America, thanks to the confluence of the continent's two largest rivers. To the eagles that soar over the bluffs, it is a place to catch dinner and rest.

Just beyond Chain of Rocks, north of Interstate 270, agriculture takes over the once-wooded wetlands, prospering from some of the richest soil on earth. Here is our food security.

Ecologically, the area would be forever altered if the Missouri Gaming Commission were to award the license to Chain of Rocks. Instead of maintaining its unique character as the Gateway to the Great Confluence, the area would blink and glow with neon and plastic, just like every other cookie-cutter project that can be found in Anywhere, U.S.A. And we will have gained nothing by becoming like dozens of other places.

Beyond objections to eviscerating the character of the area, there are the costs. The costs have not received nearly the attention of the developers' promises of revenue. There are no hard figures on who would pay for Missouri Department of Transportation upgrades to the interchange at Interstate 270 and Riverview Drive, or who would pay for the expansion of Riverview Drive (a state road), or who would pay for increased police and fire expenses in nearby municipalities and St. Louis County, or who would pay for expanding and maintaining an expanded sewer and stormwater network.

State Sen. Timothy Green, D-Spanish Lake, raised those concerns in a Missouri Gaming Commission hearing. No wonder the deal looks so good for the city. Push the costs to the county and the state, keep the revenue and you have a winning business plan. At a St. Louis Board of Aldermen hearing, the developers assured everyone that, "Illinois will take the hit," referring to the expected revenue they project to divert from the Argosy Alton casino. Yet they still insist that there is a significant "underserved" population in St. Louis County. Somewhere there are people in St. Louis County holding $40 million they have not found a place to spend. Really? In this economy? These figures don't pass the sniff test.

If the economics supported the conclusion that the market could sustain another a casino, which they don't, a smart city would promote a casino closer to its urban heart and repurpose abandoned industrial ground as done with River City at Lemay. St. Louis should not fall into a familiar, failed pattern of trading true gold for fools.

Fortunately, the Missouri Gaming Commission has only one license to award. Let's encourage it to send this one elsewhere.

Kathleen Logan Smith, Executive Director of the Missouri Coalition for the Environment.

Routine Riverview Blvd. flooding

Nobody who lives here believes that the City or the developers behind "Casino Celebration" understand how serious the traffic issues already are along the Mississippi river at the Chain of Rocks. I shot this video today 11/24/10 at around 4:30pm at Riverview Blvd and Chambers. We did not have any heavy rain today , just some steady light rain since mid morning, but no great downpour. You can see in the video how badly the street floods after just a little rain. If they build a new casino here these road problems will become so much worse for commuters and truck drivers who will have to contend with the greatly increased volume of cars going to a casino.

This section of Riverview is a little over a mile south of the site for the proposed casino.

Flooding is typical all up and down this section of Riverview after it rains when north and south bound traffic are both forced into the center turn lane.

These are photos taken one afternoon earlier this year by the Puder family who live on Riverview Blvd. across from North Riverfront Park. They were taken in the afternoon after an average rainfall. Following is a letter written to the Gaming Commission concerning existing Riverview Boulevard traffic problems.

Dear Missouri Gaming Commission,

I live one mile south from the proposed Casino Celebration site in the
City of St. Louis and I'm bringing to your attention a valid concern I
have in regards to the road conditions for that stretch of Riverview
Drive. As you can see from the photos, signs are posted warning that the
road floods. This sign is on our front lawn and I took the photos from
my front porch and a second floor window. The flooding is not due to the
Mississippi River overflowing but drainage and storm water issues which
have affected this area for literally decades. The road is only two
lanes with a middle lane designated as a turning lane. Even when the
rain fall is lighter, half of each lane is flooded and cars; as well as
semi-trucks; are forced to straddle the middle lane. During the winter
months there are often large ice patches along the road from the snow
being pushed to the side by snow plows and then melting and refreezing
when the temperatures drop. At that time of year the sign changes to
read "ROAD SUBJECT TO ICING".

Unfortunately I do not have stats to provide you in regards to the
number of fatal accidents on this particular stretch of Riverview Drive.
However, at our November 5, 2010 neighborhood meeting (Chain of Rocks
Community Association - CORCA), Deanna Venker and Michelle Vogel, MODOT
engineers, informed our group that MODOT had more discussions about
making our stretch of Riverview a “Travel Safe Zone.” Ms. Vogel
stated that our stretch of Riverview exceeds the State crash rate and a
Travel Safe Zone designation could help the police enforce the speed
limit and no pass laws, using double fines and other techniques. She
also stated that MODOT is trying to bring attention to the area. Ms.
Vogel stated that she would put together an accident summary of the last
five years which would cover the area from the Hall St./Riverview Drive
intersection to Interstate 270. I'm sure she would be able to provide
the stats if you requested them to further investigate the claims I am
making.

Back in 2000 an analyses was conducted by the East-West Gateway and the
recommendation was made that all of Riverview Drive, as well as Hall
Street and East Grand Avenue (which are streets that would service the
proposed casino development), be improved for safety at an estimated
cost of $72.1 million. This is a staggering figure and the
recommendation never came to fruition.

Sincerely,
Norma Puder

Riverview Drive, St Louis, MO 63137

best yard sign

There are many "NO CASINO" yard signs up and down Riverview Blvd. near the Chain of Rocks Bridge, but this one wins best new yard sign by a mile !

Our neighbor Gretchen Meyer expressed her feelings about a possible new casino across from her home by painting this sign, which she put in her front yard across from the proposed casino site at the foot of Historic Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. Her artwork incorporates important symbols of the Chain of Rocks Mississippi riverfront area including the bald eagles who nest here each year, an outline of the bridge structure itself, one of the historic old water pumping stations located in the center of the river below the bridge, and a bicycle wheel representing all the bicyclists that use the river front trail and cross over the river on their trail rides.

Public Statements to St Louis Aldermanic Committee

This is the statement that was read by Barb Floreth, President of C.O.R.C. A. (Chain of Rocks Neighborhood Association), to the St Louis board of Alderman Transportation and Commerce Committee, on Wednesday 11/10/10, at St Louis City Hall.

TO: Lewis Reed, President, City of St. Louis Board of Aldermen

Date: November 11, 2010

RE: Board Bill 211

As President of the Chain of Rocks Community Association in the City of St. Louis, I am writing to state our strong opposition to the Casino Celebration proposal at the base of the historic Chain of Rocks Bridge in the City’s 2^nd Ward. We oppose this proposal not only for the reasons that you may have already heard or expect - such as the argument that placing a casino in the middle of surrounding public recreation areas is completely out of character with the immediate area or the argument that the St. Louis region is already oversaturated with casinos.

We would like the Board to consider that a 24/7 casino at this location

- Would cause critical disruption to automobile and truck traffic on Riverview Drive (and beyond) and, in fact, would seriously decrease safety. Riverview Drive, Hall Street and connecting roads are heavily used as major commuter routes between downtown and the northern bi-state region and also as the only currently viable trucking route between our City’s northern industrial area and I-270.

- Placing a casino here would demand that the current transportation system servicing this north side area be completely upgraded to accommodate the increased traffic flow

- And the cost of the improvements that would be needed to handle the demands of the projected 168,310 monthly patrons would far surpass the projected tax revenues this proposal promises for the foreseeable future.

The Major Transportation Investment Analyses conducted by East-West Gateway in 2000 recommended major upgrades to all of Riverview Drive as well as Hall Street and E. Grand. – including lane additions, medians, urban parkway designs and intersection improvements. At a then projected cost of $72.1 million dollars. These are the streets that would service the proposed casino development – especially for workers and patrons coming from north city, downtown and quite often mid-town. In 2000, these outlined improvements were deemed necessary to improve access for jobs, medical care, education and shopping – to improve safety & decrease the accident rate and - to enhance neighborhood vitality.

No doubt, acurrent analysis that takes into account the projected increase in traffic would, at the very least, recommend these changes be done now and, most probably, would recommend a complete re-design of the Riverview and I-270 interchange. Who pays for these improvements?

The developer? The taxpayers of the City and State?

The developers vow to work with MoDot and the City to come up with plans to mitigate the problems that increased traffic would bring. But what they don’t promise is that no City and taxpayer money will be used to carry out the plans.

The exit from I-270 from Illinois requires drivers to cross traffic to proceed towards the City. From the west, casino patrons and workers would have to exit, yield to traffic and immediately make a left turn into the casino lot. To access the proposed casino from downtown and north city, a driver would need to find Hall Street via E. Grand (or Adelaide) from I-70 and then connect to Riverview Drive. As stated, all of these routes and intersections are already heavily used by commuters and truckers and quite frankly, for most, there is no other viable route.

And, to add another wrinkle, a MoDot engineer has stated that there is no point in improving the exit off of I-270 to accommodate additional traffic from Illinois unless the bridge over the Mississippi River is improved with additional lanes. To date, there are no specific plans for handling the increased traffic (except the suggestion by Koman Properties to install a couple of traffic lights and widen the lanes ONLY at the proposed casino entrance – creating a traffic light bottleneck.) The northside area MoDot engineer, who is very familiar with the district, has not seen plans or been contacted by Koman Properties or SLDC, and, over the last year, has strongly recommended to us that traffic lights on Riverview would only serve to decrease safety and increase noise. Again, we know that MoDot and the others will eventually take some of these problems into consideration, and we know that something will need to be done. What we don’t know is how much it will cost and who will pay for the necessary changes? We doubt it will be the developer.

This is a lot to consider (and only one issue since I have not mentioned the lack of public transportation needed to transport many of the workers that the developers promise to hire – OR- the already stressed infrastructure , drainage and stormwater issues that Riverview Drive currently faces.)

For the record, our association is not simply anti-casino or anti-development. We encourage private/public partnerships - and developments that enhance, rather than compete, with the area’s character. We have a great example in Cementland, the proposed family playground being developed by City Museum creator Bob Cassilly on an abandoned stretch of property just south of the park. This attraction will help increase the City and Ward’s tax base, it will provide jobs and it will bring people to the area to spend money – without destroying the distinctiveness and integrity of the neighborhood.

We know that the St. Louis Board of Alderman does not have a vote regarding the Missouri Gaming Commission’s decision about where to award the State’s 13^th license. However, we trust that the Board of Aldermen will take a long hard look at all of the probable costs and repercussions a well attended, 24/7 casino at this location would incur – before accepting this proposal as a good thing for the future of our City.

Thank you.

Barbara Floreth

President, Chain of Rocks Community Association

9856 Parkway Dr.

St. Louis, MO 63137

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This is the public statement read by St Louis City resident Chris Ballew to the St Louis Aldermanic Committee on November 10, 2010 :

Good afternoon my name is Chris Ballew, thank you for this opportunity to speak to you.

We live in our home overlooking the Mississippi, above Riverview Drive, just south of the Historical Old Chain of Ricks Bridge. I wonder how many of you have been up to the location of this proposed casino at Chain of Rocks. A lot of folks do not realize this area is even still in the City. Often, I have City employees try and tell me I don’t live in the City, and I must educate them.

For those of us who know, this is a hidden treasure of a neighborhood, visitors always come and say: “It does not even feel like we are in the city anymore, it feels like we are in the country”. It is a nice and peaceful little cluster of St Louis City homes, up there right along the river.

That is in large part, because that stretch of riverfront around the Chain of Rocks Water Treatment Plant has never been commercially developed. Since the Water Plant opened 100 years ago, it has all been public access park land to the south and west of the Water Plant, and to the immediate north is where the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge, on the old Route 66 route, comes ashore. The area at the foot of the bridge also never saw any development.

The Old Bridge is now a pedestrian bridge, it is a destination for folks on road trips from all over, they come to walk across or ride a bike on the bridge. Crossing the bridge, they can gaze at the beautiful wonder of the only section of the Mississippi River, from Minneapolis to New Orleans, that is closed to river traffic and not commercially developed. The view to the eastern shore in Illinois, is of the protected islands Chouteau and Mosenthein, which function as bird sanctuaries and a home to wild deer. There is a feeling of peaceful wonder to see the mighty Mississippi River in its natural setting – all within the city limits, as it has been for generations.

For the working folks in the area, who do not have the means to travel far, this is our Forest Park, or even our Yellowstone. Some may laugh at this, but for the people who live there, and have not means to travel elsewhere, it is a fact of life. This is where our children learn about the beauty of the mighty Mississippi River, and fish its banks for the first time. I know you would not allow a casino development to be built on land adjacent to Forest Park or Tower Grove Park, simply because a developer had his plans ready to go.

Now, within this special area the city wishes to allow a large, 24 hour, seven day a week, casino gambling facility. A grander contradiction I cannot imagine. After all the millions spent, and the blood sweat and tears poured into developing this area for people to enjoy nature , the city in its short sighted anticipation of earnings from the gambling tables, wants to drop a large casino operation within this natural public parks area.

When asked if the city ever considered any other location for a casino, we were told by Rodney Krimm of the St Louis Development Corporation that : “NO , we did not look at any other possible locations for a casino development”.

They just went with the Komans proposal because it was ready to go. Not because it was the best site, but because there was a plan on the shelf, ready to go. The Komans, who are good business men whom I respect, were prepared and ready to go with land that they own - which has sat neglected and undeveloped for nearly 40 years. In many ways, St Louis City is offering to make the Komans dreams come true – but at such a cost, we cannot now measure.

Those of us who live along the Chain of Rocks, live there because there is no development on this open section of the river. They will be destroying exactly what makes the area special by building a casino there.

Now, I do want to mention that, we would not be against the right kind of development for the area. The Bob Cassily project nearby, which he calls “Cementland” will be a water themed attraction. It is a perfect example of something that will contribute in a positive way to the neighborhood, with jobs and tourism, all while highlighting what is special about our area. If any of you are familiar with the popular City Museum downtown on Washington Blvd., you will know what Mr Cassily’s projects can do for an area.

A casino would just siphon cash from an already struggling working class population that is presently seeing overwhelming numbers of foreclosures and unemployment. I certainly do not believe that the folks in the immediate area will be getting their fair share of available jobs – short term or long term.

One final note on a practical level, I want to reinforce strongly what anybody who lives up along the Chain of Rocks already knows – that stretch of Riverview Drive will become a money pit for the city and state when they discover how much they will have to spend to rebuild the local road system, highway exit ramps and storm sewers, on a street that already struggles with traffic problems, and seriously floods with every rainfall. I know for a fact the Komans have not properly considered the traffic issues. When we met with them a couple of months ago they seemed blindsided by our warnings about Riverview, and all the trucking and commuter traffic that would be affected by a casino at this location. They had not had any discussion with MODOT, and seemed quite naïve about the everyday realities of the area.

While I know you do not determine who is awarded the 13^th Missouri gaming license, I did want to warn you about what you need to be prepared to lose, if Casino Celebration does get built at Chain of Rocks.

Thank you for this time to speak to you.

Opposition to Casino at City Hall hearing

Yesterday we had a good presence at St Louis City Hall for the Transportation and Commerce Meeting to express our opposition to the Casino Celebration's proposal at Chain of Rocks.

We got a chance to make statements and get our voices heard by the alderman on the Committee.

here are links to the media coverage :

KMOV is the only TV station that aired a full story - and it only ran at the 5pm newscast

The most complete on line print story came from Dale Singer at The Beacon :

"St Louis wants to show Gaming Commission it is behind Chain of Rocks casino plan"

http://www.stlbeacon.org/issues-politics/112-region/106219-st-louis-promotes-chain-of-rocks-casino-plan

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additionally here is a misleading headline for a new Post Dispatch story - the article basically says majority of area casinos are still seeing declining revenues.

"Casino Gambling revenue up 5.4% last month"

http://www.stltoday.com/business/article_ee980fb1-420a-5f0c-9aaf-d793d26df251.html