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

=======================

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

======

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

Group photo shoot complete

There was a good turnout yesterday and KSDK - TV came down and did a story on us.

Thanks KSDK !

Here is a link to the KSDK site, the name of our clip is

"Group opposes proposed casino", which aired first aired Saturday night 10/23/10

We also got a write up on a great local blog about architecture called "B.E.L.T. - The Built Environment In Layman's Terms"

http://www.beltstl.com/

Show your opposition by voicing your opinion !

Just print this postcard, then fill it out and mail it :

http://www.flickr.com/photos/15395815@N02/5111849037/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Or write your own letter or e-mail to the State Gaming Commission :

Leann McCarthy
Missouri Gaming Commission
3417 Knipp Drive
P.O. Box 1847
Jefferson City, MO 65102

leann.mccarthy@mgc.dps.mo.gov

Group Photo To Protest Casino

NO CASINO AT CHAIN OF ROCKS!

Show the Missouri Gaming Commission that our St Louis City community does not want a casino at the foot of the Historic Chain of Rocks Bridge.

Please make a stand with others and come be a part of a GROUP PHOTO that will be sent to the Commission.

WHEN: 2:00 pm this Saturday October 23rd, 2010

WHERE: at the foot of the Old Chain Of Rocks Bridge

10950 Riverview Drive, St Louis, MO 63137

(Just enter “Old Chain Of Rocks Bridge” into the search maps window

at Google maps : http://maps.google.com/ )

We will gather at the river to take the photo rain or shine.

Let’s show them not only the large number of folks who oppose this, but also the area that will be forever changed if a large casino complex is built at this location.

Parking will be an issue. We would love to see bicyclists, so if you plan to park and ride your bike please use the North Riverfront Park parking lot on Riverview about a mile south of the bridge and ride your bike to the site along the riverfront trail. There is plenty of parking on the Illinois side if you are willing to walk over the bridge. All others will need to park along Riverview Drive.

Bring family, friends, kids, dogs, one and all! It should only take about an hour.

Come stand with fellow Missourians as we show them our opposition to this proposed casino.

We hope to see you all there this Saturday!

Statement to Missouri Gaming Commission

Here are links to published items about the proposed casino at Chain of Rocks :

Editorial from the Post Dispatch - 9/24/09

http://www.stltoday.com/news/opinion/columns/the-platform/article_2aa7bbf0-c82d-11df-9984-0017a4a78c22.html

Post Dispatch 9/29/09

http://fwix.com/stlouis/share/99823327c5/residents_assail_casino_plans_near_chain_of_rocks

urban STL

http://urbanstl.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3282:no-casino-at-chain-of-rocks&catid=6:north-stl&Itemid=16

KSDK-TV story aired 10/23 - 10/24/10

http://www.ksdk.com/video/default.aspx?bctid=646482645001#/Group+protests+proposed+casino/646482645001

We are allies with the "Save The Confluence" group of North County who has been invaluable offering advice and support. They feel just as passionately against a casino at Chain or Rocks in the City of St Louis as they do about a casino proposed in St Louis County near the Confluence. Check out their website and click on "Casino Facts" for more information about the proposed casino developments at both locations.

http://www.savetheconfluence.org/

==========

Our neighborhood, represented by the president of our neighborhood association, made a public statement before the Missouri Gaming Commission on September 28th,2010 in St Louis. It does a fair job of summarizing our opposition to a casino development at the historic Old Chain of Rocks Bridge location in St Louis City.

We encourage everybody who reads this to please write to the Missouri Gaming Commission and let them know you do not want a riverfront casino built in St Louis at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge.
Show your opposition by voicing your opinion !
write or e-mail the gaming commission at:

Leann McCarthy
Missouri Gaming Commission
3417 Knipp Drive
P.O. Box 1847
Jefferson City, MO 65102

leann.mccarthy@mgc.dps.mo.gov


STATEMENT SUBMITTED AT MO. GAMING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING SEPT 28TH, 2010
REGARDING THE “CASINO CELEBRATION” PROPOSAL W ITHIN THE CITY OF ST LOUIS
ON BEHALF OF THE CHAIN OF ROCKS COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION


My name is Barbara Floreth and I am President of the Chain of Rocks Community Association – the neighborhood association of the City of St. Louis in which Casino Celebration proposes to place its casino.

I speak on behalf of those city neighbors who live in the homes that directly border the Chain of Rocks Bridge, the City of St. Louis water treatment plant and the North Riverfront Park. As such, we are the citizens that would be directly impacted, on a day-to-day basis, by the development of a casino at the base of the Old Chain of Rocks bridge. We have an intimate understanding of the unique problems and possibilities of our area and therefore appreciate this opportunity given to us by the MO Gaming Commission to voice our opposition to the Casino Celebration proposal – an opportunity that unfortunately was not given to us by our City leaders prior to their decision to back this proposal.

Our concerns are as diverse and numerous as our members, but I will try to summarize them here by stating that we believe that this development represents an assault on the character of this region and is NOT what is needed to improve the amenities this area has to offer - not only for the citizens of our neighborhood, the St. Louis region and the State of Missouri, but also for those that choose to visit this unique locality.

I say unique since, this narrow strip of the City, offers:

‐ The Old Chain of Rocks pedestrian bridge, the historic Route 66 crossing of the Mississippi

‐ The Chain of Rocks Park, the City park which overlooks the Chain of Rocks Bridge, the waterworks and its historic and iconic river intake towers

‐ The North Riverfront Park, which provides access to the only stretch of

barge-free Mississippi river from St. Paul to the Gulf and allows people to

experience the river as a place of natural beauty - away from industrial

& commercial development.

‐ And The Riverfront Bike Path put in by Trailnet, part of the interconnected

system of greenways, parks and trails that encircles the St. Louis region

We realize that these and other features would not simply go away if this casino complex comes to fruition. We understand the argument that money would hopefully be infused to help maintain and possibly improve the area. We understand the need for more jobs– several of our members are unemployed and struggling to find work in this economy. But we ask, at what cost? We understand that the City needs revenue. But it is not the fault of this neighborhood that the city lost revenue due to the closing of the President casino. We don’t believe that the area should (or even can) support this development and we don’t believe our City leaders have thought this through.

As an example: St. Louis City’s water intake from the Mississippi River is located immediately downriver and adjacent to the proposed casino. Parking lot run-off, accidental spills, waste disposal and increased demands on sewer lines represent some, but not all, of the potential and serious threats to the safety of our city’s supply of drinking water. We know that studies will be done and assurances made, but we also know that accidents and the best laid plans often can, and do, go awry. We say the benefit is not worth the risk – for yet another casino.

Another example is Riverview Drive, along which the casino would be located. It is a narrow, but vital, connecting route for our City and region. The street, which is primarily a two lane road in a residential neighborhood, is prone to flash flooding and difficult to maintain. It is also a major commuter route between downtown and the northern bi-state region and the only currently viable trucking route between our City’s northern industrial area on Hall Street and U.S. Interstate 270. We already have serious maintenance and traffic safety issues on Riverview Drive that the City and State have been unable to address, making this a very dangerous road – with its unfortunate share of traffic fatalities. Our neighborhood association has been working on safety issues with MoDot officials over the last year and they are against installing traffic lights on Riverview stating it would decrease safety and increase pollution and noise – yet this is a prominent element in the Casino Celebration proposal. The developer and our city leaders say that people will learn to use a different route. The problem with that statement is that there is no real or better alternative in this narrow strip of the City. Again, we say it’s not worth risking the safety of everyone that uses Riverview Drive – not for another casino.

And what about the cost to the environmental and cultural amenities in this area that we have all (public, private, State and City) tried so hard to preserve? The City of St. Louis just months ago spent over $100,000 and passed a North Riverfront Park Master Plan that recognizes the area as one of the city’s unique gems and deserving of improvement - while also recognizing the need to preserve its inherent nature. The City of St. Louis also adopted the Riverfront Trail Master Plan in 2001 which specifically calls for limiting development in the Chain of Rocks Bridge area to uses compatible with conservation and related recreation. The area is in the center of one of the largest migratory bird corridors in America and home to many nesting bald eagles in winter months. We are concerned about the effect that 25 acres of 24/7commercial activity would have, along with the subsequent increase in noise, light pollution, and carbon dioxide emissions. The Park and bridge would remain, but at what cost? The developer says that the animals will adjust. We say it’s not worth the environmental and cultural cost – for yet another casino.

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 bring people to the area to spend money – without destroying the distinctiveness and integrity of the neighborhood. As one of our neighbors pointed out, we can drive 20 minutes from our homes and be at any one of five casinos. Do we really need to build another one on a stretch of land that has so many other possible uses to offer?

And, of course we are concerned about the loss of our neighborhood as we know it – whether we are recent arrivals or whether our families have owned property here for many decades – this precious and precarious narrow strip of the City of St. Louis is a jewel to be protected.

Recently, a group of tourists following portions of Route 66 told one of our members that they did three things while in St. Louis – visited the Arch (for a view of the downtown riverfront), Ted Drewes (for its famous frozen custard) and the Chain of Rocks Bridge (for a view of the City’s natural and historic front door). We, as residents, are not the only ones who see the value in this area as it now stands. If this license is granted, we know the bridge would remain, the park would remain, but the character would not. We are proud that our neighborhood often serves as a visitor’s entrance to the city of St. Louis as well as the State of Missouri. We would not be proud to have that entrance marred by another casino – with its inappropriate construction, parking lots, and flashy signage.

We encourage the citizens of St. Louis, our City leaders and the State of Missouri to look beyond the immediate gains that this proposal is leading us to expect. We do not believe it is worth the cost to this unique city region. We hope the Commission agrees. Thank you.