A new casino in richmond
Pamunkey Tribe Unveils Plans For Casino In Richmond
The Pamunkey Indian Tribe has unveiled plans to construct a new $350 Million casino and resort in Richmond. Should the plans come into fruition, many believe it will bring the state of Virginia a step close to putting an end to its ruling against casino gambling.
The tribe is planning to erect the resort on a 49 acres of land in the Southside of the city. Upon completion, the resort will have a 275-room, a restaurant, spa, and entertainment area.
“The Tribe plans to develop the Resort on the Ingram Avenue property and will initially use the Jefferson Davis property as a workforce training facility. Once the Resort opens, and all hiring is complete, the Jefferson Davis property will be converted into a different use for the benefit of the surrounding community, such as a grocery store and/or health clinic,” a release said
“The tribe has been working toward this for over three decades,” spokesman Jay Smith said Friday. “They are ready to move as quickly as they can.”
“Dining options will include a high-end steak and seafood restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating, a sports bar and grill, a classic buffet and a food court with a variety of food options. Plans also include a parking garage with more than 1,000 spaces, as well as dedicated VIP parking and additional surface lot parking,” the release said.
The Benefit Of The Proposal
The revenue from the casino would benefit the tribe members who reside in Virginia. It is expected that the proceeds from the casino would help increase tribe members access to education, health care and job opportunities.
“This will allow them to get off of their reliance on federal grants and programs,” he said. “They can’t afford to wait much longer,” said Smith.
The tribe believes that the project would create more than 1,500 construction jobs, and close to 2000 casino jobs. Upon completion of the project, there would be several community resource areas within the resort. These resource areas would include a health clinic, grocery store and others. The tribe is hoping its plans and socio-economic benefit of the resort will help to gain support from the Richmond community.