Cavers — Casino would have been best located closer to core

By COUN. DONOVAN CAVERS/

FROM CITY HALL/ COLUMN — A week ago, City council heard reasons why Gateway’s Lake City Casino should — and should not — be allowed to relocate to a site on Versatile Drive next to Costco.

The move involves relocating from its current address on Victoria Street downtown to the proposed site in lower Aberdeen and reorienting the facility to more of an “entertainment centre with gambling.”

When decision time arrived, I did not believe the proposal strong enough for unanimous support. In my view, it demonstrated weakness in several important areas.

Over the past few years, I’ve been consistent in my support for small business, as I believe them to be the lifeblood of our economy.

Small businesses often have tremendous potential. Locally owned businesses are the foundation of our economy.

They stick with the community through thick and thin because small business owners and their families live in the communities in which they do business.

I was happy to see Tony Santo, CEO for Gateway Casino, attend the public hearing in person to give his speech and hear the community’s thoughts on the proposal.

The City’s current Official Community Plan (OCP) was developed with significant input from residents throughout our community.

The OCP clearly states a goal of focusing new cultural, entertainment, performing-arts and convention facilities within the downtown core.

Modern economic thinking is focused strongly on economies of scale but, as with anything, the larger something becomes, the harder it is to ensure small but important details are not overlooked.

Private enterprise should not be over-regulated, however; as a local government, it is our responsibility to balance individual interests with those of the wider community. The city has a planning department in part to ensure the community develops in a somewhat co-ordinated way.

The old Cineplex Odeon site at the corner of Sixth Avenue and Victoria Street comes to mind as an example of a site in our downtown that was previously a buzz of activity but has sat dormant for about a decade. That building was always full of smiles.

I’m sure there is a lengthy list of reasons why such a prime downtown location has remained completely unused.

Every time we allow the community to grow outward, we are essentially loosening our belt. It certainly doesn’t improve the fiscal attractiveness of investing in our downtown core.

A vibrant downtown area attracts density and becomes a destination for locals and tourists. A bustling downtown is a visible sign of a city’s community pride and economic health. Research shows the so-called “built environment” is a major determinant of human well-being.

I support development that marries itself with its surroundings (both near and far).

I support development that is easily accessible by a variety of transportation methods (ie motor-vehicle, bicycle, by foot, public transit, etc).

And, I support development sensitive to the goals of our community.

Gateway Casino’s directors operate a profitable business because they know how to make money. This relocation is a strategic investment that will result in significant profits to the company they represent.

(As a side note: I hope this relocation and enhancement finally results in something happening to that grungy old empty restaurant on the corner of Hugh Allan and Pacific Way. If you’ve ever passed it, I’m sure you know the one I’m talking about.)

A newly branded Cascades Casino will be a remarkable facility when the ribbon is cut in a year or two. I just would have preferred to see the investment happen closer to the city’s core.

dcavers@kamloops.ca