701 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

City of Victoria reaches impasse on hosting a casino, votes to never reply to BCLC

Conflict between legal concerns and reconciliation push decision ‘into the ether’

 

https://www.vicnews....-reply-to-bclc/

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 January 2019 - 02:46 PM.

[Nparker]

"Never reply to BCLC"

What?

 

So when faced with difficult decisions this council chooses to make none. How very mature.

Edited by Nparker, 18 January 2019 - 02:53 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

another couple strategies could be:

 

• hang up when they phone or change the city hall phone number
• move city hall or just return the letter - marked return to sender

[spanky123]

I think that it is obvious from the BCLC quote that they will now approach Saanich.

[Cassidy]

Sounds like a massive, architecturally outstanding casino/showroom development for the old Mayfair Lanes site is in the cards.

In Saanich, but close enough to Victoria that nobody will ever know the difference.

 

I'm thinking something like the Parq Vancouver, which would fit like a glove on that site:

https://ca.travelpul...me-changer.html

[Victoria Watcher]

if it’s going to be in Saanich that makes sense. further out (uptown) and you are getting closer and closer to view royal. although the red lion could probably be redeveloped into a hotel casino if they lose the current bars.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 18 January 2019 - 05:49 PM.

[AllseeingEye]

Sounds like a massive, architecturally outstanding casino/showroom development for the old Mayfair Lanes site is in the cards.

In Saanich, but close enough to Victoria that nobody will ever know the difference.

 

I'm thinking something like the Parq Vancouver, which would fit like a glove on that site:

https://ca.travelpul...me-changer.html

That would be a great location for a casino and close enough that Saanich could figuratively flip the CoV the proverbial bird in addition to geting additional revenues, heh.

 

The site has been sitting there derelict ever since the bowling alley was razed and with Thrifty's just up hill at Cloverdale and Quadra and Walmart literally a couple of blocks to the north, not sure it would make sense for any major grocery chain to locate there now - especially trying to go head to head with Walmart's discounted price model - so why not a casino?

[Mike K.]

But would it be realistic as a high-profile facility set back from Douglas?

[On the Level]

But would it be realistic as a high-profile facility set back from Douglas?

Who would ever drive out to the boonies to go to View Royal?

[Mike K.]

I just mean aesthetically, the best that it can be, etc. Unless Tim Hortons/Swiss Chalet and the Esso station can be bought up it’ll be a real shame for the casino to be accessible from three lacklustre side streets. But with the gas station site requiring remediation it would be years before anything wold be built, so who knows, maybe Saanich would rather see it materialize elsewhere.

[RFS]

Tbh anywhere in saanich is not ideal. It’s obvious that it should have been downtown

[Victoria Watcher]

But would it be realistic as a high-profile facility set back from Douglas?

not ideal but if it has enough height it could been seen well from Douglas lit up nice at night. but what it needs is a steady stream of taxis and shuttle buses (in the express bus lane!) bringing the tourists from downtown. and like the other poster says victoria will deal with most any social costs while Saanich takes all the revenue.

[Cassidy]

Realistically, the gas station and the Swiss Chalet would probably get bought up and torn down. They're an example of everything that's wrong with the North end of town anyway ... nondescript one story with a huge parking lot.

 

That would give a casino resort development the entire block, and along with the (somewhat lame) Mayfair upgrade, would likely be the shot in the arm the North end of Victoria/South end of Saanich need to get all those dumpy industrial buildings out of there and into a commercial business park where they belong.

 

Is there really a "too far out of town" these days for anything South of Uptown?

I think with the redevelopment of Mayfair, and the completion of Uptown ... "town" has taken on an entirely different meaning in 2019 ... especially if you're not an old and jaded lifetime resident (like most of us who post here).

Considering the money to be made, I would imagine a large scale casino in the Mayfair Lanes location would likely run a fleet of complimentary buses from the tourist areas of "downtown" to the casino, essentially making it all seamless for the eager gambler.

[sdwright.vic]

^Swiss Chalet nasty anyways!*

*This specific location, I have been to newer ones that are good.

[Mike K.]

They could be, but those are unknowns as the landowners there hold some pretty big cards that won’t reduce in value and they might have plans of their own.

I have to wonder whether it might make more sense to build a lavish facility at Gateway Village. Highway access on both sides and TCH access. It would be perfect, and fit relatively well with all of the highrises planned for the area.

[Victoria Watcher]

maybe it can go at First Nations land at west bay marina. that way the city of victoria can pay the majority of the policing and social costs and only the First Nation gets the money.

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 19 January 2019 - 10:25 AM.

[Mike K.]

That’s not a bad idea, actually (re location).

[spanky123]

That’s not a bad idea, actually (re location).

 

Could have been the plan all along, take Victoria out of the running but leave themselves room to back a FN deal.

Edited by spanky123, 19 January 2019 - 02:09 PM.

[Victoria Watcher]

Councillor wants to see if casino is in the cards for Saanich

Coun. Susan Brice wants staff to look into issue

https://www.vicnews....ds-for-saanich/

[Victoria Watcher]

so I see view royal has a dj every Friday a music bingo night and a comedy night.

hardly the big acts they thought their venue would bring.