Design unveiled for proposed casino that will go to public vote
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WOOD VILLAGE, Ore. – Oregonians got their first glimpse on Thursday of what a new casino and entertainment complex just outside Portland could look like. But before it becomes a reality, the project has to clear two major hurdles on the November ballot.
Dubbed “The Grange,” developers of the proposed casino in Wood Village tout their project as a high-end entertainment complex featuring local food, a hotel, concert hall and smoke-free casino.
The branding is all part of a move to convince voters across the state the project is a good idea. The Grange can only be built if Oregon voters approve two measures.
Measure 82 calls for broadly authorizing private casinos in Oregon, and Measure 83 asks specifically if one should be permitted at the former dog track, which was known as the Multnomah Kennel Club.
The public won't be voting on specific development plans and the investors would be free to modify them.
Two years ago a similar proposal was rejected by voters.
Developers hope to build The Grange at the abandoned greyhound racetrack. A slick YouTube video they released on Thursday starts with sweeping shots of the track before transitioning into renderings of the proposed complex.
Critics of the plan say the casino would take gambling dollars away from the tribal casinos around the state and the Oregon Lottery.
"They're trying to get Oregon voters to amend the constitution to create a mega-casino in Oregon," said opponent Justin Martin with the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde. "As Oregon has it now there's a unique balance where all of the gaming dollars go into public services. For tribes that goes into education, health, housing, elder housing, drug and alcohol programs."
He added that lottery proceeds fund K-12 education, parks, wildlife and economic development.
"What these guys are now trying is to build a mega-casino that would give a little bit back to Oregon, but the reality is it would put a lot of money in their pockets," Martin said. "We're talking about foreign corporations and we're talking about two wealthy gentlemen from Lake Oswego."
Two Canadian companies are behind the proposed development.
Grange developers point to the economic benefits of their project, including 3,000 construction jobs, 2,000 permanent jobs with health care and a projected $100 million a year in tax revenue for the state.
“Oregon needs jobs – good union jobs that pay fair wages and provide full benefits,” said Jodi Guetzloe Parker, Executive Secretary Treasurer of the Columbia Pacific Building Trades Council. “The Grange will inject millions of private dollars into our economy. It will put thousands of construction workers to work immediately and support thousands more good, stable jobs into the future.
"We want to embrace the people that think this is a bad idea," said Jeff Parr, co-chief executive of Clairvest Group Inc., a Toronto-based investment firm with a number of casino holdings. He said developers want to have a conversation with those people and help them understand the project.
Still, the talk of added jobs doesn't sway Martin and the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, which owns and operates Spirit Mountain Casino.
"At face value it certainly looks like a good thing," Martin said. "The reality is that they're not giving as much back as is being taken out."
The Associated Press contributed to this story
first of all, why let people from another country do this? they should build it in  canada then!!! secondly we need manufacturing jobs, not more parasite organizations that draw off people who are already struggling!!!!!!
 @Gary Shepherd It must be nice to live with your head in the sand.  In case you didn't know, or perhaps didn't care, this casino will generate a $100 million in tax dollars will be going to the state, the majority of which is ear-marked for education.  I don't like casinos any more than the next person, but we just can't afford to turn away business.  Did you know that education's share of the state budget has declined steadily?  Did you know that 9% of Oregon's teachers have been laid off?  Did you know that class sizes will be increasing by 8 kids?  Did you know that many valuable programs such as music, art and P.E. are being cancelled?  Quite simply, we need more money for education.  And if you're like me, and don't like casinos -- then don't go.  But let's not pretend that everything is wonderful and we have the luxury of turning away businesses that generate tax revenue.
The IRS held an opportunity period where people who had money in a Swiss bank account were told to disclose and close accounts and they would Not be prosecuted...
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The Requirement be that they Admit guilt to avoid prosecution for tax evasion..
Mitt is known to have been a precipitant in this program.
This is why he will Never release his tax returns and Can Never become president.... Â
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Working poverty is not distributed equally among employment sectors. The service sector has the highest rate of working poverty. In fact, 43.3% of US service sector workers found themselves below the poverty line in 2009.
Examples of low-wage service sector workers include fast-food workers, casino workers, home health aids, waiters/waitresses, and non-unionized retail workers.
This is not what we need here...
I don't mean to be disrespectful but maybe you should check your facts. Look to your neighbor state Washington who has over 148 commercial casinos, not tribal casinos and rated the 3rd casino state out of 20, with a reported unemployment rate of 8.5%. They are experiencing the same revenue problems as Oregon. No one is saying all people have gambling problems that visit casinos but there is a reported 12-15% known problem gamblers with a higher portion expected from the younger crowd (21-30). And, these are statistics from people who actually seek help. An acquaintance who was a floor supervisor for a casino had a favorite saying "Vegas wasn't built on winners" and it is still growing with private casinos. Vegas also has an unusually high rate home repossessions, unemployment issues, homeless Afterall this was their home before we came here and will be after we are gone. Most tribes fought for their rights over many years and deserve to have a balanced revenue to balance previous descriminatory actions in past years.
Please remember that union construction jobs will last only until the facility. As Pennsyvania's Governor stated "You stupid people don't understand, It is about the money". It is a reported billion dollar business that brings a lot of promises only to fade into the night leaving states with seasonal jobs and lots of social issues. Â
I don't know if most of you are wearing rose color glasses or what ! For one it is  not just the casino helping Oregon but the people employed at the casino. Not all people have gambling problems. It's like going to the movie and paying twenty dollars once a month. Some just spend a hundred dollar once every six months and can play for more than couple like at a movie. Meal are better than most all you can eat in town. So anyone can go just to eat. We have more thing to do around the casino in FairVeiw area.  Watch would bring more money to a larger area.Where at Spirit Mountain has nothing, and Spirit mountain and Chinook Wind are very tight casino. I have walked around and asked customer what they think. This place will have a theater, swimming area. It will bring more business here than to Washington. Where a lot of Oregonians are now going. So Washington is getting Oregon money. I have been applying for Jobs and going to school. I have had one interview and Providence Business Office, yet have over a few hundred application out there. I have been ready to work for a long time. Are we so stupid we can't see the good that will come out of this. If the people trying to get this going asked me to help to get this through I would jump on it. This is not Vegas. More crime are you blind. If people were working they wouldn't have to steal. Crime, murder pan-handlers are you kidding, we have them on every corner now. Because of no work. They are not lazy people could you stand on a corner for eight to ten hours try to make a life. He/she that  is not perfect cannot throw stones. Oregonians get it together. Quit stagnating Oregon let's get a move on and show everyone we are smart and can move ahead. There is other things to complain about, like putting ten house on one lot and the fire hazard or empty houses or the high prince of rent most can't afford. Why are we not building more apartment. Complain about something that is worth while. Please.
The kind of jobs that we need are companies that actually produce something. Â We don't need another social parasite that sucks money from the poor and elderly.
 @UtterReality Good point....
@UtterReality Companies that produce something are sadly becoming few and far between in this country.
does it have cages to lock kids in? That would be real with popular with the KATU crowd.
@on shing dao ....you're a kid. Wish there was a cage for you.
 @Rob C  @on I knew you liked cages. You would probably put an American flag on it too.
'"WakeUp" needs to wake up..We don't want it. WE don't need it and the state of the economy isn't the fault of the "liberals" as you label them byut the GOP, who have done nothing but stand in the way since 2000...Bush left this country in the sorriest state of woes and then Boehner and his merry band of "sheep" who can't think for themselves, all vote party line like the idiots they are.Place the blame where it belongs...GOPl
Sounds like a great idea to me. Â I would go there all the time
There is still time to vote this down and out, hopefully for the last time. If they want one so badly, let them build it where the out of state money is coming from to campaign this idiotic idea.WE don't want it..WE don't need it..Better yet, build it in L.O............Again, why out-of-state money to back this ? Something fishy here
Bedford Falls please come back, Pottersville is not really a nice place to live.
Go to Reno or las Vegas and looks at the dregs of humanity that casinos attract. Drunks, prostitutes, thieves... If these two clowns think it's such a great idea, why don't they put it in Lake Oswego? East County has been the dumping ground for PDX for long enough. No casino, not now, not ever.
@Derek2mk Can't put in Lake Oswego because it might attract "those" people.
 @Derek2mk dregs bring money, money brings jobs. Crime will exist regardless
The only reason the Tribal casinos don't want the new joint in town is that they are worried about competition. Granted...if you grant one, more are sure to follow. But if they are tastefully placed, bring in decent revenue to the state and provide jobs...then I see no reason why a few casinos can't help to make Oregon more of a tourist attraction. Besides, I want to know when I can apply!!
We don't want it here. We don't need it here. What part of that don't you understand, Emilysuz ?????
NOT a good fit for this area....
 @Emilysuz Uh, don't tribal casinos compete with each other?
@on shing dao @Emilysuz Yes, which is why tribal casinos fight against the placement of other tribal casinos. It's a nasty business that could use a shake up or two.
Instead of building yet another casino, why not build an oil refinery?Â
How will it displace jobs? I guess the caretaker at the decaying old dog track might be out of a job but the 2000 skilled workers needed to build it over the next 2-3 years and the others to operate it thereafter will welcome the jobs. Yes even at $12 / hour. Unfortunately, Â many people these days would rather sit on their ass and hope Obama (God forbid) and the ultra-liberals keep them housed and fed until the entitlement money runs out.
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@Wakeup
I don't see the GOP doing anything about the current state of affairs except standing in the way the last 4 years...
 @Mazda84  @Wakeup I don't see either party doing anything other than pointing fingers and blaming the other. Don't you think it's time they all work together and make some compromises instead of this partisan bickering which lead to nothing getting done. The Dems blame the GOP and vice-versa. To think one party is to blame more than the other is ludicrous but that's exactly what people like you are thinking.
 @shek069  @Mazda84  @Wakeup So when Mitch McConnell said Nothing will get passed and we will make this President a one term President???
He was just trying to compromise????
I have heard of brown nosing but that's ring around the collar....Â
 @Wakeup I know. Maybe you should take some initiative and stop relying on him.
 @Wakeup Because we know with great certainty that the developers will ONLY employee the unemployed construction workers of Oregon, right? Most likely, the developers will either bring their usual contractors in, or bid the construction out, and take a low bid from an out of state company for the construction.
 @pdxd  @Wakeup I bid to to contractors all the time on various projects. History dictates that most out of state contractors won't bid this because they will have higher overhead/expenses to deal with in having to pay their workers hotel costs/travel expenses/per diem/Oregon taxes, etc. Odds certainly do favor in state contractors.
 @pdxd How do you figure? They still have to pay the taxes since they are working in Oregon and the other expenses don't change either, regardless of where they are put up.
 @shek069 Unless they put them up across the river.Â
@Wakeup What do you mean "Yes, even at $12 / hour"??? I haven't had a job that paid me that since 2009. $12 per hour would take care of all my needs.Â
 @Bewitchin1  @Wakeup $12 pays for a room in a 2 bedroom apartment and can support a marijuana habit. That's about it really.
By the way, you know what you DON'T see in the artist's design for the proposed casino in Wood Village?
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Wood Village. WTF is with all the trees around the place. It's as if they magically shoved the Fred Meyer, Fairview Village, Fairview, and all the surrounding fields and neighborhoods under the thick canopy of evergreens that magically appeared.
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If you can't see that this is total, absolute BS, then ask yourself why people in LO and Canada want to do it -here- and not -there-.Â
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The long-time residents don't want this because they remember when people gambled at the dog tracks. It didn't bring prosperity to the community; it prevented it from developing. Now there's a Kohl's, a Fred Meyer, a Lowe's...wait...you don't see those in the concept design either, huh? IE, THEY'RE NOT SHOWING YOU REALITY.
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Propose a casino in the middle of Lake Oswego and watch what happens.
@Dienekes4160 This is an architect's rendering of the proposed site. When drafting a design concept to be brought before communities and lenders, you only show what the "thing" is. To add surrounding neighborhoods would cloud what they're looking at. The only interest here is the complex...not the little Wood Village storybook neighborhood across the street, or the FM and Kohl's and Lowe's. This is an excellent design and will add much to the area.
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 @Bewitchin1 Okay, okay, but, where's the parking? Where are you going to park ALL those cars?Â
 @Bewitchin1 Understood, but considering how near to the Columbia this would, underground parking could be an invitation for trouble during rain unless the invest in some top-notch drainage. The reason I bring it up though, if anyone goes on HWY 18, they'll see how much space the parking lot takes up for Spirit Mountain, or anyone going to Seattle will see the giant parking garage in Fife for the Emeral Queen Casino.Â
@pdxd  If I''m not mistaken...I think that one square building might be a parking garage. And the trees that are spoken about? That might be where a parking area is. That long reflecting pool....don't figure that will be there. Again...they want to show just the architectural concept. The trees and people walking...it's all for effect. And who knows...it might be all underground which would be a nice idea too. Had I designed it...that's what I would have done. Underground parking.
 @Dienekes4160 I love how you think a rundown dogtrack is comparable visually and economically to a modern-built casino resort. Â
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And huge LOL @ you seriously expecting them to include a Kohls and a Fred Meyer in their artist's renderings.
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I like it:
1) Good paying Union Jobs - around 3,000 for construction and 1,000-2,000 local workers year-round. Jobs, Jobs, Jobs,, we need them.
2) Oregon's only tax paying casino - Now that's a first - $100 million dollars every year to education.
3) Not far for anyone, in the metro area for entertainment...
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I'm voting YES, jobs for Oregon!
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 @bat54 I like everything here except the Union jobs. Unions have worn out their welcome and need to go IMHO.
 @shek069  @bat54 so you're for more unemployment? Excellent.
@on shing dao @shek069 @bat54 No, he's just against livable wages and quality benefits.
 @bat54 "YES" for more alcoholics, drunk drivers, panhandlers, gambling addicts and minimum wage jobs in the metro area. "YES" if you never saw the place before 1987.
 @Dienekes4160 So you don't think that already happens with ALL the other Casinos in the state??
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At least this one is paying something back to the state for our schools. I realize it's not perfect, BUT the land at the Old Multnomah kennel club is doing NOTHING for the community and a wasted asset. The biggest reason is JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!
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 @noneofyourbizzness  @pdxd  @bat54 Except for the criminals that run casinos.
@pdxd @bat54 I can gaurantee that they will have a entire army of security personnel that will keep the panhandlers and criminal element away.
 @bat54 At quite a few of the tribal casinos across the state, the employees may be people that would otherwise be retired, and truly seem to enjoy what they do (somehow I think a metro area casino would not factor in that aspect). And the issue about taxes, the employees of the tribal casinos have to pay income tax. Unless the employee is a member of the tribe, lives on tribal land and is employed by tribe, they have to pay income tax. With tribal casinos, they aren't in the big Portland metro area, so I don't think I've ever seen a panhandler, but I'm fairly positive that an establishment based purely on money will attract panhandlers from across the metro area.