New Effort To Build Casino At Westland Mall Site Instead Of Arena District

COLUMBUS, Ohio -- NBC 4 has learned an effort is underway to convince casino developer Penn National to shift its focus away from Columbus' Arena District and onto the site occupied by the Westland Mall. The new strategy comes seven weeks after voters approved Issue 3, paving the way for an Arena District casino.

Former Franklin County Commissioner Dewey Stokes is working to rally west side business leaders behind the effort, recognizing that the Arena District site is meeting resistance in the community and inside Columbus City Hall.

"The vote is there, we're going to have a casino. So let's put it where it's going to do the most good for the community," Stokes said. "I don't think it belongs in the Arena District - especially when we've got an alternative site. We've been losing businesses in that area, the area's deteriorating, and we believe that this would be a shot in the arm for not only small businesses, but employment."

The area surrounding Westland Mall has seen a series of business departures in the past two decades and could benefit from the kind of economic injection that a casino might provide. Proponents argue it is a much better fit for a casino - both physically and economically - than the Arena District, with ample room to expand and easy access to major roadways such as West Broad Street, Interstate 270 and Interstate 70.

"I believe it would mean a lot more to people out here on the west side and the southwest side than it would downtown," said nearby resident Matthew Jaynes, an assistant basketball coach at Briggs High School. "Most of the bingo halls are here on the west side. I hate to say it that way, but it's already here on the west side."

Jaynes describes the once-thriving neighborhood as having "lost its luster over the past 15 years." With the departure of General Motors and Delphi, a new casino would create a marketable attraction for the west side. But before surrounding businesses start celebrating the potential profits, a series of events are needed to entertain the thought.

First, 60 percent of the state legislature would have to back changing the state constitution and agree to put those changes up for a statewide vote. Then, Ohio voters would have to approve the changes. To accomplish those two difficult feats, political insiders say casino developer Penn National's support is vital.

Public stances in opposition to an Arena District casino by Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman and other local leaders help the west side's cause, but Penn National vice president of public affairs Eric Schippers told NBC 4 Tuesday that the company remains committed to the Arena District casino site given that Issue 3 specifically mandates a Columbus Casino at the property currently listed at 568 Nationwide Boulevard.

Schippers did offer Arena District casino opponents some reason for optimism when he said company leaders are on "a listening tour" of Columbus, adding that Penn National is willing to listen to feedback from the community and "desires to be good corporate citizens."

Stokes, who is a member of the Hilltop Business Association, says the Arena District was meant as a family entertainment destination. He hopes Penn National sees the Westland Mall site's potential to lift the entire neighborhood.

"If you can go out and rejuvenate that area by building a casino there, and the spin-off for car sales, the spin-off for gasoline stations, the spin-off for restaurants off-site, the hotels, and when you go out in
that area you can see that we've been losing all those businesses, this could be a potential shot in the arm for that whole area," Stokes said.

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