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OLG Toronto/GTA casino proposal (where to put it?)

And the Casino debate continues...
Wynn Resorts seeks a chance at Toronto casino

A U.S. luxury resort company has sent a letter to Toronto’s city manager expressing its interest in building a high-end facility complete with a casino.

“Much of the public debate on this issue has centred around a false choice between an outdated big-box slots model and no casino,” reads the letter, signed by Wynn Resorts Development president and chief operating officer Gamal Aziz.

I am writing to you to make it clear that we would offer another option. That is to create a luxury resort and spa experience that will confirm Toronto as a major global tourist and convention destination, one that will integrate seamlessly into the urban fabric of the city while standing out as an architectural asset.”

The letter was written on Monday, and a copy was obtained by The Globe and Mail. It goes on to say Wynn would work closely with the city “to find an appropriate location” and would include fine dining and casual restaurants, a five-star spa, hotel rooms looking out at the Toronto skyline, and a convention facility.
More.....http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...ks-a-chance-at-toronto-casino/article9292250/
 
More on the Casino issue.. from the Globe
MGM lobbying hard for Exhibition Place casino resort

In the weeks leading up to the first council vote on whether to allow a downtown Toronto casino, one consortium is behind the bulk of the lobbying, approaching key decision makers and pushing its vision for a gambling resort at Exhibition Place.

Select city councillors and the mayor have been given private briefings and a preview of MGM’s plan for a waterfront casino resort – all part of the pitch by the U.S. operator and its Canadian partner, developer Cadillac Fairview.

While councillors provided few details, they recalled that the tabletop model and drawings envisioned the rerouting of the Martin Goodman trail to run along the waterfront at Ontario Place, bringing transit into Exhibition Place and expanding its GO station with a link to Liberty Village. The three-million-square-foot development would include shopping, expanded convention space, a hotel, underground parking and a casino in the area traditionally home to the CNE’s midway, which would be relocated further west or on the northern edge of Ontario Place.
More......http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news...xhibition-place-casino-resort/article9293913/
 
fine dining and casual restaurants, a five-star spa, hotel rooms looking out at the Toronto skyline, and a convention facility
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Toronto already has a lot of that stuff, and if there is demand for more, it certainly doesn't have be part of a casino complex (or part of any complex; they can be standalone businesses), or operated by foreign corporations who will take the profits OUT of Toronto and Canada. Pass.
 
Automation Gallery said:
How easy, noticed you have said the same on....the NFL, Olympics, Pan Am Games, topics:eek:
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Mmm... just the Olympics, as far as I can recall. I don't remember an NFL thread. But either way, these types of proposals do not hold water as development strategies for cities, and it's not unheard of for cities to realize a net loss, and so I oppose them.
 
"a casino in the area traditionally home to the CNE’s midway, which would be relocated further west or on the northern edge of Ontario Place."

This is a somewhat ill-advised notion... (presumably) the midway located on a the parking lots on the north side of Ontario Place? Obvviously not given an real thought by the casino concerns, given Ontario Place Revitalization plans for the future.
 
3Dementia said:
"a casino in the area traditionally home to the CNE’s midway, which would be relocated further west or on the northern edge of Ontario Place."

This is a somewhat ill-advised notion... (presumably) the midway located on a the parking lots on the north side of Ontario Place? Obvviously not given an real thought by the casino concerns, given Ontario Place Revitalization plans for the future.
Click to expand...

I wonder if the casino was part of the revitalization plans all along. The timing fits, and both fall under the jurisdiction of the province.
 
TOperson said:
I wonder if the casino was part of the revitalization plans all along. The timing fits, and both fall under the jurisdiction of the province.
Click to expand...

Not to mention John Tory was going googoo gaga over the MGM plan on his radio show yesterday. What a bunch of snake oil salesmen.
 
I really like the front street proposal of the convention centre. That being said I don't know if it would be destructive to the neighbourhood businesses. On the other hand I find the CNE EX grounds more separated from most of the city. As a result I think depending on the proposal I might be more comfortable with this area being developed. I have no faith the province is going to come up with a good plan for the area without a casino anyways. On the other hand I really appreciate the downsview par plan but that is in danger of being pulled back..
 
Big media presentation is being made today...

On Wednesday, MGM will unveil details of it's casino resort proposal for Exhibition Place.

Newstalk 1010's John Tory got a look at the plan before the rest of us.

According to Tory on the Live Drive the plan includes a large casino which will make up 8% of the development.

Highlights of the proposal also include an extra floor to be added to the Direct Energy Centre to add convention space.

Tory told listeners on Newstalk 1010 that a complex of this nature would normally include a 4000 room hotel, but MGM will leverage existing hotel space in the area and build a 1200 room hotel.

The CNE's midway will be relocated largely to northern sections of Ontario Place (now mainly parking lots) and there would be a new route developed in order to keep the Honda Indy.

Tory says Wednesday proposal will also include a permanent 900 seat home for Cirque du Soleil a shopping complex roughly half the size of the Eaton Centre, and 10,000 underground parking spots.

MGM will also consider a Canadian Music Hall of Fame at Ontario Place, Tory told listeners, with the entire casino projected expected to generate about 10 thousand jobs.

All heritage buildings on the Exhibition Place grounds will also be preserved according to Tory's sneak peek.
 
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Yeah.. with the casino taking up half the parking lots and the new hotel taking the other half, there's no room for the EX on the CNE grounds. That, and the fact that the place they seem to want to shoehorn the EX into is part of Ontario Place.
I'll pass.
 
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If a casino is built here, I'm sure it won't be long until the CNE is closed down. Of course, they will have 101 good reasons for doing it but it will all lead back to money. If it's more profitable for the casino to get rid of the CNE, it will, without any regard to what Torontonians want, so we need to be very cautious about this. I would hate to see Toronto lose the CNE forever.
 
What's the deal with the hotel that was to be built on the parking lot immediately west of the Automotive Building? I thought that was a go, but it doesn't appear in the renders above.
 
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