Tt comment jun 8 2015

quote=192109

June 2014 Blade story

Mayor D. Michael Collins said that if he didn’t get as­sur­ances by fall [2014] of development plans for the 69-acre Marina District, he would no­tify Dash­ing Pa­cific Group of the city’s in­ten­tion to start mar­ket­ing the prop­erty to new de­vel­op­ers.

Mr. Collins voted as a member of city council to approve the sale, but said Thursday the buyback rights were an important caveat to the deal.

Under the purchase agreement, the city can buy it back between July 1, 2016, and July 1, 2017, if there hasn’t been “substantial” development.

Announced Marina District developers:

• ~2001 - Frank Kass - Columbus
• ~2003 - Bruce Douglas - Toledo area - "Esplanade at River East"
• 2005 - Pizzuti - Columbus
• 2006 - Dillin Corp - Toledo area
• 2011 - Dashing Pacific - China

From my September 2013 comment

The Columbus-based Pizzuti group seemed to have the most interest and momentum in the Marina District project. But Carty got elected in November 2005, and one of Carty's main goals was to eliminate anything associated with Jack Ford. So in the spring of 2006, Carty fired Pizzuti from the Marina District project.

"would like to see another casino built there - where the current one should have been placed - because the current one: A. sucks B. needs competition"

From Johio83 June 2011 comment

I've heard from some people connected to the deal that they chose the location because it is close to a highway, but secluded enough from other things that it will keep patrons from straying to other entertainment stops that might take away some profits.

And as MIJeff mentioned, the voters approved the change to the state constitution, which governed the locations that the casinos could be built.

Columbus got a do-over on a statewide ballot issue in May because Franklin County voted NO on the original November issue because voters disliked the chosen location. Plus it's Columbus, so that's probably why they got another chance.

Lucas County voted YES on the original issue. No do-over because by voting FOR the casino issue, that meant that voters also approved of the four site locations.

I voted against the casino issue because I felt that every county or every town in Ohio should have the ability to open a casino.