http://www.theoutlookonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=120409308562879300http://www.ci.wood-village.or.us/docs/news/casino.htmhttp://www.theoutlookonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=119622918105832300Matthew Rossman and Bruce Studer, two businessmen from Lake Oswego, purchased the first right of refusal for the property. Their proposal is to build a family entertainment center that consists of a world class hotel, spa, multi-plex cinema, waterpark, bowling alley, retail shops, and the State's first non-tribal casino.
In a recently released economic impact statement, the Entertainment Center is expected to provide $197M in annual revenue to Oregon from gaming revenues and $25M annually from property taxes, income taxes from new jobs, and occupancy taxes. They expect to create 10,000 new jobs. They have promised to dedicate 25% of the revenue to Oregon Schools.
Rossman and Studer argue that if a casino is not built at the Multnomah Greyhound Park site, a proposed casino near Vancouver in LaCenter, Washington will draw this potential revenue away from Multnomah County and Oregon.
To move ahead with their proposal, Rossman and Studer must first get two state-wide ballot initiatives passed in November of 2008. One would allow for this first non-tribal casino in the State to be built and the other would prevent any other non-tribal casinos from being built in the future. Rossman and Studer will also have to work closely with each of the local jurisdictions (Wood Village, Fairview, Troutdale, and Gresham) to develop agreements for mitigating impacts to the area. If the initiative qualifies for the ballot, public meetings will be held before the November election to provide information on the development proposal.
EDITED: Moved to Off-Topic - Sluff/Admin