Board Denies Gettysburg Casino

[TraciAnn]

Gettysburg was "denied"!

http://www.wgal.com/news/10573532/detail.html

This is a great victory!

Thank you to everyone who supported the cause. I am sure further news stories will be posted in the near future.

~Traci

[Dignann]

Board Denies Gettysburg Casino

Board denies Crossroads casino license

EVENING SUN ONLINE

Article Launched: 12/20/2006 11:39:04 AM EST


The Pennsylvania Gaming Control board this morning denied a slots license to Crossroads Resort & Spa to build a casino at the intersection of routes 30 and 15 in Straban Township.

Licenses were granted to Sands Bethworks and Mount Airy, but no licenses are final until the appeals process is over.

Investors sought to build a casino with 3,000 slots machines, hotel and restaurants east of Gettysburg.

Crossroads' proposal sparked heated debate among both residents and Civil War preservationists who believed a casino built within less than two miles of the battlefield would ruin the historic nature of the region.

The proposal was up against plans in the Poconos and the Lehigh Valley.

Crossroads announced their plans for the $350-million facility in April 2005.

Several hundred people, including casino executives, investors, lawyers and lobbyists, gathered in an auditorium across the street from the Capitol as the meeting opened around 10:50 a.m.

So far, two racetracks — Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs and Philadelphia Park — already have opened slots parlors under conditional licenses, while racetracks in Chester and near Erie are expected to open slots parlors in the next two months.

http://www.eveningsun.com/localnews/ci_4872795

Eric

[CJDaley]

Re: No Casino

It's Official

Gettysburg slots proposal voted down
CHARLES SCHILLINGER - The York Dispatch
Article Last Updated: 12/20/2006 11:43:13 AM EST


There will not be gambling in Gettysburg.
The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board approved licenses for several slots casinos throughout the state this morning, including two stand-alone licenses for which Gettysburg investors were competing.

But Gettysburg investors lost out to its other competitors. Sands BethWorks in Bethlehem and Mt. Airy in the Poconos won the licenses.

Decker said all of the license applicants were suitable, however, the chosen were the "most suitable" for a stand-alone slots casino.

Several hundred people, including Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street, casino executives, investors, lawyers and lobbyists, gathered in an auditorium across the street from the Capitol as the meeting opened around 10:50 a.m.

"This is a day we've all been waiting for a long time," said Tad Decker, chairman of the gaming control board, as the meeting began.

In Gettysburg, Chance Enterprises -- a group of investors led by Gettysburg businessman David LeVan -- proposed the slots casino Crossroads Gaming Resort & Spa in April 2005.

The group was applying for a stand-alone license. There were five applicants for the two licenses available outside of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

The other applicants included Sands Bethworks in Bethlehem, Aztar-Tropicana in Allentown, Mt. Airy in the Poconos and Pocono Manor, in the Poconos.

Chance said the 3,000 slots, spa, restaurants and 224-room hotel it wanted to build would have generated 1,000 jobs directly and another 2,000 in economic stimulus for the Gettysburg Area.

Investors said the Crossroads development would also include $4 million in improvements to Route 15 and Route 30 in Straban Township, near where the gaming resort would be located.

The announcement a year and a half ago spawned opposition groups, most notably the local No Casino Gettysburg, headed by chairwoman Susan Starr Paddock. Civil War heritage preservation groups, religious organizations and historians also joined the opposition.

The competition has pitted major casino companies, political insiders, celebrities, mayors and neighbors against each other.

Hanging in the balance is the $1 billion in tax cuts that Gov. Ed Rendell has promised from the legalization of slots, which he pressed as a way to relieve rising property taxes. If the tens of thousands of anticipated slot machines produce that much tax revenue, Pennsylvania will be one of the nation s highest grossing commercial gambling states.

[CSchneider]

Re: No Casino

Awesome. Congrats to all.

-Craig Schneider
Gettysburg, PA

[CJDaley]

Re: No Casino

CWPT just issued this statement:

GAMING CONTROL BOARD REJECTS SLOTS PARLOR NEAR HISTORIC GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD

“This is a great day for Gettysburg and for preservationists throughout the nation. By not allowing gambling to encroach on this famous town and battlefield, Pennsylvania has sent a clear message that it cares deeply for its historic treasures. It is no exaggeration to say that this is the most significant battlefield preservation victory since the defeat of Disney’s proposed theme park at Manassas in the early 1990s.

“Together with the many thousands of Americans who have anxiously awaited this decision for some 20 months, I applaud the members of the Gaming Control Board and thank them for recognizing that Gettysburg and gambling don’t mix.

“I also want to thank the tireless volunteers of No Casino Gettysburg and recognize the work of our other partners in the Stop the Slots Coalition. There is no question that this victory was a team effort.

“I sincerely hope this vote will serve to motivate preservationists to redouble their efforts to save the remainder of the Gettysburg Battlefield before it is lost forever. The casino proposal itself was merely a symptom of a larger development problem plaguing Gettysburg and many other Civil War battlefield communities. The Civil War Preservation Trust is committed to working with other preservation groups to protect the Gettysburg battleground.”

Since the Gettysburg slots parlor was first proposed in April 2005, CWPT has been one of the leading voices against the casino. Earlier this year, the organization identified Gettysburg as one of the most endangered battlefields in the nation because of the slots proposal. CWPT members collected more than 34,000 signatures in opposition to the casino. Together with the National Parks Conservation Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, No Casino Gettysburg and Preservation Pennsylvania, CWPT is proud to be a member of the Stop the Slots Coalition.

The Civil War Preservation Trust is a 70,000-member nonprofit battlefield preservation organization. Its mission is to preserve our nation’s endangered Civil War sites. Since 1987, the organization has saved more than 23,000 acres of hallowed ground throughout the United State, including 697 acres in and around Gettysburg. CWPT’s website is located at www.civilwar.org.

[Michael Comer]

Re: No Casino

Hallelujah!

But it's important not to rest on laurels. There's still plenty to do out there. Let's get the Slaughter Pen saved plus other very needful projects.

[brown]

Re: No Casino

Isn't this what living history is about: retelling the past to preserve it for current and future generations?
Good work to all involved. Congratulations!

[Dignann]

Re: No Casino

I could not think of a better holiday present!!


GAMING CONTROL BOARD REJECTS SLOTS PARLOR NEAR HISTORIC GETTYSBURG BATTLEFIELD

After 20 months of debate, the Control Board concludes that Gettysburg and gambling don’t mix.

(Harrisburg, Pa., 12/20/2006) – During a public hearing today, the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board rejected a proposal to build a 3,000-machine slots parlor one mile from the Gettysburg Battlefield. James Lighthizer, president of the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT), issued the following statement in the wake of the vote:

“This is a great day for Gettysburg and for preservationists throughout the nation. By not allowing gambling to encroach on this famous town and battlefield, Pennsylvania has sent a clear message that it cares deeply for its historic treasures. It is no exaggeration to say that this is the most significant battlefield preservation victory since the defeat of Disney’s proposed theme park at Manassas in the early 1990s.

“Together with the many thousands of Americans who have anxiously awaited this decision for some 20 months, I applaud the members of the Gaming Control Board and thank them for recognizing that Gettysburg and gambling don’t mix.

“I also want to thank the tireless volunteers of No Casino Gettysburg and recognize the work of our other partners in the Stop the Slots Coalition. There is no question that this victory was a team effort.

“I sincerely hope this vote will serve to motivate preservationists to redouble their efforts to save the remainder of the Gettysburg Battlefield before it is lost forever. The casino proposal itself was merely a symptom of a larger development problem plaguing Gettysburg and many other Civil War battlefield communities. The Civil War Preservation Trust is committed to working with other preservation groups to protect the Gettysburg battleground.”

Since the Gettysburg slots parlor was first proposed in April 2005, CWPT has been one of the leading voices against the casino. Earlier this year, the organization identified Gettysburg as one of the most endangered battlefields in the nation because of the slots proposal. CWPT members collected more than 34,000 signatures in opposition to the casino. Together with the National Parks Conservation Association, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, No Casino Gettysburg and Preservation Pennsylvania, CWPT is proud to be a member of the Stop the Slots Coalition.

The Civil War Preservation Trust is a 70,000-member nonprofit battlefield preservation organization. Its mission is to preserve our nation’s endangered Civil War sites. Since 1987, the organization has saved more than 23,000 acres of hallowed ground throughout the United State, including 697 acres in and around Gettysburg. CWPT’s website is located at www.civilwar.org.

###

For media inquiries, contact:
Jim Campi, 202-367-1861 ext. 205
Mary Goundrey, 202-367-1861 ext. 231


Eric

[CJDaley]

Re: No Casino

I could not think of a better holiday present!!

Merry Christmas Eric, thanks for all your work on this issue.

If anyone wants to thank those involved you can click here:

http://www.stopthegettysburgslots.org/

or here

https://www.nocasinogettysburg.com/

or of course here

http://www.civilwar.org/

[Dignann]

Re: No Casino

As Chris has suggested, please do drop a thank you to the organizations above. They are the ones who worked tirelessly on this effort and showed what a grass roots movement can do.

Eric

[paulcalloway]

Re: No Casino

Christmas came early. That's wonderful news.

[Guy Gane III]

Re: B oard Denies Gettysburg Casino

Hurrah!!! :D

[CC sewing]

Re: Board Denies Gettysburg Casino

Oh, what a relief! I think it would have broken my heart if they had allowed that in Gettysburg.

Just the other day we were talking in my family about going to Gettysburg (we wanted to go last year, but didn't make it), and my son said, "We should go before they put in a casino." How lovely to know that it will be unspolied by that when we do finally visit.

[boozie]

Re: Board Denies Gettysburg Casino

That is GREAT news!!!!

CWPT has many other preservation battles, if you don't belong, join now. Your support helps us all win, to preserve OUR history! They did not win this battle alone though, a big Thank You goes out to all organizations and citizens who rolled up their sleeves for this fight.

[DougCooper]

Re: Board Denies Gettysburg Casino

Its safe to say that this victory ranks up there with Disney, Brandy Station, Chancellorsville, etc. CWPT is the single most effective organization of its kind in and around Washington, that is for sure - they get things done.

This fight has had its up and downs and there were times when we just shook our heads in dismay that it was even on the table...but the power of greed is really amazing.

Nice to know there are some folks in positions of power in the Commonwealth that get it.

Merry Christmas indeed!