Just when you think Aurora lawmakers couldn’t meet a new-business incentive or job-creation deal they didn’t like, they’re calling snake eyes on a state ballot question that would create a bustling Aurora casino.
Some of the Aurora City Council are highly incensed by Colorado Amendment 68, which seeks to turn Arapahoe Park horse racing track into a metro-area casino-gambling Mecca.
And the chief reason city lawmakers such as Councilman Bob Broom object to the plan to set up slot machines and poker tables at the 10,000-seat, 400-acre horse-racing track, which is currently used only 39 times per year?
Roads in the area.
This is the same city that can’t seem to give away taxes and infrastructure fast enough for other businesses. The Gaylord hotel and conference center, to be built miles from nowhere, is controversial because the same city council, Broom, too, has promised them $300 million in future tax incentives to open up.
Now to be fair, and accurate, Arapahoe Park is actually in unincorporated Arapahoe County, on Aurora’s southeast eastern edge.
Brooms’ chief complaint is that if the casino were to open there, already overwhelmed roads — such as Gun Club and East Quincy Avenue — would get hit hard by gamblers looking to hit it big all year round, probably all night long. Broom says the area needs $62 million in road improvements right now.
The key phrase here is “already overwhelmed.” Whether the Aurora casino opens or withers, the area needs those improvements. The county is the conduit of area road money from the state, and casino or no casino, this area is overdue for transportation improvements.
It is odd that while the city sees so many other types of industry as panaceas worthy of receiving tax-funded bait to seal deals — many of which depend on increased commuter traffic — this one doesn’t impress some city council members.
One touchstone Aurora lawmakers use when deciding how many incentive dollars they want to hand over is jobs. Jobs and secondary economic activity are king when it comes to backing projects. This one promises to bring more than 1,000-2,000 good-paying jobs to Aurora.
Is that not enough? As to who will pay to make sure the roads are clear to 2,500 highly profitable slot machines, it would be difficult to imagine that the casino wouldn’t be keen on making sure the roads are free and clear to their front door, just like casinos in Black Hawk and Central City have done.
This is no endorsement or rejection of Amendment 68, but it’s clear to us that Aurora has little chance of impressing voters with dire complaints about roads when it would be holding public celebrations if it had found a different business offering this many jobs or a new housing development that would offer this much economic activity — and additional new traffic.
There are many good reasons to allow the construction of a casino at Arapahoe Park race track, and there are many serious detriments. But it seems that a conversation between potential casino owners and local government officials over future road improvements would take that issue off the table, or truly make it a centerpiece for the opposition.
The argument needs to focus on what this would do to the state’s current casinos and casino towns, what it might do for public schools, which is the chief recipient of gambling tax proceeds, and what it means for the future of gambling all over the state.
I thought we purposely voted for, or allowed City Council to vote for us, to prevent improvements to North-South roads including Gun Club, Tower, and others, to support and encourage revenues for the E-470 Authority and its board.
Gun Club Road is actually a Colorado Hi-way. Not matter what we feel, CDOT has to be involved and I believe their current priorities are I70. I haven’t heard anyone contacting CDOT on the pro side. How about schools nearby?
You are correct. Gun Club is SH 30 up to Quincy. That section is maintained by CDOT. From Quincy, South, Aurora has responsibility.
What I find telling in the comments of Councilman Broom is the idea that the roads can’t handle the traffic. I live near Gun Club and travel on it frequently to go to Southlands Mall. Aurora has allowed a great deal of development along Gun Club and has failed to improve the roads that serve that development. How much revenue is generated from the retail put in and the tax base that lives in the area? Surely enough to put towards improving the roads. Aurora should devote something towards road improvement regardless of any proposed casino measure. The allowed development alone should provide the impetus for that. The daily backups that occur EVERY DAY from Quincy and extend well beyond Hampden are glaring proof of that!
Gun Club /is/ bad with traffic, but it tends to be people skipping the $10 each-way charge to use the 470 to get to I-70 at peak hours.
If the casino goes in, roads like Watkins (which is little more than a macadam goat path) will turn into major thoroughfares between 70 and Arapahoe Park – so I am not sure how much of an increase Gun CLub will see.
Either way, Gun Club does need to be addressed – much to the 470 folks ire I am sure.
Circle the calendar, I agree with you Dave. All the commercials against the casino are funded by the Casinos in Blackhawk and Central City. Neither side is being truthful on this one and the hypocrisy of city council is laughable.
I struggle with the possibility of Amendment 68 passing for
several reasons.
1. It would be the first time in Colorado history,
one private company would be written into the state constitution.
2. Those affected by this change (residents, city officials
and educators) have not been at the table prior to the Amendment being placed
on the ballot.
3. The Councils reluctance to be proactive in sponsoring
and providing community wide opportunities for its residents to express
concerns about Amendment 68.
Aurora has so much potential, yet it continually falls short. What is the chronic job killing investment repellent that plagues the city? I don’t pretend to be smart enough to put my finger on it.
This casino would be right in my neighborhood. I don’t care what impact this would have on the mountain casinos, I would rather have these jobs created in my community.