New Des Plaines casino brings out residents, questions
Now that Des Plaines is on track to get a new casino, residents want to know how much revenue and jobs, traffic and crime it will bring to the city.
Those were the top concerns of more than 150 residents who attended a town hall meeting Wednesday night aimed at answering questions about how the casino will impact their daily lives.
The proposed casino is targeted for 21 acres at the northwest corner of River Road and Devon Avenue fronting the Tri-State Tollway.
Resident Bob Cerniglia, 68, who lives about a half mile north of the site wanted to know how increased traffic would impact his neighborhood. He was also worried about the potential increase in crime, but was convinced by city officials' assurances.
"At the beginning there's going to be a little influx and then it's going to level out," Cerniglia said. "This is development and growth. You either grow or you stay stagnant."
Des Plaines Police Chief Jim Prandini said fears about a spike in crime, prostitution, and drugs haven't materialized in towns with casinos, such as Aurora, Elgin and Joliet.
"If there is a specific problem, we have the resources to go target it," Prandini said. "This is not a Vegas strip type of operation here."
The police department will have little involvement with crime on casino property, which is usually handled by the casino's own security.
"You get far more (calls) for paramedics than you do for the police department," Prandini said.
Prandini added he doesn't think the city will need to hire additional police or fire personnel because of the casino.
Residents who were curious about potential jobs and doing business with the casino once it opens were referred to the developer's Web site, midwestgaming.com. Though it's early to submit resumes, the developer plans to conduct job fairs at a future date.
Perhaps, the biggest question on residents' minds was how the city proposes to spend casino revenues.
The roughly $10 million in projected yearly casino and other associated tax revenues is a drop in the bucket considering the city's total budget of roughly $130 million.
Yet, it alone could offset the $9.4 million in capital improvements planned this year, Des Plaines City Manager Jason Bajor said.
Bajor said the money could be used to upgrade infrastructure, such as fixing sewers, sidewalks and streets, to help pay down debt and defer any future property tax increases.
That was music to the ears of resident Jan Granatelli, 72, who moved into town three years ago. Granatelli said she's more comfortable with the project knowing her property taxes may go down.
"And if the casino is going to help that, God bless them," she said.
Yet, none of this will happen overnight. Casino construction is likely still a year away with a targeted opening in 2011.
City officials and residents alike are pinning a lot of hopes on the project that it will help revive development.
"Des Plaines has always been kind of like a left out community," said Acy Marsenic, a 38-year-old real estate developer who owns several properties in town. "I think it's going to do wonders for Des Plaines. I think this might start up our downtown."