Virginia: Public support shifting to Urban One project in Richmond casino sweepstakes

Virginia: Public support shifting to Urban One project in Richmond casino sweepstakes

Article brief provided by Richmond Times-Dispatch
  • Chris Suarez, Richmond Times-Dispatch
April 18, 2021 12:45 PM
  • Chris Suarez, Richmond Times-Dispatch

The competition for the city’s single casino license is heating up.

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With time running out for the three companies pursuing a casino resort in Richmond, project backers and residents across the city are continuing to pitch their support or opposition to the projects.

As a city evaluation panel is expected to select a preferred project next month, followed by a City Council vote in June on whether to hold a referendum on the project in November, public favor is beginning to coalesce behind one of the projects and against the other two.

In a letter sent Thursday to Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney and the evaluation panel reviewing the three project proposals, Prudence Justis, president of the Ginter Park Residents Association, said 94% of respondents to a recent neighborhood survey opposed a casino at the Movieland property.