NORFOLK, Va. — Norfolk City Council has approved an updated agreement with the Pamunkey Indian Tribe about the purchase and development of the casino on a site near Harbor Park.
They voted 7-1 for the resolution Tuesday evening with hopes that this agreement will finally get the city's casino project off the ground. The update brings Las Vegas-based Boyd Gaming in to develop the commercial property.
After years of delays and renderings that have failed to even come close to fruition, this means new progress in the project formerly referred to as Headwaters, now dubbed "Project Mermaid."
Tuesday's resolution certified Golden Eagle Consulting II, LLC as Norfolk’s preferred gaming operator for a casino in the city. Golden Eagle is an entity owned by the Pamunkey Indian Tribal Gaming Authority, which the tribe plans to partner with Boyd Gaming Corporation to build the long-delayed casino.
Boyd Gaming said Golden Eagle will "develop a single-phase project on the historic Norfolk waterfront that will include a 200-room hotel, eight food and beverage outlets, and a casino featuring 1,500 slots and 50 table games."
Boyd Gaming and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe first announced their new partnership last week, saying in a joint statement: "The Pamunkey Indian Tribe has been working to develop a casino resort in Norfolk for the last several years. Boyd Gaming has started the process required to help the Tribe bring its vision to fruition, in a way that will deliver meaningful benefits for the Tribe, the City of Norfolk and the Commonwealth of Virginia."
After the vote Monday, Uri Clinton with Boyd Gaming told 13News Now, "This is an outstanding place for a best-in-class casino resort."
He added, that though talks about the project have been ongoing for years, we're still in the early phases. "But this a milestone," explained Clinton. "We’re very excited to begin this journey. We think the Pamunkey are an exceptional partner to have."
Pamunkey Indian Tribe Chief Robert Gray shared the feeling is mutual. He said, "Boyd has been able to come in and work around those changes and keep the plan for the world-class resort we always intended."
On Monday, the city's architectural review board pushed back a vote on the approval of the casino's design, but that didn't stop Norfolk City Council from approving the new partnership on Tuesday.
After the vote, Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander said in a statement, "I am excited to recognize this significant milestone in our journey to bring a world-class casino and hotel resort to the Harbor Park Entertainment District."
Andria McClellan was the sole council member to vote against the new agreement. She told meeting attendees Tuesday evening: "We’ve been dealt a bad hand. What hasn’t changed in those five years? My original concerns. Concerns about public safety, the stress a casino will put on the adjacent neighborhood, and the worry that problem gambling will hurt those who can least afford it."
Those in support of the new agreement shared excitement for new jobs and more revenue for the city.
Council member Tommy Smigiel said, "You’ve got to generate revenue. There’s people who are going to come to Norfolk to spend their money here who are not local residents, and I want their money."
Boyd Gaming, a nearly 50-year-old company, operates 28 properties, according to its website.
The casino is expected to generate more than 800 jobs once completed. It's forecasted to have a local economic output of $290 million annually, plus $30 million in tax revenue, according to city staff.