The Louisiana presidential primary is not the only issue residents of East Baton Rouge Parish will vote on this Saturday. The ballot includes a referendum that would allow Pinnacle Entertainment to build a new casino in Baton Rouge, which has spurred a residential debate about the pros and cons of its development. Councilman Pat Culbertson of District 3 of Baton Rouge held a public forum Thursday evening at the Bluebonnet Swamp Nature Center regarding the proposed referendum. Culbertson said he held the forum because the proposed location of Pinnacle’s new casino is in his district. The sign in front of Baton Rouge resident Lori Abshire’s home describes exactly how she feels about the possibility of Pinnacle Entertainment’s planned project: “NO NEW CASINO.” Abshire, who lives on Whitehaven Street, said she and her husband do not approve of the new casino because they fear the traffic it will increase on Lee Drive. She said traffic is already bad enough without a new casino. East Baton Rouge residents who agree with Abshire can vote against the referendum to determine whether Pinnacle Entertainment will be allowed to build the Casino Riviere. Since the introduction of Pinnacle’s plans to build Casino Riviere, the community has been voicing its opinions. Abshire isn’t the only resident to have the “NO NEW CASINO” sign. Several homeowners who have the same opinion as Abshire have started placing similar signs on their lawns disapproving of the new casino. A6, a group of citizens with a mission to better the greater Baton Rouge area, support Pinnacle’s new casino. A6 held two public forums in January for supporters and opposers of the casino. Haggai Davis, vice president of Go Kahuna and a member of the A6 Project Group, said Wade Hundley, president of Pinnacle Entertainment, and Jon Zimmerman, general manager of the Hollywood Casino, attended the forums, answering residents’ questions about the Casino Riviere project. Pinnacle Entertainment obtained riverboat casino licenses Oct. 17, 2006, from Harrah’s Entertainment. The Louisiana Gaming Board approved Pinnacle Entertainment’s plan Sept. 18, to build Casino Riviere in Baton Rouge. According to a Pinnacle Entertainment news release, the first phase of the Riviere project is to build a single-deck riverboat casino that would encompass more than 550 acres along the Mississippi River, which would include 1,500 slot machines and 50 table games. A first-class 100-guestroom hotel, a variety of restaurants, lounges and an entertainment venue is also part of phase one. Future phases of the plan for the casino would include a town center, a championship golf course, a residential community, an equestrian center and an expansion of the hotel. If Casino Riviere is built, it will be Baton Rouge’s third casino. The other two casinos in Baton Rouge are Hollywood Casino and the Belle of Baton Rouge. East Baton Rouge Parish residents are now the deciding factor whether Pinnacle Entertainment’s plan for a new casino will proceed. Davis said A6 has spent a lot of time talking to both sides to understand their positions before the group decided to support the new casino. Nonewcasino.com, a Web site dedicated to the rejection of Casino Riviere, said the biggest issue with the project is it will infringe on local neighborhoods. The casino is scheduled to be constructed on the corner of River Road and Gardere Lane, across the street from two residential areas. “It is a choice of location that I don’t agree with,” Culbertson said. “That is, it is near residential areas that is the last great historic, unspoiled corridor we have on River Road left in East Baton Rouge Parish.” Culbertson said he would prefer the area to be developed with schools and churches – not a casino. “A6 does not find evidence that the proposed Pinnacle location is nearer to existing residential areas than the Belle of Baton Rouge or Hollywood [Casino],” Michael Trufant said in an A6 news release. Culbertson said the other two casinos have been there a number of years, and people have decided to live in those residential areas despite the casinos. “I don’t think it’s a fair comparison to make,” Culbertson said. Culbertson thinks in most places, casinos are located in entertainment districts. Culbertson said the entertainment district in downtown Baton Rouge would be more of an ideal area for a new casino. Trufant said A6 thinks the positives far outweigh the negatives on the issues regarding Pinnacle Entertainment’s planned casino. Davis said he personally favors the Pinnacle casino. “If they are going to bring in entertainment, restaurants and something else to do, more power to them,” Davis said. “I’m not opposed to it at all.” David Brasington, associate professor of the Department of Economics, said introducing a new casino to the area has the possibility of helping Baton Rouge’s economy. Brasington said the casino could promote market growth by bringing more visitors – who might then spend money in other industries such as food service or entertainment – to the area. Daniel R. Lee, Pinnacle chairman and CEO, said in a news release the Casino Riviere project will provide 1,100 permanent jobs with an annual payroll of $33 million and is anticipated to produce an estimated $15 million per year in tax revenue for the state.
—-Contact J.J. Alcantara at [email protected]