Danville city council members have approved a zoning change for the site of the proposed new casino, reversing a decision two weeks ago by the city’s planning and zoning commission.
Aldermen voted 10-0 for the proposal, with only Steve Foster abstaining from the vote. Aldermen Dan Duncheon, R.J. Davis and Robert Williams were absent.
Alderman Mike Puhr provided a timeline on how the talks with the casino company got to be where it is now. Puhr said the city recently received a letter from Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures proposing another casino plan, which he says Michael Mervis supports, and also a letter from Mervis encouraging the city to support the Mille Lacs plan. Puhr also said Michael Mervis rejected an offer from casino developers to purchase the proposed site of the original casino last year. Puhr said Mille Lacs was one proposal the city considered initially but rejected it because it did not include enough financial support to the community.
Alderman Bob Iverson said having the current warehouse site at 204 Eastgate Drive used for a business will make much more sense than having it sit empty.
“Other than just being empty or torn down, this will be a money-maker, not a money-loser,” he said.
Alderman Sharon Pickering said having the building in use will brighten the Lynch Road area, which she says has been declining for some time. And Alderman Mike O’Kane said the city should continue to move forward and not wait.
“We need this now, not down the road,” he said. “Hopefully this will get things going. I know this is just a temporary site, and we (hope to see) a nice, big permanent one in the future, but we need to get this one going now.”
Mayor Rickey Williams Jr. says the Wilmot family is a “trusted partner” in the project. He said the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the area in numerous ways, and the potential for hundreds of new jobs and the potential of $6.2 million in revenue make it a huge positive for Danville residents.
“…for every reason, although this is not what we thought it might be, I think this is absolutely in the best interests of the citizens of Danville,” Williams said.
The next step in the project is for an application to be submitted to the Illinois Gaming Board for approval. Developers hope the casino can begin operating at the Eastgate site in the fall of 2021.
