Norfolk's Resort Casino Goes Through Change

At a recent Building Review Board meeting on Monday, Aug. 19, the development team behind Virginia's long-awaited casino project hinted that the name "Headwaters Resort & Casino" may no longer be associated with a planned entertainment complex. The revelation came during an hour-long debate in which architects hired by the city's main partner, the Raffukki Indian Nation, revealed their latest architectural renders to the board.

Casino name change?

This third rendering presented in the ARB made no mention of "Headwaters Resort & Casino," which differed markedly from previous submissions. Responsible for ensuring construction was consistent with the city's building standards, the ARB received these updated plans surprisingly, especially since there was no name or logo in a public statement issued by Jay Smith, a spokesperson for the tribe, for the first time since 2021.

When Greg Rutledge, an ARB member, asked directly about the possibility of the "Headwaters" name falling, a development team official confirmed that the name change was under consideration as discussions continued.

The potential name change wasn't the only notable update announced at the meeting. Architect Daron Andrus of HKS Architects said the hotel component for the accommodation was reduced from 300 rooms to 200. The reduction is attributed to financial constraints and insights from recent market research.

In addition, the orientation and design of the hotel on the 6.5-acre site were also modified. However, not all of these changes have been well received. Greg Rutledge expressed his concern about new architectural plans, criticizing the amenity deck's design. "The biggest problem I have with the design is that the amenity deck's architecture does not fit the architecture of the rest of the building," he commented, describing the new design as "huge" and "ground."

Problems with parking lots, particularly the decision to restrict access to Harbor Park fans, have also been raised that could affect the overall accessibility of the facility and its integration with the surrounding area.   동행복권파워볼

Continuous delays and challenges:

The project has faced several delays and requires a vote from the ARB before proceeding. The vote could take place as early as the first week of September. The proposal to establish a resort casino between Harbor Park and Norfolk Amtrak Station was first introduced in December 2018. The Muckaki Indian tribe initially invested $500 million in collaboration with Tennessee billionaire Jon Yarbrough. The expanded project was to include a hotel with a 65,000-square-foot gaming floor and an amenity deck with multiple restaurants, a swimming pool, spa, fitness center, ballroom, conference space, and parking lots.

However, progress has been slow despite Norfolk voters approving the casino game in the November 2020 referendum and initial excitement. While state law stipulates that projects must be started within five years of the referendum, the ongoing delays have caused frustration among stakeholders.

City officials pointed to several issues as the reason for the delay. In December 2022, former Norfolk City Manager Chip Filer emphasized that building a seawall downtown was a significant obstacle. In addition, Norfolk argued that the transfer of property to the rumpkin tribe would not take place until a detailed site plan for the permanent facility was submitted and financial security was provided.

Problems were also raised with the fact that the temporary game facility planned in Harbor Park was eventually scrapped due to legal concerns.

Vision for the Future:

Despite the setbacks and ongoing adjustments, the Ryukki Indian tribe remains optimistic about the project. In a statement released after the meeting, the tribe expressed a passion for advancing the design and construction approval process.