Reports surfaced on Sunday that a group of investors and the Delaware Indians are considering a casino for the I-71 and State Route 36/37 interchange in Delaware County.
According to The Dispatch’s “Ohioans push plan for Indian casino” the location would be at the southeast corner of the intersection near the A.D. Farrow Harley Davidson dealership.
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Why in Delaware County?
The short-answer would be why not? Southern Delaware County is one of the fastest-growing in the state and has been among the fastest growing in the nation. It sits on I-71 and with US 23 only 10 miles to the west it provides easy access from the state’s four corners.
The key part is that the land that makes-up present-day Delaware were once a small Delaware Indian village, which the investors are hoping will allow them to create an Indian claim to the property.
Could It Happen?
Will Delaware resident have their own casino? (Christian Ferrari/sxc)
Legally, the answer is yes.
Realistically, No.
Governor Ted Strickland has already stated he will not support another casino in Ohio, so it would have to go through the Federal Government and President Barak Obama. Delaware County balked very loudly when the consideration of moving the Columbus casino to Polaris and I don’t think this one is going to be any more popular.
Delaware democrats have started to make inroads into the community, it seems a long-shot that they’d “support” a Presidential initiative that could turn the tide against them.
What if it was 10 Miles North?
I’m very curious what the response would have been if the developer had gone just a bit further north to the State Route 61 exit in Marengo, Ohio. Morrow County NEEDS the infusion of capital in this economy. I don’t know if there is a Delaware Indian community in the Marengo area, but if so, the developer’s would find the road much easier to navigate.
