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Ohio Gov. Steve Strickland, here at a dedication ceremony for a school wind turbines, just saw his constituents vote in favor of casino gambling for the first time in state history. Some residents in Franklin County, home to Columbus, probably wouldn?EUR??,,????'?????<

 

In the Nov. LASN Green issue, one of the features presented was “Redefining Indian Casino Resorts” www.landscapeonline.com/research/article/12718. The feature asserted Indian casinos are not only springing up across the nation, but are becoming more high-end developments that offer many amenities.

The design for the new casinos are paying homage to tribal heritage, but also incorporating more sustainable design elements in regard to materials and landscaping.

Casino development is more and more in the news. On Nov. 17, 2009, the St. Louis County Council voted 4-2 in favor of rezoning 376 acres of wetlands south of the Columbia Bottom Conservation Area for development of a large casino/resort with a golf course and an estimated 8,000 parking spots www.landscapeonline.com/research/article/12829.

Meanwhile, Pennsylvania is “raking in” piles of cash from its new casinos. Establishing casinos in Philly was a hard fought struggle (see “Can Proposed Casinos Fit in with Philly Waterfront Plan?” www.landscapeonline.com/research/article/11002.

Now it’s Ohio’s turn. The Eastern Shawnee tribe of Oklahoma, which already has two casinos in Oklahoma, has long struggle to open an Indian casino in Ohio.

Ohio voters in the November 2009 state elections passed Issue 3 (53 percent yea, 47 percent nay) to amend the Ohio Constitution to allow casinos in Cincinnati, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo. Ohio voters had several times rejected legalizing casino gambling for their state. Apparently voters were swayed this time around with the promise of job growth and extra revenue. Ohio is stymied at year’s end with a budget deficit of $850 million.

Cincinnati is pushing to be the first Ohio city to get its casino built and open. Developer Dan Gilbert projects breaking ground in November 2010 and an opening in 2011. He reportedly expects to start putting together a team of architects and designers in the early months of 2010.