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Is A casino a Good idea for South Walton

  • Yes

    Votes: 8 26.7%
  • no

    Votes: 22 73.3%

  • Total voters
    30

Jim Tucker

Beach Fanatic
Jul 12, 2005
1,189
497
The owner of Sandestin doesn't own land in Freeport, or condos, or shopping, dining, golf, etc. Although if casinos are approved in Florida someone might decide Freeport *coughJayOdomcough* is a good place for one. Will there eventually be a casino in every strip mall in America? I wouldn't rule it out.

Sudsie's Laundrocasino
Meat O'Grady's Sports Bar & Casino (wings 'n slots)
Sissy's Pet Grooming and Casino
Yakitori's Hibachi Sushi and Casino
 

Em

Beach Fanatic
Sep 18, 2005
1,506
884
Walton Co.
South Walton does NOT include Freeport, according to the County. Just ask South Walton Mosquito Control and South Walton Fire District, and maybe even the school board. They define South Walton as south of the bay.

My first thought is that if a casino is going to be in the area, I agree that Freeport may be a good location. BUT, then, I start thinking about the urban sprawl and want much more input from county planning commission as well as private urban planners, and of course the citizens who will be in the "back yard" of the casinos.

Scooterbug, don't worry about those things you mention. 331 already IS a death trap and many people were already priced out of Freeport. Freeport already has about 2000+ newly platted residential lots spread over a handful of developments. I can see Freeport becoming a centralized hub year-round community in the future, with South Walton being the outskirts for tourists and second home owners. I'm not talking 2 years, but someday down the road.

FYI - if they did locate it in Freeport, HUGE incentives already in place could save businesses as much as 40% in labor cost via tax credits.
 

Sandestinhomeowner

Beach Crab
Dec 16, 2011
2
0
My initial reaction to hearing about a Casino in Sandestin was negative. Now, knowing more information and having had time to adjust to the idea, I am strongly in support of it.

My reasons:
1. Entertainment- a casino will bring nightly, high-quality entertainment. Shows, comedians, singers, etc. Currently we have no draw or venue to accommodate this quality of entertainment.

2. Size and scope- if you build a casino in Freeport- there is no limited to the sprawl that could occur. You are envisioning a mini-Vegas or Buloxi? That could eventually occur in Freeport. Not in Sandestin. The parcel it will be built on in Sandestin is a limited size parcel- enough for 1 casino tower. It will have entrances and parking on 98- so will not increase the traffic in the resort- other than the traffic from increased guest, which god forbid we have increased guests on resort. Sandestin owners, 70% of which rent of there homes, would welcome the increased activity, which would likely double.

3. Increased quality of surroundings- a casino is a major profit center, pouring millions of dollars into the county's budget, law enforcement, and the resort. All quality standards will double. Property values will increase due to increased rental revenues and added value.

Yes, the casino will be a great thing for SoWal. Do I think the economy of Freeport would benefit from the casino being built in Freeport? Of course. But the casino will bring jobs to this county that can and will be filled by Freeport residents, regardless of where in SoWal it is built. You have to look at what is more appealing to the clientele. Nobody wants to go to WindCreek. Clients need a well-developed cosmopolitan area with restaurants, shopping, an entertainment. They aren't going to want to stay in the middle of 331 and be bussed to the beach. We are talking about a high class clientele.
 

Bob Wells

Beach Fanatic
Jul 25, 2008
3,380
2,857
Funny, unless they were already approved, you will only have 3 maybe 4 story casinos, not towers. as you imply which is also prohibited across the bay. Not 100% sure.
 

Sandestinhomeowner

Beach Crab
Dec 16, 2011
2
0
My understanding is that Sandestin's DRI grandfathers them in so that the scenic corridor guidelines don't apply to them. I could be mistaken. Nothing that has been built in Sandestin in the last 10 years, other than Townhomes or SFHs, has adhered to that 3/4 story rule.
 

Em

Beach Fanatic
Sep 18, 2005
1,506
884
Walton Co.
Oh, right -- A casino will not add any traffic to the already nightmare summertime traffic on 98 in Sandestin. Where's the laugh button.
 

Miss Kitty

Meow
Jun 10, 2005
47,017
1,131
69
I hate casinos. :lie:
 

Kurt

Admin
Staff member
Oct 15, 2004
2,233
4,925
SoWal
mooncreek.com
A new poll shows Florida voters approve of bringing Las Vegas style casinos to the state by a small margin and nearly three-fourths say gambling is not morally wrong.

Independents, Democrats and men most strongly supported the idea of having casinos in Florida while Republicans and women were nearly evenly divided on the subject.

A random telephone survey of 1,412 registered voters taken from Jan. 4-8 by Quinnipiac University showed 48 percent in favor of casino gambling in the state compared to 43 percent who were opposed. However, 61 percent said they believed casinos would be good for the state's economy to 33 percent who disagreed. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 2.6 percentage points.

The Legislature begins its examination of the issue Tuesday.

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/01/10/2582200/poll-shows-most-floridians-ok.html
 
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