Greater Sudbury has spent $1.5 million on the Kingsway Entertainment District, city council was told Tuesday.
During his regular update on the city's big project, Ian Wood said $585,000 has been spent on the Junction, the plan to build a new art gallery, library and convention centre downtown.
Wood was also asked about a report that, in filings in the United States, Gateway Casinos said their new $55 million casino planned in Sudbury will rely primarily on locals for its customer base.
“It's all local money,” said Ward 1 Coun. Mark Signoretti.
While Sudburians were told the casino would attract tourists, Signoretti said even Gateway is admitting that's not the case. Plus, he said the restaurants the casino will include will put other restaurants out of business.
Wood replied that Gateway has been consistent about its plans for Sudbury. The U.S. filing confirmed Sudbury is the biggest single project the company is planning in the short term.
“Gateway has been consistent about their plans since they took over the northern bundle,” Wood said.
They have promised tens of millions of investment and new jobs, he said, and that hasn't changed.
The amenities they're bringing with the casino fits well with plans for the events centre, he said. While locals are the primary customers at the current casino at Sudbury Downs in Chelmsford, Wood said it attracts a significant number of out of town visitors.
With a new and more easily accessible location, “I expect that will continue.”
Ward 5 Coun. Bob Kirwan said the KED will bring in significant new revenue through commercial taxes, plus new jobs people in his ward are excited to apply for.
“It's not going to affect our community negatively as some people think,” Kirwan said, adding that it's time to stop putting up barriers to business, as mayor said in his inauguration speech last week.
Ward 4 Coun. Geoff McCausland asked whether increased policing costs have been estimated for the casino. McCausland, a new councillor, opposes the development.
“Is there a plan to police these new events?” he asked. “If more resources are needed for the Kingsway, where will they come from?”
Wood said the Casino is responsible for paying the cost of having an officer on site, as they are mandated to do.
“That's part of their operating costs,” he said.
As far as traffic problems, if added police are needed, that would be the responsibility of the casino.
Wood also said a cost-sharing agreement between the city, Gateway and developer Dario Zulich to prepare the site is almost finalized. The agreement will detail how the three parties will share the $8.5 million cost to prepare the site for construction.
As far as the legal battle, several motions were filed with the Local Planning Appeals Tribunal this week, with responses due by the end of 2018.
“We expect the next step to come in January,” Wood said.
