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The closure of the General Motors plant in Doraville in 2008 means that more than 2,000 employees in Gwinnett’s backyard will lose their jobs. It’s in our interest to keep informed about suggested plans for the site.
There has been plenty of talk about what should be done with it.
One idea is to duplicate what Atlantic Station did in Midtown Atlanta.
John Kincaid of WCNN AM 680 The Fan suggested locating a new stadium there after Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank said he’d like to have one built by 2016.
I think the focus should be on drawing more convention business to the metro area. One way to do that would be to build casinos in what I think is the very under-utilized Spaghetti Junction area.
Convention business once fueled the Atlanta economic engine but lately has barely managed to sputter.
Some have blamed e closure of the Gold Club for slowing convention business, but the truth is the Atlanta convention market has not been able to compete with other markets, such as Las Vegas and Orlando. Both have an attractive mix of trade show space and many entertainment options.
Under my plan, a development project would take shape with casinos on any or all of the 4 corners of Spaghetti Junction, including the GM plant location in Doraville.
These would be real casinos, not the video poker wannabe’s like the one you see over the Georgia/North Carolina border.
With the immediate access to the two major interstates and the Doraville MARTA station, casinos would create a nice boost for metro Atlanta tourism and attract more convention business.
Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts recognizes the economic impact of casinos.
In a letter to state legislators earlier this year, Pitts recommended a gaming facility at the site of the Hapeville Ford assembly plant, which is set to close next month. Pitts wrote that two casinos would create 4,000 jobs. He said that would double the 2,100 lost jobs due to the closing of that plant.
It would stand to reason that casinos in Doraville would bring similar economic benefits to that city and the metro area at large. For example, a gaming facility located there could be a draw for visitors to the North Atlanta Trade Center in Norcross and the Gwinnett Civic Center in Duluth.
How would you feel about a casino located right over the Gwinnett County line? Or would you prefer a new Falcons stadium? How about both? |
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