Yesterday, the U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs released a special report on the impact the construction of a tribal village and gambling venue in South Bend, Indiana, might have on the local environment and economy.
The whole project was estimated at $480 million and is planned to spread over a 165-acre site, located in the southwest part of South Bend.
The new village will be inhabited by The Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. Tribal officials claimed that the approval of the project is really important for the tribe, as new jobs will be created for its members that reside in South Bend and the nearby area.
The project in question will include the construction of an 18-story hotel with 500 rooms, a total of 44 residential units for members of the community, and a casino. However, South Bend residents have been expressing concerns that the gambling venue might have negative impact on local communities, economy, and environment.
The casino is planned to feature as many as 3,000 slot machines and is expected to be visited by more than 4.2 million people annually.
Residents admitted that this might be good for tourism, but South Bend will no longer be as quiet and peaceful as they would like it to be. What is more, the study that was conducted by the BIA suggests that there will be serious traffic issues. According to experts, this could be avoided by means of traffic signals, turning lanes, and more travel lanes.
Citizens for a Better Michiana, a group of residents who oppose the construction of the casino, stated that much more serious issues will need to be dealt with, in case it opens doors. Members of the group argued that this will have terrible impact on local businesses, not to mention that it might lead to an increase in crime rates.
What is more, it seems that the gambling venue will be “dangerously close” to schools. Residents also believe that the number of gambling addicts might significantly increase.
Jake Teshka, member of Citizens for a Better Michiana, explained that the tribal casino will have a negative impact on the area’s tax income, as Indian tribes are not subjected to the same federal tax laws. Thus, their gambling business will have an advantage, and an unfair one, over residents’ businesses.
The community group explained that it is not against the construction of an Indian village. The casino is the only part of the plan that actually bothers them.
A public meeting, during which residents will be able to openly state their opinion on the matter, is scheduled to take place on April 14.
