Michigan-based Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians argued that it has acquired enough land not far from the Detroit Metro Airport to be given the green light by federal authorities to launch a casino complex at the site of an abandoned church.
The tribe submitted its application to the U.S. Department of Interior back in 2014 and added certain provisions to it late in 2015. Officials for the Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians said in the application that it had come into possession of 71 acres of land that included the site of the former church as well as of a 7-acre portion of land in Huron Township that included the site of the former Pinnacle Race Course.
The tribe acquired the 7-acre parcel back in 2010 for the amount of $179,000. Its previous owners – the development group behind the former racetrack – had bought the whole 320-acre site for $1. When asked about its plans for the said portion of land, the tribe has not revealed what it would do with it. It has also repeatedly refused to sell the property to interested developers.
As for the casino complex at the former church, tribal officials have said that they plan to use the 70,000-square-foot building not only for a gambling venue, but also for a place where different health, educational, and other related services would be provided to tribal members.
Casino experts believe that if the proposed casino eventually gets established, it would impact gambling revenue at the three major casinos in Detroit in quite a negative manner. According to many, the casino market in the region is already saturated.
Tribal casinos in Michigan are exempt from any taxes, unlike commercial ones which annually pay millions of dollars in various taxes. Yet, some tribes have agreed to contribute 2% of their casino net winnings to local governments and the state, in general.
The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians has promised that once its casino is operational, it would share 0.5% of its slot machines winnings with the township and would make regular payments in lieu of property taxes. In exchange, the township has agreed not to try to prevent the project from being materialized and to send the U.S. Department of Interior a letter of support to the plan when one is needed.
