Quote:
Originally Posted by 5seconds
As for the road that 'the City was nice enough to leave open', nice has nothing to do with it. The road predates the city, and all signs point to the access being a legally protected right of the Nation. As well, the development of the lands bordering 37th street have always factored in the Nation's interest in a ring road deal (going back to at least 1984), so I suspect that will likely not add a new dimension to the new vote. (That's not to say that development of that land is not important; in fact it is so important as to be the primary factor in even considering a deal, IMO, but that has always been the case.)
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Yes, access is part of the treaty. However, from my understanding, there is access via west of Anderson Rd (near the 7 Chiefs Sportsplex IIRC), so technically there are 2 access roads. Thus the city is within its right to close that road off 37st at any time and not be in violation of the treaty.
As for development, yes, it's always been expected. However, the development company that is doing the developing on behalf of the TNN has to have a business case to add in shopping malls/theatres/hotels/whatever.
It took 5 years for the casino on that land before they could justify/fund the expansion and hotel that is going up there. Plans are now likely moving ahead, with the hotel there, to provide more of a destination. Getting people to be attracted to the hotel are going to need more of a reason then just a casino to stay there...an entertainment district of some sort I assume. Deerfoot Casino, for example is in a industrial business park and convenient for people doing work in the area to stay there, but nothing like that out west in a residential area with no other hotel for 10km.
As mentioned, that current road is beyond capacity. Add it a hundred or so hotel room and a bigger casino, and its overloaded. Anything else going in there in the next few years, which is needed to help the hotel stay full at very least, will need another road ASAP.