Westbury and Carle Place residents received a mailer from Nassau County OTB on Jan. 13, addressing several concerns about the video lottery terminals poised to come to the former Fortunoff’s at the Source Mall. Below is a copy of the letter.
Dear Resident,
There have been many questions raised about the proposed video lottery terminals (VLT) at the former Fortunoff site and a great deal of misinformation has circulated.
In order to present the facts, Nassau Regional Off Track Betting (NROTB) has prepared this mailing, which includes frequently asked questions and answers. We hope you will take a few moments to review this information. The New York State Gaming Commission, as established by law, is the sole agency with responsibility for providing oversight and approval of the proposed VLT facility. Nassau Regional Off Track Betting has a long-standing history of working with residents, civic groups and elected officials in order to be a good neighbor in all the communities in which it operates, and we will continue to work to address questions and concerns as the project moves forward. We are confident that once all the facts are known, the project will enjoy significant community support.
In accordance with the terms of the Request for Statements of Interest (“Statement” or “RFSI”) issued on April 9, 2014, for the purpose of identifying a VLT site, NROTB has designated Arthur T. Walsh, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, as the NROTB authorized representative and as such the undersigned is the Corporation’s single contact person as those terms are defined by applicable governing law and regulation and source of information regarding this site selection.
Sincerely,
Arthur T. Walsh
General Counsel & Corporate Secretary
516-572-2828
info@nassauotb.com
139 Liberty Ave
Mineola, NY 11501
Q. I DON’T LIKE THE IDEA THAT THE SOURCE MALL IS BEING TURNED INTO A VIDEO GAMING/ENTERTAINMENT CENTER. WHY THERE?
A. To be clear, the Source Mall isn’t being proposed as the new home for this facility, just the former Fortunoff department store building that has been empty for 6 years. Nassau Off-Track Betting (NROTB) looked at 20 sites around the County with the idea that the one selected needed to meet a fairly strict set of requirements. For example, it needed plenty of onsite parking. It needed to be near key transportation arteries. It needed to complement surrounding uses, i.e., retail or other commercial uses. It also needed to be vacant, have the appropriate amount of square footage and be able to directly contribute to the economy of the County.
Q. SO YOU ARE NOT LOOKING TO LEASE OR BUY THE REST OF THE MALL?
A. No. Neither the Source Mall nor any other property surrounding the location will be acquired or leased by NROTB or be equipped with any gaming equipment or used in any manner for that purpose and there is no planned bus depot. We want it to remain retail and, in fact, become a far stronger, more vibrant retail destination that contributes to the overall economic well-being of the surrounding area.
Q. I SHOPPED IN FORTUNOFF. THAT IS A VERY BIG MULTI-STORY BUILDING. STRIKES ME YOU ARE PLANNING TO BUILD A HUGE VIDEO GAMING CENTER.
A. The video lottery terminals will only encompass a total of 15% of the vacant Fortunoff building – approximately the same size footprint once occupied by the houseware and jewelry departments we all shopped in. The remaining 85%, including the remainder of the first floor and the entire second floor, will feature first-class amenities such as restaurants, a food court and other culinary options. There will be no building entrance on Old Country Road. The facility will also include NROTB and New York State Gaming Commission administrative offices, state-of-the-art public safety stations, customer service areas and a responsible gaming resource center.
Q. YOU ARE CALLING IT A VIDEO GAMING ENTERTAINMENT CENTER. ISN’T THIS FACILITY A CASINO?
A. No. The proposed facility will only offer video lottery terminals and electronic table games. It will not have any live table games such as blackjack with physical cards, or craps. There will be no live dealers. Additionally, the proposed VLT facility will not have an events center or offer large scale events and/or concerts. We envision it as a genuine destination and entertainment center where people can participate in video gaming, enjoy a fine meal, and shop in the enhanced retail opportunities that we anticipate will open in the adjoining Source Mall. And unlike casinos, the gaming facility will not be part of an integrated resort or hotel. As such, visitors will not be staying overnight. By way of comparison, this facility will be significantly smaller in size than other facilities in the region that currently have VLTs. For example, Aqueduct has approximately 5,000 VLTs and Yonkers has 5,300 VLTs. The facility on the former Fortunoff site will only have 1,000 VLTs.
Q. HOW MANY PEOPLE MIGHT FREQUENT THE PROPOSED FACILITY ON A DAILY BASIS?
A. While the number of anticipated daily visitors is not known at this time, a visitation analysis, as well as a traffic impact study, will be undertaken as part of the required environmental review (SEQRA) of the project. The analysis will compare projected traffic levels to those recorded when the Source Mall (including the former Fortunoff site) was open at full tenancy and operating at full capacity (up through 2009). This analysis will be made public upon its completion.
Q. WHO DOES NROTB EXPECT TO FREQUENT THE PROPOSED FACILITY?
A. According to demographic Direct Questions – straight answers – VoL. one The New York State Gaming Commission is the sole governing body with power to approve NROTB’s site selection, licensing and operation of the VLT facility. Research clearly shows that crime rates fall in communities after the opening of local gaming sites when compared to those years before the gaming facilities opened. reports and the experience of other facilities with VLTs, NROTB anticipates that, just like the patrons that visit the nearby movie theatre and restaurants, the vast majority of patrons will come from local Nassau County communities and areas in western Suffolk County. These same demographic reports and recent studies by the American Gaming Association project the majority of patrons will be men and women between the ages 50-64. Studies show that these consumers seek a broader entertainment and recreation experience that includes fine dining and shopping in addition to the core gaming experience provided by the VLTs. In other words, the anticipated consumer base for the VLT facility differs markedly from the demographic group that regularly visits racing parlors operated by NROTB.
Q. WHAT BENEFITS WILL THE PROPOSED VLT FACILITY BRING TO NASSAU COUNTY?
A. The proposed VLT facility is expected to create 200 permanent jobs for local residents and will generate significant revenue for Nassau County that will bolster ongoing efforts to minimize future property tax increases. In fact, initial projections indicate the County could receive up to $20 million annually in what is termed “gaming revenue.” There will also be additional amounts generated for the County and other local municipalities through sales tax and other traditional tax generation. The proposed VLT facility is also projected to generate$80 million for the New York State Education Department’s Division of Aid to Localities for Education from the State Lottery Fund.
Q. WHAT SECURITY MEASURES ARE PLANNED AT THE FACILITY?
A. NROTB understands that residents and elected officials have concerns about security and community safety. Considerable research and statistical data clearly shows that local crime rates have actually fallen in nearby communities after the opening of local gaming sites such as Foxwoods Resorts and Casino, Mohegan Sun, Yonkers and Aqueduct compared to the years before the sites were open. This reflects the resources invested by these various destination centers to address any issues in a preemptive manner and local officials in these areas have readily acknowledged that their concerns never materialized. NROTB would be equally proactive in creating effective public safety programs. In addition, the proposed VLT facility is adjacent to the Nassau County Police Department 3rd Precinct’s satellite office.
Q. TELL ME MORE ABOUT ADDITIONAL SECURITY MEASURES THAT NROTB WILL EMPLOY ON AND AROUND THE SITE TO ADDRESS COMMUNITY CONCERNS?
A. NROTB security at the facility will include a physical security force and extensive surveillance equipment. The physical security force will be a combination of uniformed and plainclothes security guards who will patrol both the inside and outside of the VLT facility on foot,bike and/or car. The surveillance equipment will include closed circuit television and cameras to monitor activities in and aroundthe facility twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. NROTB will be required to install and maintain comprehensive security and surveillance measures in accordance with specifications approved and issued by the New York State Gaming Commission. The Commission agents will occupy an administrative office at the Facility and as such will have an active presence at all times the Facility is open.
Q. WHAT STEPS ARE NROTB TAKING TO SOLICIT COMMUNITY FEEDBACK?
A. Additional “Straight Answers” will be sent to you in the days to come with information regarding anticipated traffic, economic and tax generation, community benefits and more. NROTB has always worked diligently to be a good neighbor in all of the communities in which it operates its traditional racing parlors. As such, NROTB welcomes and encourages a forthright, transparent and ongoing conversation with all residents, civic leaders and elected officials relative to the proposed VLT facility. Our neighbors should rest assured that NROTB is committed to addressing all issues and concerns as they arise, both now and in the future. We are available by phone at 516-572-2828 and via email at info@nassauotb.com. For additional information on the proposed VLT facility, please visit www.nassauotb.com.
