By Eileen Buckley
Buffalo, NY – Over the weekend, the Seneca Tribal Council ended months of speculation of the next casino site. The tribe approved the purchase of land near the Buffalo Niagara International Airport. Cheekotwaga Town Supervisor Dennis Gabryszak says he's very excited after a long selection process.
The Senecas are buying 57-acres of land off Holtz Road to build a third casino. They say it will be twice as large as the Niagara Falls casino.
Cheektowaga Supervisor Gabryszak says he believes the site will benefit the entire region. He says the land near the airport is the right choice.
"The ease of access of that area with the Thruway, Kensington Expressway and major highways nearby, like Transit Road and Genesee Street, would make it very easy for people and traffic to get in and out of that area," Gabryszak said. "I also think having the airport nearby, the gateway to Western New York, brings five to six million people to the area makes it a good choice."
Some of the plans for Cheektowaga site still need approval by the US Department of the Interior and the state. But Gabryszak says he will begin talks this week with the Senecas, town board members and attorneys to begin working toward finalizing the site process.
The Seneca's are anticipating that the Cheektwoaga casino will be the most lucrative. But Gabryszak says he will have to meet with state leaders to figure out just how much the town will be benefit from the casino revenues.
"I believe the compact spells out that casino revenue has to be used for economic development purposes," Gabyszak said. "That is an area we expect casino revenue to be used toward."
Meanwhile, reviews are mixed over the Seneca Nation's plans to build in Cheektowaga. Citizen's Against Casino Gambling is vowing to fight the Seneca's plans. The organization is against a casino anywhere in Erie County.
And just last week, the Huron Group says the Senecas and Governor Pataki had a memorandum of understanding to build in Buffalo. But the Seneca's say they are within their rights to look outside the city.
The Senecas say while they would like to open it by New Year's Eve, it probably won't be ready until next Spring.