THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, June 13, 1996 TAG: 9606130411
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: RICHMOND LENGTH: 58 lines
Residents who fear an off-track betting parlor will bring more crime to their neighborhood failed to persuade the Virginia Racing Commission to scuttle the project Wednesday.
The commission voted 3-0 to award Colonial Downs a license to open the betting parlor in Captain George's Seafood Restaurant, which straddles the Richmond-Henrico County line.
Colonial Downs, which is building a pari-mutuel racetrack in New Kent County and opened its first betting parlor in Chesapeake in February, has an option to purchase the 20,000-square-foot building for $1.5 million.
The Richmond betting parlor could open by Sept. 1, said Colonial Downs attorney Jim Weinberg.
During a public hearing, Colonial Downs officials said the betting parlor would attract a classy clientele that would do any commercial establishment proud. But many of the approximately 20 neighbors who spoke said they fear an influx of riffraff.
``Our neighborhood will be open for business for car thieves and vandals,'' said Pratt Stelly, who complained that the area already has been marred by the opening of a topless nightclub.
She said the betting parlor is not in keeping with ``family, religion and morals,'' the prevailing values in the neighborhood.
Some residents said the project would prompt an exodus to the outer suburbs.
``I sell houses in the neighborhood, but I don't want to be selling them at a fire sale,'' said Robin Pearsall.
Two witnesses countered the residents' claims.
Katherine Hudson, a consultant who did a demographic study for the company, said the betting parlor would attract a slightly older, better educated and more well-to-do crowd than a typical full-service restaurant.
And Lt. Joel Kirshon of the Chesapeake Sheriff's Department said no crimes have been reported at that city's betting parlor. He also praised Colonial Downs for its support of civic groups and charities.
``Chesapeake has experienced no negatives,'' he said.
Opponents questioned the validity of the demographic study and said Kirshon's report on crime missed the point.
``We're not worried about the safety of the clientele,'' Lee Farmer said. ``We're worried about neighborhood safety.''
Kirshon said he did not know whether crime has gone up in areas around the Chesapeake facility, although ``if there was a major problem, I would be aware of it.''
The restaurant is 15 blocks west of a hotel where Colonial Downs was rebuffed in its first effort to open a Richmond betting parlor. Colonial Downs plans to open six OTBs across the state.
Off-track revenue is crucial to building adequate purses to support live racing when the track opens next June.
KEYWORDS: HORSE RACING OFF-TRACK BETTING < by CNB