HeadWaters temporary casino changes course in Norfolk

HeadWaters Resort & Casino, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe’s $500 million gaming project planned for Norfolk, announced Wednesday it is abandoning its temporary casino plans at Harbor Park, instead locating the facility on the same property as the permanent casino.

“Issues were recently raised about the address of the proposed initial gaming facility,” the tribe said in an announcement Wednesday, noting an error in paperwork that led Norfolk officials to table a vote on the casino this week. “While the tribe does not believe the ballpark address to be an issue since it was approved by the city, any delay due to a potential challenge is unacceptable.” The tribe also added, “Contrary to media reports, the address of the stadium was never changed.”

The Virginian-Pilot reported that the city changed the baseball stadium’s address last month to match the casino’s permanent address of 200 Park Avenue, “in an apparent attempt to circumvent language in the casino referendum that Norfolk voters approved in 2020.” In May, the Norfolk Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit to open a temporary casino.

Instead of the baseball field, the tribe says it is submitting a site plan for city approval east of Harbor Park Stadium on the location designated for the permanent casino, and it could be as open as soon as March 2023. Plans for the temporary facility will be provided to the city in a few weeks, the tribe said.