I don't find the conceptual drawing of the proposed casino on MTCC area glitzy. I find the design mediocre and somewhat boring. The only attractive part is the decking over of the railway. The office/residential part of the MTCC building looks good.
I'm not pro or against the casino, but what is wrong with added shops, hotels, restaurants, theatre in a casino? Nearby hotels, shops, theatres and restaurants wouldn't be directly competing. They will probably have a circque de soleil which none of the theatres show. And maybe have some mini concerts. It's not going to directly compete with a full length concert. As for restaurants, what is wrong with having some inexpensive places to eat? Not everyone living downtown can afford to eat in downtown. Their prices are quite high especially for a family. Having cheaper options is good, even if it's subsidized. At least the govt doesn't have to do the subsidizing. As for hotels, it will just offer more hotel choices. If there was a lack of hotels, they wouldn't be building so many hotels right now. Some people visiting might just want cheaper rates for hotels. Should we force them to pay more for a regular hotel? If the tourists spends less for hotels, they might end up spending more outside the Casino area. Some just go there to visit the surroundings and not actually for gambling.
It's like coffee. People who go to Starbucks which cost more, won't go to Tim Hortons of Coffee Time even if they cost less. Likewise, people who swear by Timmies won't step foot into a Starbucks. The stores all sell coffee, but they cater to different people.
