Casino In Reston, On Silver Line 'Terrible Idea': Patch Readers

RESTON, VA — Patch readers said in overwhelming numbers that they did not want a casino at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station or along the Silver Line outside the Capital Beltway in Fairfax County.

Of the 917 people who responded to Patch's unscientific, online survey last week, 816 (89 percent) said they would not support a casino being built at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station. Only 81 people (8.8 percent) said they would support a casino there, while 20 (2.2 percent) said they might.

Respondents voted in nearly identical numbers when asked whether they supported a casino at any of the seven Silver Line stations — Tysons, Greensboro, Spring Hill, Wiehle-Reston East, Reston Town Center, Herndon, and Innovation Center — outside the Capital Beltway.

While most of the respondents — 746 (81.4 percent) — opposed the idea of a station on the Silver Line, 97 (10.6 percent) answered "yes," and 74 (8.1 percent) gave "maybe" as a response to the question.

Although more people said they'd support (111/12.1 percent) or might support (152/16.6 percent) a casino elsewhere in the county, the majority of respondents (654/71.3 percent) answered "no."

To get a sense of whether the respondents would support a casino if one were built, Patch's poll also asked how likely it would be for them to go to a casino to gamble or to eat at a restaurant and see a show.

The number of respondents who said they'd "never" gamble at a casino in Fairfax County (635/69.2 percent) was about the same as those who said they wouldn't support a casino elsewhere in the county.

However, the number of respondents who said they'd never go to a restaurant or see a show at a casino dropped to 420 (45.8 percent), with 329 (35.9 percent) saying not very likely. In addition, (9.4 percent) answered "likely" to the question and 82 (8.9 percent) said "very likely."

Patch's survey also asked the respondents to share their comments about the idea of building a casino in Reston. A majority of the 392 who took the opportunity to voice their opinion said it was a "horrible idea" or that "it would ruin the town."

"Studies have shown that casinos never generate money (outside of locations with tax protections)," one respondent said. "They almost always cause worse issues. Not to mention there are better uses for that space."

Three commenters evoked the memory of the late Robert E. Simon, who founded Reston in the 1960s as a "new town" built on his seven principles.

• "Haven’t we done enough to ruin the whole concept of Reston as envisioned by Robert Simon?
• "A casino in Reston would represent such an extraordinary departure from the spirit of Teston and its associated land use. Robert Simon is rolling over in his grave right now."
• "Mr. Simon would roll over in his grave if this happens in RESTON."

Others said that a casino would bring more traffic and crime, as well as damage the property values of the surrounding area.

• "Casinos come with numerous cons including attracting crime, enabling addiction, there are higher rates of home foreclosure and other forms of economic distress and domestic violence in the areas of casinos, as well as many other negatives. My cluster is walking distance to Wiehle-Reston East and the residents here are against a casino in close proximity to our neighborhood for those reasons.
• "I came from a town in Illinois where a casino was touted as a savior. It brought nothing positive and ultimately closed leaving a vacant property no one wanted. Casinos may bring short term revenue but long term are a loser.
• "Bad for local property values, attracts crime, makes traffic and parking even worse than it already is in that area. Very poor idea - put it out in Loudoun County where there is more land and less people.
• "I've lived near a casino before. Watching how many people are affected negatively was horrible to watch. People gambled away their money, their family's money, the homes and lost jobs, homes and their family. The upside is not worth the downside. It destroys lives.
• "We don't need more traffic here, congested development all over and county doesn’t widen roads to accomodate traffic, just keeps building townhouses, homes, data centers.
• "A casino is not a community based place. It depends much more on folks coming from other areas. Folks tend not to misbehave near home but are much more likely to feel free to loosen up when far from the neighborhood."

Others said that Reston and the Wiehle Reston-East Station area didn't have the infrastructure to support a casino.

• "Not in Reston too close to daycare centers and schools.
• "Totally inappropriate! We have enough other problems with overdevelopment and stresses on our infrastructure and environment.
• I'm against it because Reston does not have the land needed for a complex similar to National Harbor, which I assume would be the end goal for Comstock. How much of the current Reston area would be razed to bring a complex like National Harbor/MGM is an unknown. I'm against it until I see the overall site plan of the future complex and how FFX county plans on dealing with the increase in traffic, both mass transit and autos that a casino complex would bring.
• The infrastructure doesn't support a casino in Reston. Our roads are inadequate. Our parking is sorely inadequate. Bringing gambling to Reston is a poor investment in our community.

Some raised concerns that a casino would bring an "unsavory" element to Reston. They also said casinos were not "family friendly" and preyed on those suffering from a gambling addiction.

• "I think it’s bad idea, create gambling problems and attracts out of town people whose behaviors may not be conforming to that of locals.
• "I believe it's a disservice to the community to have a casino at the Wiehle metro. It's very close to the high school, middle school and elementary school. The area is already crowded and Reston has a focus on preserving natural habitats. More noise and light pollution is not needed and with climate changes the area could use more thinking and resourses towards a heatlhier environment and reduction of sucking more and more from the world. Water use is also extremely important. A casino is senseless here now and in the future for Reston and Fairfax County."
• "Just ask anyone who knows a gambling addict. Casinos ruin lives and attract addicts.
• "Even though I like to gamble, casinos bring problems which will only be compounded if put near a metro stop. It will result in increased homelessness, drug abuse and crime in the area. Totally opposed to this, especially on Silver Line.
• "We dont need increased gambling addiction, increased crime, pawn shops, and decreasing property values. Knock off this foolishness.
• "This is residential area known for some of the best schools. This is not the area to be building Casino. It would negatively impact everything from property values to safety and crime rate and worsen the traffic situation. I strongly oppose this."

Some commenters criticized politicians for even considering the idea and called on them to focus their attention elsewhere.

• "They should donate the money made to help the low income families and homeless in the Reston/Herndon area to help homeless and low income families in Reston/Herndon area.
• "Please don't waste your time or our time with this idea.
• "More affordable housing would be a better use of land.
• "A casino would be a community killer for Reston. The legislation's authors need to meet with Reston's elected officials and RA to learn more about our community outside of the talking points they have already been fed by Comstock. There are established residential neighborhoods and planned future residential neighborhoods that are adjacent to the metro station and not consistent with a casino. This is the wrong location."

While the vast majority of comments said a casino would be a "bad idea," a handful of respondents thought it was an idea worth considering.

• "Having a casino at one of Reston's transit stations with free shuttle transportation to the heart of our community might be beneficial to Reston businesses but may not be individuals who have the respect and deep love of our community that those more firmly connected to Reston have.
• "More money for our education. Let’s do it!
• "I would love a new large entertainment venue like the MGM. We give Maryland all of our money by sending all of our gambling seniors out of state. I want a new cultural arts venue that also has a gambling hall.
• "It would be a unique addition to a county known for being unique.
• "A casino will give more people reasons to visit and/or remain local and less reasons to drive to Maryland and spend their money there. It'll add to our tax base.
• "I am open minded to new amenities in my town and have enjoyed my visits to MGM for shows, meals, conferences, and gambling."

On Sept. 25, Patch broke the news that Comstock, the developer that owns the majority of property at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station, was planning to build a casino at or near the station, according to local officials.

The possibility of a casino being built along Metro's Silver Line in Fairfax County first came to light during the final days before the end of the first half of the 2023 Virginia General Assembly session, when similar bills were introduced by Sen. David Marsden (D-Burke) and Del. Wren Williams (R-Stuart).

Even though the two lawmakers quickly withdrew their bills, the possibility of a casino at one of the seven Silver Line stations located west of the Capital Beltway in Fairfax County appeared to be very much alive.

Marsden told Patch at the end of September that he would likely reintroduce his bill during the next General Assembly session in January, if he is reelected in November. Marsden and Republican Mark Vafiades are on the Nov. 7 ballot in the District 35 race.

Lending credence to Reston Station becoming the future home of a casino was the fact that Comstock CEO Christoper Clemente and his father-in-law Dwight Schar were hosting fundraisers for Marsden, Sen. Scott Surovell (D-Alexandria), and House Minority Leader Don Scott (D-Portsmouth) at Reston Station.

Reston Casino: Read All of Patch's Reporting:

• Casino Planned Near Wiehle-Reston East Metro Station By Comstock
• Developer Brings Democratic Leaders To Site Of Planned Casino At Metro
• Reston Casino: Developer CEO's Relative Donates $1M To VA Candidates
• Casino At Reston Station: Share Your Opinion In Patch's Survey
• Reston Association Votes To Oppose Developer Plan To Build Casino

Marsden chairs the transportation committee in the Virginia Senate and both Surovell and Scott are expected to assume leadership positions in their respective legislative bodies in 2024, provided Democrats regain control of the House of Delegates in November.

Patch also reported that Clemente and Schar had donated a total of $485, 277 to candidates running for office in Virginia or to their political action committees between 2019 and 2023. The general assembly approved legislation in 2020 authorizing casino gambling in Virginia and establishing the criteria for localities that wished to host a casino.

Currently, the Virginia Code only allows for casinos to be built in host cities with a population of least 1 million and a county executive form of government. Fairfax County is the only locality in the state to fit that description, according to the Washington Business Journal, which broke the story of January about the push to put a casino on the Silver Line.