This page contains archived news updates for Norfolk Casino Resort from 2023. These items were originally posted on the casino's profile page and have been preserved here as part of the 500 Nations legacy news archive. Major stories from this year may also appear as standalone articles in the main News section.
Norfolk's Headwaters Casino submits new development plan
December 20, 2023
The Pamunkey Indian Tribe submitted a revised plan to the Norfolk City Council this week for the development of the HeadWaters Resort and Casino. The documentation included an application for a final site plan approval and an application for a Development Certificate.
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Va. governor says Norfolk seawall project money contingent on city casino opening - Courtesy of WAVY TV 10, Dec 20, 2023. Available from YouTube
The major changes in this construction plan compared to previous versions include:
Construction will be continuous rather than in two phases separated by a time gap.
A partial casino will open during construction before the casino and hotel are finished.
HeadWaters will have a smaller footprint with no waterfront on the Elizabeth River and no marina.
The plan will be reviewed by the Norfolk Architecture Review Board on Jan. 8, 2024. The City Planning Commission will review the plan in late January. In February, the City Council will hold meet and vote on the plan.
If the plan is approved, construction of the HeadWaters Resort & Casino could begin in Spring 2024. The deadline for completion is November 2025.
"Our continuous construction is in response to the city wanting to see what the entire project [looks like] and getting the whole thing built as quickly as possible.
"We need to start construction in spring of '24 to meet our statutory requirement of opening game operations by November 2025."
- Jay Smith, HeadWaters spokesperson
The HeadWaters casino will initially open with 800-1,000 slot machines and 20-25 table games. When the casino is totally finished, there will be 2,000 slot machines and 50 table games.
Officials of HeadWaters Resort & Casino have submitted a preliminary site plan to the City of Norfolk as the next step in the casino application process. The plan was submitted October 20th following months of meetings between the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and city officials. It details the casino site layout, site elevations, drainage, utilities, and road improvements.
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Developers of Norfolk's future HeadWaters Resort & Casino outline next steps in application process - Courtesy of 13News Now, Nov 1 2023. Available from YouTube
A HeadWaters Casino spokesperson explained:
"We submitted our preliminary site plan application, and that really sets in motion the next step which is for our development certificate application and final site plan application to be submitted to the city in early December."
- - Jay Smith, HeadWaters Resort & Casino
Robert Gray, Chief of the Pamunkey Indian Tribe, issued this statement:
"Our team has been meeting routinely with city staff to review the project plans and discuss the development timeline. We want to get this project up and running as soon as possible to start generating revenue for our tribe, for the other recognized Virginia tribes that will benefit from this project, and for the City of Norfolk, its citizens and the Commonwealth of Virginia."
The Pamunkey Tribe will file an application for final site plan approval along with an application for a Development Certificate by Dec. 11, 2023. The Norfolk Architectural Review Board is expected to review the plans in early January. The Planning Commission would follow with their review in late January. The City Council would then hold hearings in February and vote on whether to approve.
If approved, the HeadWaters Resort & Casino would proceed with the groundbreaking and construction in 2024.
"The first phase would include casino floor, a restaurant, parking structure, and some back-of-house operations. That would open in 2025. Immediately after that, we would work on phase 2, which would be the hotel tower, additional restaurants, more casino space."
- Jay Smith, HeadWaters Resort & Casino
When built, the HeadWaters Resort & Casino will be a $750 million casino hotel on the Elizabeth River next to Harbor Park. HeadWaters will feature 3,000 slot machines, 50 table games, and a 200-room hotel.
Norfolk Casino's revised timeline outlined by City Manager
September 15, 2023
When will construction finally begin on the HeadWaters Resort and Casino in Norfolk. The casino plan that was presented by the Pamunkey Indian Tribe to the city in July was rejected by city leaders.
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City manager outlines new timeline for Norfolk casino - Courtesy of 13News Now, Sep 13, 2023. Available from YouTube
That project status was addressed this week by Norfolk's new City Manager Patrick Roberts.
"It really depends on their approach to the site, how they modify the placement of the buildings. That typically takes anywhere from six to nine months to go through the design, development, and reviews. So potentially within the next year, we could see quite a bit of construction."
- Patrick Roberts, Norfolk City Manager
This November 3rd will mark three years since Norfolk voters approved the HeadWaters Resort and Casino project.
The Pamunkey Indian Tribe, along with their development partners, met Tuesday with Norfolk officials to discuss the status of the HeadWaters Resort and Casino project. The meeting was held behind closed doors following the Tribe's withdrawal of its latest casino plans and the cancellation of a scheduled meeting with the Norfolk Architecture Review Board.
Details of the Tuesday meeting were not disclosed; however, both sides described the meeting as productive, and both sides restated their commitment the project.
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Norfolk casino could be delayed once again - Courtesy of 13 News Now, Jul 24, 2023. Available from YouTube
A joint statement was released after Tuesday's meeting stating:
"Both sides remain fully committed to building a first-class destination resort and casino along the Elizabeth River and will work diligently together in the weeks ahead to lay out a plan and schedule to develop the project as quickly as possible."
Chief Robert Gray, Pamunkey Indian Tribe released this statement:
"The Tribe has not wavered in its commitment to deliver on our promise to the citizens of Norfolk - to construct a resort and casino of which the Tribe, the City and their citizens can be proud. The significance of this project to the region, the recognized tribes that will benefit from it and the entire Commonwealth cannot be overstated."
The City of Norwalk's official website lists the status of the HeadWaters Resort & Casino as "Indefinitely deferred by applicant" under the Architectural Review Meeting Agenda.
In an unexpected move yesterday, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and their developer partners withdrew a building application from the Norfolk architectural review board. The latest plans for the Headwaters Resort and Casino were to be presented to the review board yesterday as a first step for a building certificate. A second meeting was scheduled for Thursday with the city planning commission.
Instead, the casino development team will meet privately with city officials today. It is unknown which city officials will attend and how this might impact the casino project. Both meetings will be rescheduled.
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Norfolk's HeadWaters Casino presentation delayed - Courtesy of 13News Now, Jul 24, 2023. Available from YouTube
According to a prior news release, casino officials said they received two letters from the city with contradictory guidance. The first letter was dated March 1, and the second letter was dated July 14. Casino officials said they sought the Tuesday meeting "to get clarity from the City on its proposed path to acquire the land and begin construction on the resort as soon as possible."
"Despite changes of direction and the City's desire to reduce the land we have available to build on, we intend to follow through on this pledge to build a $750 million resort and casino featuring a high end 200-room hotel and other amenities. We are looking forward to a fresh start with the new city manager and his team on Tuesday."
- Robert Gray, Pamunkey Chief
The latest proposal for the Headwaters Resort and Casino was released in June. Two previous plans to build a temporary casino were scrapped. The new plan will cost $750 million and be built in two phases. Phase one will build a casino with 3,000 slot machines, 150 table games, sports bar, restaurants, and 1,200-space parking structure. Phase two will add a hotel, pool, spa, and a 2,500-seat entertainment venue.
Norfolk Casino's New Construction Plan Seeks Local Approvals
July 14, 2023
The Pamunkey Indian Tribe has submitted a development certificate application to Norfolk's Architectural Review Board with new construction plans for the HeadWaters Resort and Casino. Construction is expected to start in late 2023 pending approvals by the Architectural Review Board, the Planning Commission and the City Council.
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Approval process begins for HeadWaters Casino in Norfolk - Courtesy of 13News Now, Jul 11, 2023. Available from YouTube
Plans for a temporary casino have been dropped. Instead, the full casino-hotel project will be built in two phases.
Phase one will construct a 90,000 square-foot casino with a 45,000 square-foot gaming floor, 3,000 slot machines, 150 table games, a 4,500 square-foot sports bar and entertainment venue, restaurants, and 1,200-space parking structure.
Phase two will build the hotel, pool, spa, and a 2,500-seat entertainment venue. There is currently no schedule for phase two.
The Norfolk Architectural Review Board is expected to vote on the plans on July 27. If approved by the board, the project application will move to the Planning Commission. If the planning commission approves the plans, the City Council will make the final decision. Copnstruction would start soon afterwards.
HeadWaters Resort & Casino has dropped its plan to build a temporary casino and will instead proceed with full construction of the HeadWaters Casino. When the casino opens, HeadWaters will have a two-year deadline to complete construction of its hotel and improve the amenities along the riverfront.
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Developers of Norfolk casino share changes behind the scenes - Courtesy of WAVY TV 10, Jun 14, 2023. Available from YouTube
The first phase of the new construction plan will build a 90,000 square-foot casino on the existing five-acre parking lot next to Norfolk's Harbor Park. The casino will include a 45,000 square-foot gaming floor with 3,000 slot machines, 150 table games, restaurants, and a 4,500 square-foot sports bar and entertainment venue. There will be parking for 1,000 vehicles.
After extended delays over several years, the HeadWaters Resort & Casino development project has filed a formal development certification application with the City of Norfolk. The action comes a year after the casino originally planned to open.
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Developer plans to move forward with Norfolk casino - Courtesy of WAVY TV 10, Jun 14, 2023. Available from YouTube
The application defines the initial phase of development. The project will build a 90,000 square-foot casino and peripheral structure that will include a 45,000 square-foot gaming floor, restaurants, sports bar and entertainment venue. A second phase will add a 200-room hotel.
Norfolk's Headwaters Casino: Construction Update - March 2023
March 24, 2023
Construction has not started on either the HeadWaters Resort & Casino or its temporary casino, and there is still no construction equipment on the site. According to Jay Smith, spokesman for the casino, the Pamunkey Indian Tribe hopes to reach an agreement with the city on the land sale within the next few weeks, and start construction soon afterwards.
When construction starts, the temporary casino will be could be operating within 6 months. The permanent casino and hotel will take 18-24 months to complete.
The Tribe has not released updated information about the temporary casino since the location was changed last year from inside the baseball stadium to the parking lot of the casino.
What's happening with Norfolk's Headwaters Casino project? Construction has not yet started on either a temporary or permanent casino. There is still no construction equipment on the 14-acre building site for the Headwaters Resort Casino. What is the latest information?
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What's happening with Norfolk's casino proposal? Courtesy of WAVY TV 10, Dec 22 2022. Available from YouTube
In a WAVY TV 10 interview with Norfolk's City Manager Larry "Chip" Filer, Filer said the city is hopeful to see progress in the very near future. Norfolk is waiting for the final site plans for the casino. When those plans are approved by the Virginia Lottery Board, the city will transfer the 14-acre casino land to the Pamunkey Indian Tribe. The Tribe has been paying $100,000/year for the option to purchase the land.
Some progress was made last week. Norfolk officials and the Tribe reached a temporary lease agreement for the parking lot at Harbor Park baseball stadium for the purpose of staging construction equipment and materials needed to build the temporary casino and the permanent Headwaters Resort Casino.
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