Norfolk Casino moves one step closer to completion as Architectural Review Board approves the project

The Norfolk casino is one step closer to completion, despite concerns with the current proposed designs. In a 6 to 1 vote, the Architectural Review Board approved the Norfolk Casino project to move forward to the Planning Commission. 10 On Your Side spoke with the board, and members said that while this will be an important addition to the waterfront, it has to be done the right way.

“It’s going to be an icon on the waterfront, it’s going to be a symbol on the intercoastal waterway,” Gregory Rutledge, an Architectural Review Board member told the website. “These buildings [have] got to be right, it’s got to look right, it’s got to stand up for the test of time, so these details matter.”

Thus, the report stated, the approval to continue the project comes with conditions: “We just want to see the details developed further so we can understand what their concepts are,” Rutledge said. “They presented several concepts for the building, some materials concepts and concepts that really drive the architecture of the building without any sort of detail to back that up.”

Some of those concepts include clarity on foot traffic, the seawall, a more realistic design, and how the sun reflects off the building and the building materials. The Cape Henry Audubon Society also said the design presented Monday evening can harm birds. The website cited Pat Scanlon with the Cape Henry Audubon Society, as saying: “They become exhausted from the light and swirling and going nowhere then they start crashing into buildings.” Rutledge said the city needs to see more design specifics.

“If we were to approve this at this level and never see it again, we’d have no idea that the finished project would look like what we saw today,” Rutledge told 10 On Your Side. “We have several specific details that we want them to come back and show us how they’re developing the exterior design of the building, but also come back and what we call a design development phase of the project. Not quite 100% design, but it’s further along than what we saw today.”

Earlier this month, it was revealed that Boyd Gaming would now be at the helm of the waterfront project. After frustrations mounted over delays, the Norfolk City Council voted to replace Tennessee billionaire Jon Yarbrough with Boyd Gaming as the primary financial backer for the Pamunkey Indian Tribe’s casino. 

City officials, including council members Tommy Smigiel and Andria McClellan, described the move as a “rescue” effort, signaling renewed momentum for the project. 

The $500 million resort casino, which had faced delays, is expected to rise along the Elizabeth River, with plans to break ground early next year and complete construction by 2027. The casino license must be secured by November 2025 per state law, or Norfolk risks losing the right to host casino gambling. Despite the earlier hurdles, Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander remains confident: "We just had to ensure we had the right partner with the wherewithal like Boyd."