As residents of Perryville confront the prospect of a sprawling slot-machine complex opening in their historic town, many recall previous plans for economic development that never seemed to deliver on their promise.
An outlet shopping center drew millions of visitors when it opened two decades ago but now struggles to keep stores open; about one-third of the storefronts have lease signs in the window. Waterfront condos drew wealthy buyers from Pennsylvania and elsewhere but only for part of the year when they can launch a boat. Locals refer to the out-of-towners as the Dutch Navy, a behind-the-back sneer at their boating skills.
So when it comes to the possibility that Marylanders could vote in November to legalize slots in five locations, including the area around Perryville, many residents are holding out for something more than bright lights and jackpots.
FOR THE RECORD
An article in yesterday's editions about slot machines in Cecil County mistakenly reported the accomplishments of the racing horse Kelso. He was named Horse of the Year for five consecutive years.
THE BALTIMORE SUN REGRETS THE ERROR
"We're not interested in a slots parlor," Perryville Mayor James L. Eberhardt said. "However, if you're talking about a slots venue - a restaurant, hotel, boutiques and other retailers - we're interested. We want the total package."
A decade of debate has left many in the state with mixed feelings about slots, and Perryville is a microcosm of those sentiments. Some fear the gambling parlors would disrupt their way of life with increased traffic and crime, while others say the state needs the economic boost from 15,000 slot machines that would be authorized under the referendum. In these tough economic times, the financial benefits hold particular appeal for many.
The referendum would allot 2,500 slots at any one location in the corridor along Interstate 95 in Cecil County, but Perryville, at the western edge of the county, is the leading contender for the site. Stewart Associates, a real estate development company and the county's largest landholder, has drafted plans for a 150-acre tourist destination just off the highway interchange there.
The firm has signed a deal with Penn National Gaming, giving the company that owns Charles Town Races and Slots in West Virginia the option to purchase 36 acres of the site to operate a slots venue.
The Stewart family, which has been in the area for generations, runs a sand and gravel mining operation and has begun to develop the land they have stripped.
