QUOTE
Like a good neighbor?
10/11/2007, 10:27 am
Comment on this story
Scot Squires, 1-866-362-2167 Ext. 13869, ssquires@heraldargus.com
Some neighbors of Blue Chip casino say construction of parking garage, new hotel has damaged their homes
MICHIGAN CITY -- While expanding the Blue Chip Casino might be good for business, some nearby residents claim it is bad for their homes.
Over the past couple of years, the casino built a new boat, erected a parking garage and is now building a hotel, which will be one of the tallest buildings in northwest Indiana.
Residents east of the casino -- in the Canada neighborhood -- have recently met with the Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie and a couple of city council members to share their concerns -- among them increased noise and traffic and damage to their properties from construction vibrations.
“Many people in the neighborhood have complained about the damage being done to their homes as a result of the Blue Chip building,” Daniel Corley, of the 600 block of Emily Street, told city council members at their last meeting.
Corley says her basement leakage stems from the construction of Blue Chip’s parking garage.
“It is because of the pounding and shaking of the ground,” she told The La Porte County Herald-Argus. “It gets really noisy. There are times the whole house would shake.”
The repair bill, she says, will be about $17,000.
And it’s not just homes.
“Trees are dying because of the shaking,” Corley added.
Albert Woodley, also of the 600 block of Emily Street, said all the construction caused part of his house to shift.
Now Woodley, who has lived there for 34 years, wants Blue Chip to fix it.
“Up until they did the damage, I didn’t have a problem (with the casino),” Woodley said.
Corley said she enjoys the neighborhood, but if problems continue, Blue Chip should buy people’s homes so they can move elsewhere.
Corley’s uncle, who lives nearby on Cook Street, has encountered problems with his foundation because of the construction, she said. During an interview with The Herald-Argus, Corley showed how her uncle’s foundation was separating.
Others have complained about water coming up through new cracks in their basement floors and sewage backing up.
But it isn’t just past and current construction that upsets Corley. She said noise from the property and increased traffic are a nuisance to the area.
“I’m worried because we have a lot of little kids in the neighborhood,” said Corley, a nurse at Saint Anthony Memorial Hospital. “People speed along here.”
To make matters worse, she said, the casino recently installed an exit at E and Union streets that leads right into a residential area.
Oberlie said that exit will be gated, and only the casino’s shuttle bus is supposed to use it.
‘A good neighbor’
David Strow, a spokesman for Boyd Gaming, which owns Blue Chip, said the company is willing to listen to homeowners’ concerns.
“We are absolutely committed to being a good neighbor and good corporate citizen,” Strow told The Herald-Argus Wednesday. “We do not believe our current or past construction activity is responsible for the alleged damage.
However, we are happy to meet with individual homeowners to discuss the concerns they might have. I emphasize ‘individual’ because each resident may have different concerns.”
Asked if Blue Chip would buy the neighbors’ homes, Strow said “that is something we would need to discuss directly with homeowners.”
Strow said it is premature to predict if the casino will need additional property to the east.
“We are currently undertaking a significant expansion and we need to get that done first,” he said.
Oberlie will be one person meeting with Blue Chip.
“I have reviewed some of the damage so when I talk with them, I have firsthand knowledge,” he said.
But even in the wake of neighbors’ concerns, Oberlie said Blue Chip has been “a pretty good neighbor.”
Councilwoman Virginia Martin said only time would tell how good a neighbor they are.
“I feel they should fix it or buy them,” Martin said of the houses. “It is not right if they do something that does damage and not fix it. They can’t be a good neighbor if they aren’t willing to fix what they tore up.”
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10/11/2007, 10:27 am
Comment on this story
Scot Squires, 1-866-362-2167 Ext. 13869, ssquires@heraldargus.com
Some neighbors of Blue Chip casino say construction of parking garage, new hotel has damaged their homes
MICHIGAN CITY -- While expanding the Blue Chip Casino might be good for business, some nearby residents claim it is bad for their homes.
Over the past couple of years, the casino built a new boat, erected a parking garage and is now building a hotel, which will be one of the tallest buildings in northwest Indiana.
Residents east of the casino -- in the Canada neighborhood -- have recently met with the Michigan City Mayor Chuck Oberlie and a couple of city council members to share their concerns -- among them increased noise and traffic and damage to their properties from construction vibrations.
“Many people in the neighborhood have complained about the damage being done to their homes as a result of the Blue Chip building,” Daniel Corley, of the 600 block of Emily Street, told city council members at their last meeting.
Corley says her basement leakage stems from the construction of Blue Chip’s parking garage.
“It is because of the pounding and shaking of the ground,” she told The La Porte County Herald-Argus. “It gets really noisy. There are times the whole house would shake.”
The repair bill, she says, will be about $17,000.
And it’s not just homes.
“Trees are dying because of the shaking,” Corley added.
Albert Woodley, also of the 600 block of Emily Street, said all the construction caused part of his house to shift.
Now Woodley, who has lived there for 34 years, wants Blue Chip to fix it.
“Up until they did the damage, I didn’t have a problem (with the casino),” Woodley said.
Corley said she enjoys the neighborhood, but if problems continue, Blue Chip should buy people’s homes so they can move elsewhere.
Corley’s uncle, who lives nearby on Cook Street, has encountered problems with his foundation because of the construction, she said. During an interview with The Herald-Argus, Corley showed how her uncle’s foundation was separating.
Others have complained about water coming up through new cracks in their basement floors and sewage backing up.
But it isn’t just past and current construction that upsets Corley. She said noise from the property and increased traffic are a nuisance to the area.
“I’m worried because we have a lot of little kids in the neighborhood,” said Corley, a nurse at Saint Anthony Memorial Hospital. “People speed along here.”
To make matters worse, she said, the casino recently installed an exit at E and Union streets that leads right into a residential area.
Oberlie said that exit will be gated, and only the casino’s shuttle bus is supposed to use it.
‘A good neighbor’
David Strow, a spokesman for Boyd Gaming, which owns Blue Chip, said the company is willing to listen to homeowners’ concerns.
“We are absolutely committed to being a good neighbor and good corporate citizen,” Strow told The Herald-Argus Wednesday. “We do not believe our current or past construction activity is responsible for the alleged damage.
However, we are happy to meet with individual homeowners to discuss the concerns they might have. I emphasize ‘individual’ because each resident may have different concerns.”
Asked if Blue Chip would buy the neighbors’ homes, Strow said “that is something we would need to discuss directly with homeowners.”
Strow said it is premature to predict if the casino will need additional property to the east.
“We are currently undertaking a significant expansion and we need to get that done first,” he said.
Oberlie will be one person meeting with Blue Chip.
“I have reviewed some of the damage so when I talk with them, I have firsthand knowledge,” he said.
But even in the wake of neighbors’ concerns, Oberlie said Blue Chip has been “a pretty good neighbor.”
Councilwoman Virginia Martin said only time would tell how good a neighbor they are.
“I feel they should fix it or buy them,” Martin said of the houses. “It is not right if they do something that does damage and not fix it. They can’t be a good neighbor if they aren’t willing to fix what they tore up.”
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