Proposed Tiverton Casino Might Mimic New Library in Design

About 75 people showed up for the first of several charrettes hosted by Twin River Management Group in Tiverton to gauge feedback and push forward with their plan to build a casino next to the border with Fall River, Mass.

Deploying tools used to measure issue-to-issue sentiment among audience members at political debates, officials from the gaming company handed out adjustable dials for attendees to indicate their feelings about specific issues.

Those issues revolved around the design of the proposed building, which has been intentionally short on specifics so far; traffic, environmental impacts and the possibility of a dramatic change for nearby residents who might see an undeveloped parcel become a bustling enterprise.

Twin River announced in April that it wants to pull up stakes in Newport and move the operations of the slot parlor to Tiverton.

On large screens on stage at Tiverton High School, officials showed a variety of possible designs including a photo of the town’s new library, which Peter Stevens, an architect with JCJ architecture, said has been mentioned frequently.

“This is the single piece of architecture we were told most often to imitate,” he said.

Residents voted overwhelmingly in agreement with the library serving as an architectural model. Residents also indicated a preference for lots of windows and colonial architecture incorporated into the design.

There was also discussion about incorporating the entrance of the proposed casino into a proposed traffic rotary the state Department of Transportation plans for Hurst Lane, Stafford Road and William S. Canning Boulevard, the Fall River Herald News reported.

The next workshops are planned for Sept. 12 and 22.

The company began a series of public information sessions earlier this summer that offered no concrete plans or drawings other than a general outline of the vision to bring a casino to Tiverton — along with a chunk of new revenue for the town.

Twin River has been careful to tread slowly as it hones its plan and pitch to bring casino gaming to the town in an effort to stave off some the inevitable opposition as much as possible.

“We said all along that input from the residents of Tiverton was critical to this project,” said Twin River Chairman John E. Taylor Jr. said.

After the workshops in September, Twin River will present conceptual plans to the town.

Twin River holds rights to buy a 45-acre site 400-feet from the border with Fall River, Mass., and off William S. Canning Boulevard (Route 81).

If approved, Twin River would transfer Newport Grand’s existing gaming license to the new casino.

Twin River completed its purchase of Newport Grand in June.