The developer of a Columbus casino apparently has settled on the former Delphi auto-parts plant on W. Broad Street as its choice for the development.
An announcement is planned Tuesday morning.
Penn National Gaming Inc. officials could not be reached today, but sources said they have settled on the Delphi site as the best alternative to the Arena District location listed in the constitutional amendment approved by Ohio voters in November.
Penn National purchased the Arena District site last week, but company officials said they were still considering alternatives in light of local opposition to that location. Changing the Columbus location - the Cleveland, Cincinnati and Toledo casino sites in the constitution have caused no controversy - will require another change to Ohio's constitution.
Three-fifths of state lawmakers must approve an amendment by the end of business Feb. 3 in order to place a proposal on the May primary ballot. A majority of Ohio voters then must approve the amendment on May 4.
Penn National officially considered seven alternate sites - including Delphi and the nearby Westland Mall - that were suggested by Mayor Michael B. Coleman, neighborhood groups and property owners. But company officials had said they were inundated with potential casino locations offered up across a city and county that rejected Ohio's pro-gambling ballot measure last fall.
Groups in the W. Broad Street area have voted to support locating a casino development there, but several votes have been split narrowly in favor.
The Delphi and Westland sites are in Franklin Township, but company and city officials have said they want the casino inside Columbus boundaries. That means Columbus likely would annex one of those properties if selected by Penn National.
Franklin Township trustees, in voting 2-1 to endorse a casino last week, said their support was contingent on a revenue-sharing deal.
Coleman aides have said the mayor wouldn't support moving the casino to any Columbus neighborhood that didn't want it. He and City Council President Michael C. Mentel opposed the Arena District site.
Mike Curtin, associate publisher emeritus of The Dispatch, is a co-chairman of the community group Stand Up Columbus, which was created to push Penn National to relocate the casino. Capitol Square, the real-estate arm of The Dispatch Printing Company, owns 20 percent of the Arena District development.