NORFOLK, Va. — After years of planning, officials on the Norfolk Casino project say they will officially break ground on October 30.

The Pamunkey Indian Tribe and Boyd Gaming, the developers of the proposed casino, say the groundbreaking ceremony will take place near Harbor Park.

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The announcement comes a week after Norfolk City Council members approved the casino design by a 7-1 vote, allowing construction to move forward.

News 3 has been following the project’s developments for years. In 2020, Norfolk voters approved the construction of a casino. This referendum provides for a deadline of 2025 to be able to play on site.

After a series of delays, a development deal was proposed to meet the deadline. This involves building a temporary casino that can be operated while the permanent facility is under construction.

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The project developers told us of their excitement about bringing the casino and resort to Mermaid City.

“We feel very comfortable and we’re just excited to be able to bring the project to fruition for the city, the Commonwealth and the tribe,” Pamunkey Indian Tribe Chief Robert Gray previously told News 3 .

The proposal includes plans for 1,500 slot machines, 50 table games, a 200-room hotel, eight restaurants and a 1,300-space parking garage. The resort and casino will be located on six acres of land between Harbor Park and the Amtrak station.