NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — Friday was day one of the $750 million construction project that is changing the Norfolk landscape, with the first piles going into the ground for a casino being built between the Amtrak station and Harbor Park that is expected to be completed in late 2027.

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The banging sounds of the pile driver could be heard across land and water as Norfolk's largest private economic development project starts rising from the ground.

It takes Drone 10 just to see how mammoth this project is.

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“We're testing the pilings to make sure that the conditions and the length of the pilings, the width of the piling diamond, the size of it, per the design criteria, support the building," said Raymond Crochet, project executive for the Yates-S.B. Ballard Construction project.

Crochet said this is the beginning of what's to come.

“The first, early steps will be actually in the next few weeks," he said. "We'll start moving in some more dirt and get the site contractor on board.” 

Long time Norfolk Tides fan Joel Rubin usually boards Hampton Roads Transit's Light Rail at Newtown Road to go to games.

“Now I’m going to be competing with casino people going to the casino who may want to park down there and ride the Light Rail," Rubin said, "and when they get here, they do casinos, but baseball is a family entertainment. Do they really go together? I don't really think so.” 

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Rubin doesn’t have a beef with the construction company. 

He blames the city of Norfolk.

“I think people are going to go to the casino, and they're going to stay at the casino, and they're going to gamble at the casino, and then they're going to go home," Rubin said.

 Said Crochet: “I mean, there's plenty of job opportunities for the community. This is going to be brought in for everyone, you know, from a construction standpoint. Then later on with the gaming operation. It’s a huge boost in the economy of the area of what we see.” 

Again, Rubin blames the city of Norfolk. 

“It ticks me off that they've taken away hundreds of parking spaces for Tides' fans and for people who go over and use the Amtrak," Rubin said. "A lot of people use that Amtrak station to go to Washington or New York, wherever they go, and, and it's been very, very successful. Harbor Park has been very successful as a minor league stadium for the Norfolk Tides.  

Friday, there were a number of Amtrak riders, bags in tow, parking farther away rather than up-close like they had before, riders such as Portsmouth residents Debbie and Conrad Strickland. Every other week, Debbie Strickland hits the track to northern Virginia.

“We have to park way over here," he said, pointing across the street. They used to park right next to the station.  

For the Stricklands, Amtrak is more important than a casino, and these Portsmouth residents have never been to Rivers Casino Portsmouth.  

A transitional gaming facility is expected out here later this year.

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