RESTON, VA — With some news outlets reporting that Comstock Holding Companies was exploring the possibility of building a casino in Herndon, the Reston-based developer issued a statement on Thursday to set the record straight.
"Comstock has not proposed, pursued, or supported casino development anywhere in Herndon, Virginia," the company said. "The same was true when rumors were published regarding 'our plans' for casino approval in Reston."
The company reiterated its position that Tysons was the most appropriate location in Northern Virginia.
"We also believe the local economy would benefit from such a development, provided it is part of a much larger mixed-use development, not solely focused on a casino, and that the site and operator are selected after appropriate community interaction as part of a fully open, transparent, and competitive process," the company said. "Northern Virginia deserves the opportunity to evaluate every available option and select the best possible development for the region.
"Likewise, if legislation is ever passed that would allow a casino in Northern Virginia, we are confident that a fair selection process will reflect well on the merits of any serious proposal and that the economic impact of a well-designed mixed-use development that includes, as a small component of the overall development, a high-quality casino resort, would create thousands of jobs and meaningful economic benefit for the Northern Virginia region."
Earlier this week, some news outlets reported that the Herndon Planning Commission was considering a proposal to build a casino on town land near the Herndon Metro Station. That proved not to be the case.
Mayor Keven LeBlanc told Patch on Tuesday that the town initially sought to change its code in January to protect the community’s development plan for the area surrounding the Herndon Metro station. While staff originally proposed a set of requirements for casinos that were "impossible to meet," LeBlanc said the town is now moving toward an express denial because the threat of state-level casino legislation has been "overcome by events" following a gubernatorial veto.
"We determined that to be safe, we should move forward with our own change to our code to prohibit gambling facilities [in] the town limits," LeBlanc said.
RELATED: Herndon To Prohibit Casinos As Town Seeks Control Of Downtown Land From Comstock: Updated
The Herndon Planning Commission is expected to recommend a formal denial of the previous gambling language at a public hearing next week. The Town Council is then scheduled to vote to withdraw the request on May 26. LeBlanc emphasized that there was "never a casino proposition in downtown Herndon" and that the town's actions have been preventative.
On April 9, Gov. Abigail Spanberger vetoed a bill that would have allowed a casino in Tysons, though Herndon leaders said their action was already underway before the veto.
The town remains engaged in a legal effort to reclaim land in downtown Herndon from Comstock. Although the developer backed out of the Old Town redevelopment plan, it still holds the deed to the property.
The town filed a lawsuit and subsequently requested a motion for summary judgment on Feb. 27. According to LeBlanc, the town has been waiting approximately 10 weeks for a ruling from the Fairfax County Circuit Court.
In January 2023, Sen. David Marsden (D-Burke) and Del. Wren Williams (R-Stuart) first introduced legislation in the Virginia General Assembly calling for the development of a casino on Metro's Silver Line in Fairfax County outside the Capital Beltway and the flight path for Washington Dulles International Airport. Seven stations fit those requirements — Herndon, Reston Town Center, Wiehle-Reston East, Spring Hill, Greensboro, Tysons and McLean.
Read Patch's reporting on Comstock Companies' efforts to build a casino in Tysons at Silver Line Casino.
Facing pushback, Marsden and Williams quickly withdrew their bills, leaving questions about which developer was involved and at which station was the casino to be built.
In September 2023, Patch first broke the news that Comstock was the developer behind the casino project and erroneously reported that it was slated for the Wiehle-Reston East Station, where the Comstock's headquarters is located. In October, Marsden told FFXNow that Tysons was the location for the casino.
"Comstock has intentionally refrained from making public statements about the possibility of a casino project being developed in Northern Virginia throughout the recent legislative process," the company said. "We believe that the appropriate time to engage publicly is after legislation has passed and a formal, competitive process has commenced, as has occurred with other casino developments in Virginia. Out of respect for all stakeholders in the subject jurisdiction, we have honored that position consistently."
The following is the full text of Comstock's statement.
Comstock has intentionally refrained from making public statements about the possibility of a casino project being developed in Northern Virginia throughout the recent legislative process. We believe that the appropriate time to engage publicly is after legislation has passed and a formal, competitive process has commenced, as has occurred with other casino developments in Virginia. Out of respect for all stakeholders in the subject jurisdiction, we have honored that position consistently.
However, having recently seen press reports incorrectly implying that Comstock is pursuing or planning to pursue approval to develop a casino in Herndon, we offer this statement to set the record straight.
Comstock has not proposed, pursued, or supported casino development anywhere in Herndon, Virginia. The same was true when rumors were published regarding “our plans” for casino approval in Reston.
"Contrary to what has been reported or speculated, Comstock has never pursued the approvals necessary for a casino development anywhere on the Silver Line outside of Tysons. The reason is straightforward: our concept for what this type of destination development should look like, what it should include, and how it should function is simply not compatible with a residential neighborhood. That is a matter of both principle and practicality.
We believe that Tysons would be the most appropriate location in Northern Virginia. We also believe the local economy would benefit from such a development, provided it is part of a much larger mixed-use development, not solely focused on a casino, and that the site and operator are selected after appropriate community interaction as part of a fully open, transparent, and competitive process. Northern Virginia deserves the opportunity to evaluate every available option and select the best possible development for the region.
Likewise, if legislation is ever passed that would allow a casino in Northern Virginia, we are confident that a fair selection process will reflect well on the merits of any serious proposal and that the economic impact of a well-designed mixed-use development that includes, as a small component of the overall development, a high-quality casino resort, would create thousands of jobs and meaningful economic benefit for the Northern Virginia region.
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