By Mary Damiano
Let the games begin. Dania Beach Jai-Alai is set to get a casino with slot machines and a snazzy, new fronton complex, but how will it change the Dania Beach real estate in the surrounding area?
That was the concern of citizens of the small seaside city, when the plans for the new complex were unveiled by Boyd Gaming Corp., the Las Vegas-based company that bought Dania Beach Jai-Alai.
The new complex includes a new building with 1,500 slot machines, several restaurants and several bars, including a swanky nightclub. The new jai-alai fronton will be more intimate, featuring 1,000 seats, down significantly from the current 4,100 seats. Once the new complex is built, the current one will be demolished.
Founded in 1953, Dania Jai-Alai was the second jai-alai fronton in the United States. Its annual attendance is more than 300,000. Dania Beach residents are concerned that the new fronton will bring too much traffic and too many people to their small-town piece of paradise.
Officials attempted to quell fears by informing residents that measures will be taken, including building height limitations and limited entrances to the jai-alai fronton, that will limit intrusion on neighborhoods around the complex.
Dania Beach was incorporated in 1904 and is the oldest city in Broward County. The first settlers were Danish, which is where the city gets its name. Once known as the Tomato Capital of the World, it is now known for Antique Row, the proliferation of antique shops which line Federal Highway in downtown Dania Beach.
Homes in Dania Beach are a mix of architectural styles, including Mediterranean, Mission Revival, Greek Revival and Art Deco. City officials have been notoriously careful to avoid over-development, so Dania beach has retained its old-fashioned appeal. There are also a variety of condos in Dania Beach, including some retro condos and lofts.
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