Baltimore County administrators are set to make a deal with a key player in Maryland’s video gaming industry to redevelop a blighted Dundalk apartment complex.
Lawmakers are poised to sell 10 acres of the former Yorkway apartment complex to John Vontran, owner of 93 registered slot video machines and the former Seagram’s plant nearby. Vontran submitted the highest bid in a sealed public auction earlier this year at $1.63 million, slightly more than asking price, and will likely build single family homes.
“The community is in support of it,” said Councilman John Olszewski, a Dundalk Democrat. “It’s a lot better than what they had there.”
The county spent $20 million to acquire and raze the 56 low-rent apartment buildings previously on the site. Administrators originally intended to require the new developer to use a community-oriented planning process known as a charrette, but said they dropped the requirement to encourage more bidders.
Vontran, who owns Amusement Vendings Inc. and is the former president of the Baltimore City Licensed Beverage Association, declined to elaborate on his plans at a county council work session earlier this week.
At that meeting, council Chairman Kevin Kamenetz, a Pikesville Democrat, said the council needed more details about Vontran’s plans before approving the contract.
“The goal here is to ensure opportunity for public input,” he said. “We did use taxpayers’ dollars.”
Vontran was the subject of media reports following a 2006 Abell Foundation report that documented 3,500 video gambling devices scattered in bars, convenience shops, gas stations and liquor stores in Baltimore City and County.
The underground slot machine industry costs Maryland $15 million annually, according to report, which said Vontran made half of the industry’s $45,600 in political contributions since 2006.
In the report, Vontran — who has given at least $2,500 to Olszewski’s campaigns — said he has no way of knowing if his devices are used illegally, and said he pays taxes on them.
[email protected]
