SEABROOK — The Brook is rolling the dice on a 24,000-square-foot expansion and renovation project to keep its tagline of being “America’s largest charity casino.”
The town Planning Board unanimously approved the plans on Feb. 18 proposed by RMH NH, LLC, the Las Vegas owner of the local charitable gambling complex on Route 107.
After his engineers and consultants made their presentation to the board, Andre Carrier, CEO of The Brook, requested immediate approval to begin ordering construction materials before prices rise any further.
“We’d love to get approval this evening,” Carrier told Planning Board members, “so we can order steel to be ready at the first thaw.”
The construction will feature an 18,000-square-foot expansion of the “front of the house,” providing additional space for gambling. According to the presentation, the project will also enhance the reception area and food service options — including the addition of a new restaurant – as well as a small retail shop. Furthermore, the entire entity will receive an upgraded mid-century modern facade.
These features will be added to The Brook’s current facilities, including 600 gaming machines, table games, a 10-table poker room, sportsbook, and seven bars and restaurants.
The expansion project also includes outdoor fire pits, as well as an area for outdoor special events to be held under tents. Along with improved grading to enhance drainage and treat stormwater run-off, new parking areas with better configurations are planned, with existing parking lots completely renovated.
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More handicapped parking spaces will be added, Carrier said, along with ramping to accommodate those with mobility issues, in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Another 6,000 square feet will be added to “the back of the house,” to give employees more space, Carrier said. This area will include an improved loading dock, more office space, storage, lockers and restrooms, he said. Additional accommodations have been needed for some time, he said, for employees currently deal with cramped quarters since their numbers have swelled from 65 to 550 in recent years.
A floating front canopy over a small seating deck is included in the expansion that significantly upgrades the building’s appearance, as well as the grounds of the former Seabrook Greyhound Park, which was purchased by the Nevada-based Eureka Casino Resort in 2019.
The former live dog racing track, which opened in 1973, included buildings, a track, and kennels over about 75 acres of land on Route 107. It operated as a live greyhound racing venue until 2008 when dog racing was outlawed in the Granite State. Simulcast betting on national horse races and events, along with charity gaming continued there under the former owners until Eureka and Carrier entered the picture.
Renamed The Brook, the property has already undergone a multi-million-dollar renovation following Eureka taking ownership.
Since taking over, Carrier said, The Brook’s activities resulted in charities earning about $20 million from the venue. According to New Hampshire statute, only charity gaming can take place in the state, with 35% of revenues, minus prizes paid, donated to charities.
Once one of only a few such gambling entities in the state, charity gaming casinos are more common in New Hampshire now, with a number already established and more facilities currently before planning boards in communities like Salem and Hampton.
The Brook says project will not impact traffic
Carrier’s traffic consultant predicts that the facility’s expansion will not significantly impact traffic on Route 107 over the next 10 years. He noted that the intersection leading to the venue already has ample capacity, including turning lanes into The Brook.
Should traffic become an issue, the consultant said other accommodations can be made if needed, such as adding designated left-turn- and right-turn-only lanes. The possibility of adding a signalized intersection with a traffic light was investigated, but the number of vehicles trips through the intersection did not rise to the level the state requires to permit a traffic light at the venue’s entrance, according to Carrier’s traffic consultant.
Although the Planning Board hearing had several residents in the audience, none rose to speak against the expansion. Questions were asked about drainage and the noise that could come from construction and increased outdoor entertainment.
Abutter Chad Reardon of nearby Deer Crossing Road said those who live in the area “knew this was coming,” and although he didn’t want to speak for every abutter, he felt the biggest concern was noise from both construction and possible outdoor special events.
“Abutters are going to lose some peace and quiet,” Reardon said.
The town has noise and nuisance restrictions, Planning Board Chair Jason Janvrin said, requiring construction not to begin earlier than 7 a.m. Janvrin also urged residents to contact the town if problems arise during construction and afterward, if noise disrupts their lives.
“We do try to please every abutter,” he said.
In addition, a 10-foot sound wall is already on the site plan to mute the noise that could drift into the surrounding residential neighborhood. Carrier also promised The Brook would remain “diligent,” to the noise issue.
Janvrin said after reviewing the site plan, most of his concerns were addressed.
The board placed three conditions on the approval. Carrier is to post a $150,000 bond with the town before construction may begin, and outdoor lighting must be altered to ensure it does not infiltrate surrounding neighborhoods.
In its third condition, the Planning Board put a restriction on any outdoor special events, stipulating they must be wrapped up by 11 p.m. to prevent neighborhood disturbances. In addition, the Planning Board ceded jurisdiction over such special events to the Board of Selectmen, the body that issues entertainment licenses, which would be required if outdoor music and performances were to take place at The Brook’s new special outdoor event area.
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