Bingle Gambling Game Room Update
Posted by Grissett Alan (agrissett) on Mar 03 2010
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As some of you might know, there was a proposed video gambling game room under development in early February 2010 at 1504 Bingle in the same commercial center as the Bingle Food Store (click here). Spring Oaks residents observed workers performing renovations on the building and clearing the lot due east of the building to make room for additional parking. The Spring Oaks Civic Association President, Glenn Smith, was informed of this shortly thereafter.

Although legal, video gambling game rooms are not liked by law enforcement officials, because of increased incidences of loitering, public intoxication (PI), and driving under the influence (DUI) by patrons of these businesses. With this in mind, Glenn Smith informed a contact at the Houston Police Department storefront location on Long Point, and together the two walked the premises. It was decided by the officer to contact the City of Houston Code Enforcement division to determine if the proper permits were obtained for the work being done.

After investigation by a City of Houston Code Enforcement officer, it was found that there were no permits on file for any work to be done on 1504 Bingle, and a warning notice was affixed to the front of the building on February 18, 2010 (click here). Work halted immediately thereafter, and as of March 3, 2010, a check I ran on sold permits from http://www.cohtora.houstontx.gov/ibi_html/sldpmtsl.htm for the period of February 18, 2010 - March 3, 2010 revealed no permits of any kind for 1504 Bingle.

I obtained the phone number for the manager of the building's owner, Pravaz Holdings LLC, located at PO Box 17234, Sugar Land, TX 77496-7234. The manager claimed to have no knowledge on whether the owner of the proposed game room had decided to abandon his efforts to set up shop at 1504 Bingle. A Spring Oaks resident heard from a Bingle Food Store employee that the game room owner had, in fact, abandoned his efforts, but I was unable to verify that after speaking with two Bingle Food Store employees myself. However, the thought among our civic association leaders is that due to the permitting process, ensuring all the electrical, plumbing, and paving upgrades are up-to-code might have been too costly for the owners. We will continue to check the City of Houston permits online, and I will send another announcement if the situation changes.

As of this week, trucks were observed hauling off the debris from the cleared lot due east of the commercial strip (click here). If this is not completed in a timely manner, the City of Houston will be contacted.

Alan Grissett
Publicity Committee Chairperson
Spring Oaks Civic Association

Last changed: Mar 04 2010 at 9:44 AM

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