The state gambling commission has approved a proposal for a glittering $1.6 billion Wynn Resorts casino in the city of Everett, a community just north of Boston.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission voted 3-1 today for the proposal by the international casino giant, led by celebrity billionaire Steve Wynn, one of the most successful developers in casino history.
The panel went forward, despite a question on the November ballot that would repeal the state law, enacted in 2011, that authorized three casinos and a slot machine parlor in the state. The Wynn Resorts project beat out a proposal by Mohegan Sun to build a casino in Revere, another city north of Boston, at the Suffolk Downs racetrack. “This has been a really, really difficult decision,” Commissioner James F. McHugh, who chaired the hearing, said afterwards. He said both applicants were “terrifically qualified.” Related picture Photos: Wynn proposal approved The proposed casino complex in Everett would be built on the Mystic River waterfront on the site of a former chemical plant.More coverage
Commissioners Gayle Cameron, Enrique Zuniga, and Bruce Stebbins voted for the Wynn proposal. McHugh was the lone dissenter. Commission chairman Stephen Crosby had recused himself due to potential conflicts of interest.
The vote was conditioned on Wynn agreeing to all the requirements that the commission has set out for the project. Wynn must appear before the commission Wednesday to signify orally, and in writing, its agreement.
Robert DeSalvio, a senior vice president for development at Wynn Resorts, said the project was the largest private development in the state’s history. He said it was “a great day for the city of Everett” and company officials “look forward to moving forward on this incredible project.”
Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria said the vote would help transform a “desolate’’ section of his city.
“This is going to be a snowball, getting bigger and bigger. You won’t recognize the city of Everett, hopefully, in 10 years,” DeMaria said. “We will no longer be the butt end of the city of Boston. We will be the entrance to the city of Everett.’’
Mitchell Etess, chief executive of the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority, said after the vote that “disappointed’ doesn’t even begin” to describe his feelings. Etess later issued a statement saying that Mohegan Sun had “worked incredibly hard” on the proposal and believed it was “the best choice for the Commonwealth’s flagship casino.”
Chip Tuttle, Suffolk Downs chief operating officer, also expressed disappointment about the negative impact the casino battle may have on race track employees. Tuttle said in a statement that the action was “likely to cost the Commonwealth thousands of jobs, small business and family farms.”
“We will be meeting with employees and horsemen over the next several days to talk about how we wind down racing operations as a 79-year legacy of Thoroughbred racing in Massachusetts will be coming to an end, resulting in unemployment and uncertainty for many hard-working people,” he said.
The panel went forward despite criticism from Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh, who reached an agreement with Mohegan Sun for that company to provide Boston with mitigation payments, but was unable to reach a similar agreement with Wynn Resorts.
“Wynn’s current offer to the City of Boston is unacceptable. We are evaluating the gambling commission’s decision, and all of the conditions imposed on the issuance of this license,” Walsh said Tuesday. “Serious questions remain around Sullivan Square and Rutherford Ave, and other impacts in Charlestown, as well as other neighborhoods in the City of Boston.
It also went forward despite questions raised about whether a convicted felon may be involved in the deal to sell the land to Wynn.
The Greater Boston resort casino license will be the third gaming license issued by the commission. The panel has already awarded the state’s sole slot parlor license to a Penn National Gaming project in Plainville and promised the Western Massachusetts casino license to an MGM proposal in Springfield.
A license for Southeastern Massachusetts is on a later timetable and not expected to be awarded until 2015.
McHugh was the only member to say that he favored the Mohegan Sun proposal.
“The likelihood of [the Wynn proposal’s] ability to succeed on schedule ... is less than the Mohegan Sun proposal,” McHugh said. “In the end, the ability of Mohegan Sun’s proposal to get off the ground is greater.”
McHugh said any project would need the cooperation of a number of “interrelated entities and jurisdictions,” and more surrounding communities had reached agreements with Mohegan Sun than with Wynn.
“Ultimately, I have a great concern about whether this project can muster the kind of collaborative energy it needs to move forward,” he said.
He failed to persuade the other members of the commission, however, who said they supported the Wynn proposal for a variety of reasons, including its financial strength and positive impact on the economy.
“I think good-paying jobs is absolutely part of this process,” said Cameron.
After the vote, McHugh said he hoped “everybody now will collaborate” in a way that will allow the project to succeed.
Wynn, in a significant concession earlier today, told the commission it would pay up to $20 million toward penalties on traffic above set targets in Sullivan Square, if they won the license.
The concession came a day after Wynn had balked at the commission’s demand for penalties, which the commission believes will give Wynn an incentive to encourage casino patrons to use public transportation.
Wynn had already boosted its contributions for Boston and the chronic Charlestown bottleneck from $46 million to $63 million before making its new offer.
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