The tribes that operate the Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos said they received five proposals at Friday's deadline in four municipalities — East Hartford, East Windsor, Hartford and Windsor Locks.
The Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans did not disclose details of the proposals, which outline plans for a third Connecticut to be located in the capital region. But some of the plans have emerged publicly, including a casino proposal at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks and at the site of the former Showcase Cinemas off I-84 in East Hartford.
The tribes confirmed there were two proposals from Windsor Locks, although the second location couldn't be determined. East Windsor has targeted land along I-91 — the site of a Showcase Cinemas and a Wal-Mart, both vacant.
And Hartford officials said Friday they did not list any specific sites, but made the proposal to keep options open for the incoming mayoral administration and city council.
Friday's announcement caps a monthlong effort by the tribes to collect proposals for a casino they would jointly operate in north central Connecticut. The venue would aim to blunt the competitive threat posed by an $800 million mega-casino in Springfield that is now under construction by MGM.The tribes want to move quickly so they can open a year or more before the MGM complex, which expects to open in the fall of 2018.The tribes said Friday that they were pleased with the number of responses, and intended to move quickly to make a selection by Dec. 15."Our mission hasn't changed," Rodney Butler, chairman of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Council, said. "We want this facility to be located in a community that wants us there and values the jobs and revenue we'll bring."ComplicationsThe state has authorized the Mashantucket Pequots and Mohegans to press ahead. In the spring, state lawmakers created a process for the tribes to select a community and developer for a venue they would jointly operate. But the tribes must still win approval in the coming legislative session to expand gambling beyond their flagship complexes in southeastern Connecticut, which is not necessarily a sure bet.This week, a change in the application process for the third casino touched off a frenzy of new activity. The change revived the possibility of the casino at Bradley International and prompted the owners of the Enfield Square Mall to come close to making a proposal.The change involved the tribes' saying they would accept "incomplete" applications, and wouldn't immediately need the sign-off of both the host municipality and the landowner or developer as was initially required. The tribes said municipal elections this week complicated the process, coming just three days before Friday's application deadline. The tight time frame failed to take into account that local governing boards being asked to support proposals could experience turnover.That happened in Windsor Locks. Two weeks ago, the town's board of selectmen could not muster a vote of support for the plan. Part of the reason was because two of three selectmen were not running for re-election, and they didn't want to render a decision another board would have to live with.The Connecticut Airport Authority said it hopes to meet with the newly elected Windsor Locks selectmen on Nov. 24 to seek their support for the Bradley plan.The tribes said the proposals eventually would need all the required sign-offs to be considered for selection. In addition, local public hearings and referendums could be required.In Enfield, the owners of the struggling Enfield Square Mall renewed their consideration of a bid to locate the casino in vacant mall space. The plan faced stiff opposition from residents concerned about an uptick in traffic and crime — and the town didn't plan to support it.Friday morning, the mall owners, Madison Marquette and its vice president of portfolio management, Bob Steiner, backed off, to the relief of local officials."He felt that he did not want to jeopardize the good working relationship between the town of Enfield and Enfield Square Mall, and that ... it was in their best interest not to submit the RFP knowing the town does not support it," Enfield Mayor Scott Kaupin said Friday. RFP is a request for proposals.Hartford also saw a new opportunity to keep its options open, even though the mayor-elect, Luke Bronin, had pushed back at the concept as a candidate. Officials said the city didn't have a specific location or a developer in mind."It is our understanding that gaming is a probability for the greater Hartford region and regardless of the location, the capital city will feel its impact," Hartford Mayor Pedro E. Segarra said in a news release. "For this reason, we have responded with our own proposal to keep that door open so that the next administration and the residents of Hartford will have the opportunity to weigh in on the process and make a final determination of what is in the best interest of the city."Bronin couldn't be reached late Friday.Uncertainty AheadIn East Hartford, new plans were released this week for a bigger, glitzier casino and entertainment complex in the long-vacant Showcase Cinemas — including an LED billboard facing I-84. The plans have drawn the support of the mayor and town council. But residents' reactions were mixed.Emily Hernandez, 23, said she worries about raising her young children near a casino, with the potential for crime and drunken driving.Others, however, said it could be just the boost East Hartford needs."I would say that I think overall, it's a positive thing for the community," said Tony Reynaud, 53, owner of Silver Lanes bowling alley. "It could boost the economy if people don't lose all their money in the casino."Elsewhere, in East Windsor, officials had targeted a swath of land along I-91. But First Selectman Denise Menard, who lost a re-election bid Tuesday, did not return multiple calls to her office and home Thursday and Friday for details on the proposal submitted to the tribes.The tribes envision a casino with 2,000 slot machines and 100 to 150 tables, with a development cost of $200 million to $300 million. The goal is to keep casino-goers in Connecticut with a facility that provides gambling, but not with all the attractions and flash of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun.The tribes and the state say the effort is designed to keep revenue and jobs in Connecticut amid an increasingly competitive gambling industry.Courant Staff Writers Mikaela Porter, Suzanne Carlson and Jenna Carlesso contributed to this story.| < Prev | Next > |
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