The five-member Massachusetts Gaming Commission gave its unanimous consent for a final state license that allows MGM Resorts International to start demolition and construction for its proposed casino and entertainment facility in Springfield, Mass.
This $950 million, 14.5-acre project—which the developer and Commission had been wrangling over for a year—was approved after the Commission determined MGM had taken sufficient steps to minimize this project’s environmental impact. That included reducing the size of the casino from its original plan as a 25-story tower to its current low-rise proposal for six stories. The developer also reduced the building’s square footage by nearly 14% to 759,157 sf. A proposed apartment complex will be moved outside of the development’s site.
All these changes led to a $150 million increase in this project’s costs, according to Masslive.com. What those extra dollars will pay for was not disclosed.
At a later date, the Commission will vote on the casino’s proposed design. Masslive.com reports that the project now includes extensive landscaping and a new stormwater management system.
Among the buildings expected to be demolished is the Howard St. Primary School, which was damaged in a 2011 tornado; and a boarding house on Bliss St. The original plan would have meant the demolition of the United Electric Building, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Based on the project’s impact, eight cities and towns, including Chicopee and Holyoke, and Agawam, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Ludlow, West Springfield and Wilbraham, are among those eligible for mitigation.
The Springfield casino is slated to open sometime in 2018.
Unrelated to the casino project but hovering in the background was the news that one of MGM Springfield’s contractors, Tishman Construction, will pay more than $20 million in penalties and restitution after admitting that it had defrauded clients of more than $5 million in the years 1999 and 2009. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York hit Tishman with federal fraud charges on Dec. 10.
World Casino News also reports that the Commission recently opened a discussion regarding an update on the casino license for the Region C casino license and the tribal compact for the Masspee Wampanoag Indian Tribe and Mass Gaming and Entertainment’s $677 million casino in Brockton, Mass. The U.S. Department of the Interior approved land-into-trust applications for the transfer of approximately 151 acres of land in East Taunton and 170 acres in Mashpee for the tribe back in September.
Related Stories
| Sep 22, 2014
4 keys to effective post-occupancy evaluations
Perkins+Will's Janice Barnes covers the four steps that designers should take to create POEs that provide design direction and measure design effectiveness.
| Sep 22, 2014
Sound selections: 12 great choices for ceilings and acoustical walls
From metal mesh panels to concealed-suspension ceilings, here's our roundup of the latest acoustical ceiling and wall products.
| Sep 9, 2014
Using Facebook to transform workplace design
As part of our ongoing studies of how building design influences human behavior in today’s social media-driven world, HOK’s workplace strategists had an idea: Leverage the power of social media to collect data about how people feel about their workplaces and the type of spaces they need to succeed.
| Sep 3, 2014
New designation launched to streamline LEED review process
The LEED Proven Provider designation is designed to minimize the need for additional work during the project review process.
| Sep 2, 2014
Ranked: Top green building sector AEC firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
AECOM, Gensler, and Turner top BD+C's rankings of the nation's largest green design and construction firms.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction market benefits from improving economy, new technology [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Following years of fairly lackluster demand for commercial property remodeling, reconstruction revenue is improving, according to the 2014 Giants 300 report.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction Sector Construction Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Structure Tone, Turner, and Gilbane top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest reconstruction contractor and construction management firms in the U.S.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction Sector Engineering Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Jacobs, URS, and Wiss, Janney, Elstner top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest reconstruction engineering and engineering/architecture firms in the U.S.
| Jul 28, 2014
Reconstruction Sector Architecture Firms [2014 Giants 300 Report]
Stantec, HDR, and HOK top Building Design+Construction's 2014 ranking of the largest reconstruction architecture and architecture/engineering firms in the U.S.
| Jul 23, 2014
Architecture Billings Index up nearly a point in June
AIA reported the June ABI score was 53.5, up from a mark of 52.6 in May.
