Wynn Boston Harbor celebrated the first year since construction began on the .4 billion casino resort in Everett, Massachusetts, just across the Mystic River from Boston. Opening will be June 24, 2019.
Wynn Boston Harbor President Bob DeSalvio observed the milestone by giving a video update on the project, which is moving ahead of its original schedule. “We are excited to report all the work that has been done in just one year and to salute all the 750 tradespeople who have contributed to this project and got us to this point,” he said.
Wynn was awarded the license to build in the Bay State’s Boston Metro gaming zone by the Massachusetts State Gaming Commission in September 2014, at which time the estimated cost was $1.6 billion. Wynn was forced to bash through several tenacious legal challenges, with the largest being from the City of Boston. Finally, construction began August 3, 2016.
The construction has meant that the neighboring towns, such as Malden and Medford, have been paid mitigation of, respectively $1 million and $250,000 one time payments. But they will also get future payments. Everett has been paid a one-time $30 million and will get $25 million annually once the casino opens. The three cities will also be given preferential hiring of their residents. The casino is expected to employ more than 4,000.
In addition, the state will get about $209 million every year for racehorse development, a cultural council, state and local capital projects, transportation infrastructure and development. The casino company has also nearly completed its plan to operate an around the clock water shuttle between the harbor and the casino. A ground shuttle will also be operated between surrounding communities and the casino.
DeSalvio said the mega-casino will include in excess of 8,000 square feet devoted to night clubs, a dozen restaurants, a meeting space and convention center. There will be a steakhouse, Italian restaurant, sports bar, craft beer and ale house and, of course, a buffet.
MGM Springfield
The walls are going up at the $950 million MGM Springfield, where workers are installing sheetrock at the entertainment center and guest welcoming area.
Springfield attorney Cheryl Coakley Rivera told 22News “I’m very excited for the city of Springfield and I’m excited for the surrounding towns. So far, just look at the jobs this project has created- from the construction to the metal workers- not to mention what is going to happen when they start buying things, like for the kitchen.”
MGM is working towards a September 2018 opening.
