MA Casino Developments

[tangent]

Most city elements, individually, are not scenic. Hard to name anything nice you see from the Roosevelt Is. tram, but it is packed with tourists at non-commute times.

Get 180 feet above anything and it looks cool. It has a river and casino, Assembly/partners and a Boston skyline to look at --as good or better than either Assembly or the Casino themselves have.

Why not just fire people out of cannons across the river? Far more exciting and a great view. Make it a rail gun with a giant net on the other side...

 

[Arlington]

^ solution must work for women in high heels.

 

[davem]

View: Bunker Hill, Schraffts, and Downtown. You could see the Back Bay before Partners went up, still can over by the river.

I spend a lot of time up on the roof. Honestly, even the power plant is pretty majestic from up high.

 

[Semass]

Why not just fire people out of cannons across the river? Far more exciting and a great view. Make it a rail gun with a giant net on the other side...

Actually, that would be pretty frickin' rad.

 

[tangent]

Actually, that would be pretty frickin' rad.

Or if we are really talking about something akin to an amusement ride, then in (mostly) all seriousness make it some sort of roller coaster across the river. Have it lift you up 100 feet on one side, drop you and you end up on the other side after a loop and a twist. Maybe even a dip under water and you end up in the Wynn Lobby... Wicked Transportation fun!

But crazy to be thinking of aerial tramway across the river in terms of practical transportation planning when a simple foot/bike bridge would be much more practical and efficient. I'm all-in if Wynn or someone else wants to do an aerial tram or some ride across the river as an attraction. Like their boat shuttle they are planning. But I'd like to see the practical planning go into letting people walk/bike across the least expensive/easiest to maintain bridge option.

The state is getting enough tax money out of the casino that it should be putting a large portion of that money back and investing in the area to make it and the area succeed.

Edit: Actually, A boat shuttle across the river would be really great also.

 

[tangent]

Something like this:

 

[BostonUrbEx]

Just recently came to a realization on something here. A station should be possible immediately east of Chemical Lane. Trains coming off of the bridge have to be capable of stopping short of Chemical Lane because that it where the signal is for the Everett Junction interlocking. The only problem is that it is a bit unorthodox to have a platform within an interlocking -- however, it is not unheard of, and can even be found in the MBTA system. Wilmington is one example of a station with a platform within an interlocking. You'd also be limited to mini-high platforms with fold-up edges for freights. These two issues could be addressed later if it is found to be much of a problem, or up front if someone really did want to sink cash into heavy track work.

 

[cbrett]

How feasible would it be to extend the orange line back along the former ROW to Everett? I'm assuming that it's a pretty crazy transit pitch when Assembly could perform the same function with a gondola/people mover/canon, but maybe with some serious TOD it could be useful.

 

[BostonUrbEx]

How feasible would it be to extend the orange line back along the former ROW to Everett? I'm assuming that it's a pretty crazy transit pitch when Assembly could perform the same function with a gondola/people mover/canon, but maybe with some serious TOD it could be useful.

You'd have to eliminate or modify the just-built Assembly Station and Wellington would have to be removed.

In *hindsight* it would have been a great idea (IMO). They should have kept the line to Everett, and extended to Malden and Oak Grove via the Saugus Branch in some form.

 

[davem]

It would make more sense to send a green line spur that way via the new yard and Sullivan.

 

[JohnAKeith]

ICYMI

Plainridge casino brings in $18 million in first full month

In its first full month of operation, the Plainridge Park Casino brought in more than $18 million in gaming revenue, according to July figures released Monday by state officials.

The Plainville slots-only facility, which opened in late June, is the state’s first casino. Its July earnings will bring nearly $9 million to the state coffers, officials said. That money primarily will go to aid for cities and towns; 18 percent of it will support the horse racing industry.


Officials say the numbers have Plainridge on pace to bring in $200 million in gaming revenue over a full year of operations. Such a take would send $98 million in revenue to the state.

 

[BostonUrbEx]

18 percent of it will support the horse racing industry

Thank heavens -- I was so afraid the money would go towards something which helps the general public instead.

 

[whighlander]

Pedestrian draws, especially that many in a short span, are probably going to be no-go on expense and maintenance complexity.

F-line have you seen the London Ped Bridge over the Paddington Canal -- it rolls-up -- that's the kind of out of the box - Vegas-esque stuff Wynn might just pay for -- a Draw Bridge that doubles as a Crowd-Draw [pardon the pun]

Uploaded on Jul 13, 2007
Rolling bridge is a unique design by Thomas Heatherwick. When activated, this simple footbridge transforms itself, snake like, into a perfect octagon -- rather resembling a hamster wheel. Operates every Friday 1200 hrs.

https://youtu.be/1gB9dN4nk-E

 

[SeamusMcFly]

The state is getting enough tax money out of the casino that it should be putting a large portion of that money back and investing in the area to make it and the area succeed.

The money the state is receiving is to go to the betterment of all state communities equally. As the host community, Everett gets big payouts from the casino. That money should (at least some of it) go to beautifying the area and building off of the resort.

In general, I think it's better if the State has less involvement in the surrounding areas rather than more input.

 

[tangent]

The money the state is receiving is to go to the betterment of all state communities equally. As the host community, Everett gets big payouts from the casino. That money should (at least some of it) go to beautifying the area and building off of the resort.

In general, I think it's better if the State has less involvement in the surrounding areas rather than more input.

The point is the state has created for itself a vested interest in the success of these casinos and should be reinvesting a larger percentage of those proceeds towards improving state controlled infrastructure around the casinos rather than just spreading it equally around the state.

 

[SeamusMcFly]

As stated. The host community already receives disproportionate funds from the casino.
They don't need additional from the State in that regard, and the state should not be stepping in to guide the development of a community. Once you are using their money, you are beholden to their designs, standards, and other garbage planning the state is capable of. Less bureaucracy in developing the area, not more.

State controlled infrastructure is one thing, and the state should provide the funds to ensure the potential of the development can be accomplished. But, that was not your original statement.

 

[tangent]

As stated. The host community already receives disproportionate funds from the casino.
They don't need additional from the State in that regard, and the state should not be stepping in to guide the development of a community. Once you are using their money, you are beholden to their designs, standards, and other garbage planning the state is capable of. Less bureaucracy in developing the area, not more.

State controlled infrastructure is one thing, and the state should provide the funds to ensure the potential of the development can be accomplished. But, that was not your original statement.

Any pedestrian bridge would be state controlled infrastructure. The dam is state controlled. The major roads around there are state roads. The T stations are state controlled. And I believe that pier I suggested using for a water shuttle is state controlled. The state is a major stakeholder with a big role to play.

 

[TheRifleman]

This is probably politics: But I do agree with the AG on this one:

Maura Healey move throws up roadblock at Wynn
Bob McGovern

Gambling mogul Steve Wynn is demanding “fair treatment” after Attorney General Maura Healey moved yesterday to slam the brakes on his $1.7 billion Everett casino over traffic concerns.

“The ... process requires that we mitigate our traffic impacts, not solve decadeslong traffic issues which predate our project,” Wynn spokesman Michael Weaver told the Herald last night. “We expect the fair treatment afforded any other developer.”

Healey asked the state’s environmental regulatory agency to hold off ruling on the Wynn Resorts casino, citing potential “long-term traffic” issues in Boston that need to be addressed.

“We urge you not to issue a Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) certificate for the Casino until Wynn’s certificate includes a long-term traffic solution for Rutherford Avenue and Sullivan Square that takes into account years of planning by community stakeholders and is compatible with the City of Boston’s redevelopment plans for that area,” Healey wrote to Matthew Beaton, secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs.

Healey added that if Beaton issues any approval before obtaining a traffic mitigation plan from Wynn, “we may never get one.” She said a traffic study conducted by Wynn Resorts consultants underestimated the potential traffic concerns caused by the massive 
gaming emporium.

Weaver, however, said Wynn spent “millions of dollars” on the traffic assessment and “we are ready to move forward with our Wynn-funded $10.9 million Sullivan Square package, which will mitigate the incremental traffic impact of our project.”

He said the Wynn development is “the only project which has ever fully mitigated its traffic impact in Sullivan Square.”

Weaver added: “If the attorney general’s proposal to halt our project until a long-term plan is approved, it would effectively and permanently terminate any developments that have any impact on Sullivan Square/Rutherford Avenue including, for example, the recently announced expansion plan for Assembly Row, any development at NorthPoint, and the BRA’s own development plans for Sullivan Square.”

Wynn agreed to pay 
$10.9 million as a short-term fix for Sullivan Square, and $25 million over 10 years for the long-term fix. Boston has also raised concerns about traffic in Charlestown, and officials have argued that Wynn’s plan would conflict with its pre-existing, 
$100 million long-term fix for the area, which did not consider casino traffic.

Yesterday’s letter is the second time Healey’s office has raised concerns about the traffic from the gaming palace. In July, Healey wrote a letter to Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack indicating that she had issues with a traffic study conducted by Wynn consultants.

Healey indicated that Wynn’s study did not fully take into consideration “vehicle trip generation” and traffic leading to and from the casino.

https://www.bostonherald.com/news_o...maura_healey_move_throws_up_roadblock_at_wynn


This is joke this comment:
"Weaver, however, said Wynn spent “millions of dollars” on the traffic assessment and “we are ready to move forward with our Wynn-funded $10.9 million Sullivan Square package, which will mitigate the incremental traffic impact of our project.”

What the hell is 11 Million dollars going to do for that area?

 

[Shepard]

Tell me about high rollers driving to the casino all you want, but most of the visitors will NOT be high rollers. If Wynn announced not just a study but real funding for a direct OL connection - whether covered airport-style moving walkway, gondola, or just plain old bridge, traffic impacts would absolutely fall considerably. We're talking about 1000 feet, as the crow flies, from shiny brand new Assembly Square Station. He should have done this already... let's see if this new roadblock forces his hand.

 

[Arlington]

This is joke this comment:
"Weaver, however, said Wynn spent “millions of dollars” on the traffic assessment and “we are ready to move forward with our Wynn-funded $10.9 million Sullivan Square package, which will mitigate the incremental traffic impact of our project.”

What the hell is 11 Million dollars going to do for that area?

The magic word is "INCREMENTAL" traffic at Sullivan. Wynn's job is to fix only that traffic at those hours of the day (weekend concert start times) that get noticeably worse, not all traffic at Sullivan.

$11m gets you signals and striping and maybe some sidewalks.