MA Casino Developments

In February tho with half the harbor frozen it may not fly, plus you still need to get to the blue line or a bus onshore.
 
I personally think this is the exact type of proposal we should want. Obviously, if you think gambling in a casino is a major social evil, any casino no matter where it is, is going to meet the standard for approval. But the state has ruled its ok, so lets skip that debate.

From an urbanism POV, the proposal is outward facing, engages both internally and to the street, and incorporates existing uses (MassMutual Center). It's near a highway and a train station, which hopefully soon will get commuter service from Boston and Connecticut/NYC. Springfield could attract more visitors from these areas for events and facility, which would have a near $1billion interest in increasing transit connections. Which has a great upward economic pressure, for which this seems like a great catalyst.
 
choo said:
if you think gambling in a casino is a major social evil
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No. Just when a select, privileged few are allowed to open their mega-casinos after the politicians ram it down the peoples' throats.
 
I've been doing some thinking on this and I've decided that one of the likely reason for the divide between "Western Massachusetts" and "Eastern Massachusetts" is, in my opinion, the huge amount of nothing between Worcester and Springfield - really, between Worcester and anything on the I-91 corridor.

Maybe I'm wrong, and it certainly wouldn't be the first time I've been wrong, but wouldn't the best place to put a 'West Mass. Casino' really be the Brimfield location that MGM dropped in March due to 'insurmountable challenges?'

It's more or less halfway between Worcester and Springfield, it's in an area with a whole lot of nothing to impact by its presence, and it could have probably more cohesively tied the state together.

If we're really only going to build one casino over there (and presumably the other two in Eastern Massachusetts?), I'm not seeing any good argument for it to be in Springfield instead of Brimfield, or Palmer, which has much the same benefits.
 
Ought to provide a real stimulus over at the Mardi Gras and enbiggen business.
 
BostonUrbEx said:
No. Just when a select, privileged few are allowed to open their mega-casinos after the politicians ram it down the peoples' throats.
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The alternative to a few select casinos is opening it to anyone with a poker table and roulette wheel. I doubt that would turn out very well.

Plus there are multiple competing proposals in Western Mass. Hopefully the due diligence is done for all thoroughly.
 
Apparently, my cynical assessment on my neighborhood (New England's Litter-Box) has proved prophetic:

The Boston Globe Metro Desk said:
EAST BOSTON
Suffolk Downs fined for discharging manure

By Milton J. Valencia, Globe Staff

Suffolk Downs, the East Boston racetrack competing to build a resort-casino, has been fined $1.25 million for discharging horse manure, urine and pollutants into tributaries of the Boston Harbor, according to court records filed in US District Court in Boston Wednesday.

The racetrack agreed to a consent decree that was filed with the court after federal officials began investigating high levels of bacteria and fecal matter in the wetlands around the racetrack in 2008.

According to a complaint filed with the court, the illegal discharge had been occurring since at least 2006 and possibly as early as 2004, and may have continued up until last year.

The racetrack had no permit allowing it to discharge into the waters. It has since applied for one, but that request is still pending.

Chip Tuttle, the chief operating officer for Suffolk Downs, today issued a statement in which he said the company has already spent millions of dollars to improve its drainage system in recent years.

“Suffolk Downs has worked cooperatively with federal and state environmental agencies since this issue first surfaced five years ago and we have already taken substantial measures, including construction of a new $3.5 million drainage system in our barn area, to address the conditions and bring us into compliance,’’ Tuttle said in the statement.

He added, “We are confident that, in addition to our on-site improvements, our new walkway project in Belle Isle Marsh, and our water testing in the Mystic and Saugus rivers will contribute to a better environment in our area for the future.”

The consent decree, filed under the federal Clean Water Act, requires that the racetrack develop a proper stormwater and discharge management plan for the facility, as well as paying the fine with potential interest dating back to 2008.
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I wonder if this was part of their campaign to win the hearts & minds of voters in East Boston and Revere...
 
Beton Brut said:
Apparently, my cynical assessment on my neighborhood (New England's Litter-Box) has proved prophetic:



I wonder if this was part of their campaign to win the hearts & minds of voters in East Boston and Revere...
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And, wouldn't you know it, here's Suffolk Downs trying to weasel out of the obligation to build the "resort" part of a resort casino!

NECN said:
Suffolk Downs casino twist

(NECN: Peter Howe, Revere, Mass.) - With the Robert Kraft-Steve Wynn casino proposal in Foxborough dead and a Milford casino showing no momentum, plans to turn the Suffolk Downs horse track on the Revere-East Boston line into a $1b casino have for months seemed to have a lock on winning the Eastern Massachusetts casino license.

Helping Suffolk Downs appear even more inevitable: Powerful backing from powerful officials like Boston Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Mass. House Speaker Robert DeLeo.

But Wednesday, Menino’s support appeared to be in some doubt, as the mayor lashed out at plans being floated by key Suffolk project official Gary Loveman of Caesars Entertainment to build the project in phases.

"It’s about economic development. It's about having a casino in the city of Boston that is a 'Wow!' and not just a renovation of a grandstand that was there previously," Menino said in a brief interview before dedicating a public art installation in Roxbury. "I want to see a thorough plan of what's going to happen at Suffolk Downs, how it's all going to be built out over the next year or two. You know, I don’t want, 'We're going to do the slots today, and we'll wait to see how that works out and then we'll do the rest.' That isn't what is signed onto. I signed on to a resort casino in the city of Boston."
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Emphasis mine, full article behind the link.
 
Beton,

I think the Casino business right now is in big trouble. The middle-Class, Working class the majority of these people don't have the money to gamble anymore. Its about survival.
For the E.Boston & Revere Residents it looks like TIME might be on their side. If they don't let their gaurd down and continue to bring the fight towards the politicans then Suffolk Downs could lose a shot of a the casino license if another town gets their shit together and presents a good plan (Shovel ready project)

Especially headliners like this one.
New Jersey Casino Suing Gamblers Who Won $1.5 Million, Blames Unshuffled Decks of Cardshttp://abcnews.go.com/US/golden-nugget-casino-suing-gamblers-won-15-million/story?id=17050411

I personally don't want to see a billion dollar casino in this part of the city.

Wonder which will really back-fire in the Mayor's face.
#1 The Planning for Seaport
#2 Suffolk Downs Casino
or
#3 Maybe Neither

Good Luck Residents

Springfield Casino Not sure if that is good or not for Springfield. Probably not
 
Matt Groening did a wonderful op ed piece on building a casino in Springfield about 15 years ago.

I suggest everyone watch and enjoy and learn.

...and remember when I got caught stealing all those watches from Sears? Well you have a gambling problem!!

One of the best beginning to end episodes of all time.
 
This is such a sad, pathetic little city at times. I'd bet if the bar manager was passing them a few cases of Paddy's out the back door they'd look the other way.
 
kmp1284 said:
This is such a sad, pathetic little city at times. I'd bet if the bar manager was passing them a few cases of Paddy's out the back door they'd look the other way.
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Agreed. I could understand the city involvement if the Liberty was giving away unlimited, all you can drink champagne to guests at check in but 1 glass per adult? Do we really not have anything better to do with our city resources?
 
State Law allows up to 21 ounces if I recall, just like you get at the Sam Adams tour.
Just put it on the room bill and include it in the price.
 
Trying to keep SST discussion over there and casino discussion here...

Interested to hear what people think is behind the new search for competitive bids, and Menino's possible waning enthusiasm for Suffolk?
 
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