Joseph Curtatone, Mayor of the Massachusetts City of Somerville, announced on Monday that his administration has decided to drop legal action against gambling operator Wynn Resorts over the latter’s project to build a $2.1-billion integrated casino resort on the Everett riverfront. Thus, Wynn Boston Harbor, as the property is to be named, has cleared the last of many major legal challenges.
Mayor Curtatone said at a special news conference that the city would not further appeal the state Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) affirmation of a key environmental permit granted to the major casino operator.
In February, it became clear that Massachusetts’ top environmental officials had granted Wynn Resorts the instrumental permit, thus giving the operator the green light to commence construction on the hotel and casino complex. However, the decision was appealed by Somerville. Mayor Curtatone and other casino opponents argued back then that the gambling venue would impact surrounding communities in a negative manner, citing potential crime, environmental, and traffic issues.
As a result from the Somerville appeal, Wynn Resorts postponed construction until the issue was resolved. As previously reported, DEP affirmed last month the granting of a 50-year environmental permit but not without certain conditions. The gambling operator will have to make sure that the complex provides enough open space and that the harbor that will be built as part of the resort will be featuring a ferry service. In addition, Wynn Resorts will have to help the host and surrounding communities to cope with traffic issues that may arise after Wynn Boston Harbor’s completion.
Somerville’s Mayor said yesterday that they were content with the above-mentioned conditions and that they would not appeal DEP’s decision once again. The city received the amount of $150,000 in upfront payment from Wynn Resorts as a compensation for potential issues the future venue would cause. Somerville will also be made annual payments of $650,000 for the purpose.
Construction on the multi-billion-dollar complex began shortly after the permit was granted. The gambling operator expects that it will be ready by June 2019.
The news about Somerville dropping its legal efforts to prevent Wynn Boston Harbor from being constructed, came at the time when Wynn Resorts Chairman Steve Wynn cut the ribbon of the operator’s first hotel and casino resort on Macau’s Cotai Strip.
On Monday, Wynn Palace welcomed visitors for the very first time with a glamorous grand-opening ceremony. Hollywood actor and former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli, and Hong Kong singer and entertainer Coco Lee were among the celebrities attending the $4.2-billion resort’s inauguration. Quite expectedly, Macau’s top officials were also in attendance.
Wynn Palace debuted with 1,700 luxury hotel rooms, 100 gaming tables at its casino floor and numerous other gambling and non-gambling options. An 8-acre performance lake surrounds and graces the property with a fountain show. A gondola ride allows guests a view to the spectacular fountain display from above.
