Gambling on the future?
Boxborough considers proposal for a regional slots-only casino-hotel
When Massachusetts finally decided in 2011 to allow gambling in the
Commonwealth, it probably didn't occur to most Harvard residents that one of the
four casinos permitted by new law could materialize a mere two miles from the
town's historic common.
But that's exactly what the privately held Cordish Companies of Baltimore is proposing to do in its plan to build a slots-only casino—Live! Casino and Hotel Massachusetts—at a site on the eastern side of Interstate 495, in Boxborough, just beyond the Harvard town line.
In a plan presented to the Boxborough Selectmen on April 22, Cordish representatives told the board they want to tear down half of the existing Holiday Inn hotel and meeting center just off Route 111, and replace it with a dining, entertainment and gaming complex that would include three restaurants, a stage, and a "slot box" containing 1,250 "state-of-the-art" slot machines and electronic gaming tables, the maximum allowed by the state. The present-day atrium, swimming pool, and surrounding hotel rooms would be renovated, leaving a "boutique hotel" of roughly 150 rooms for overnight guests. The remodeled facility would also contain 20,000 square feet of meeting space able to accommodate meetings of up to 1,500 people. Guests would be greeted by a grand front entrance that would permit guests to enter the restaurant and entertainment areas without having to traverse a sea of slot machines.
On Tuesday,
representatives from Cordish were on hand at an open house in the Holiday Inn
lobby to explain their company's plans. A proposed protest had failed to
materialize, and Boxborough residents drifted into the hotel foyer in ones and
twos to ask questions and view images of other Cordish developments. Among the
several sites Cordish has developed—and now operates—are the Hard Rock casinos
in Florida and the Maryland Live! Hotel Casino near Baltimore, now the largest
slots casino on the east coast. Also on display were a preliminary schematic
design for the Boxborough site, and renderings of possible entrances and
nighttime lighting schemes. By Wednesday morning this week, a Cordish website
had also gone live at livehotelcasinomasss.com, where more details on the scope
and impact of the project could be found, and where the project is described as
"A Jewel in the Woods."
Joe Weinberg, president of Cordish gaming operations, could not be reached for comment in time for this article. But a spokesman, who did not wish to be named because he was not authorized to speak for the company, described the Boxborough site as "perfect." Preliminary traffic studies, he said, indicated that 95 percent of visitors would arrive by Interstate 495, exiting east on Route 111.
"We've picked a venue that has great access off I-495, is isolated from the center of the town, will offer a great dining and entertainment experience, and provide significant economic benefits to the town," the spokesman told the Press. While the company had looked at locations elsewhere in the state, he said, "We like this one the best."
Among the benefits that Cordish is promising Boxborough, according to its website, are annual tax payments of approximately $2 million, or roughly 15 percent of Boxborough's projected future tax collections. The company site says Cordish would invest roughly $200 million to develop the resort (the state requires a minimum investment of $125 million), creating 1,500 temporary constructions jobs and 750 full-time jobs once it opens, positions for which local residents would be given preference, according to the company.
But Cordish must clear several hurdles, and do so quickly, to win what is a race against time. The Massachusetts gaming law allows one slots-only casino in the state, the so-called Category 2 casino.
Three other companies are already competing for that five-year license with proposals for Raynham, Plainville, and Worcester; and the State Gaming Commission has said it wants to make a decision on its Category 2 license by the end of 2013.
To be part of that decision, Cordish and Boxborough must first negotiate a host community agreement, which must be approved by the State Gaming Commission. Then Boxborough must hold a town referendum on the proposal and vote to modify its zoning bylaws to allow for gambling in town. Changes to the Boxborough bylaws will require a two-thirds vote at a special town meeting. A simple majority vote is required to pass a referendum on whether or not to allow a casino to be built in the town.
Boxborough Town Administrator Selena Shaw told the Press Tuesday by phone that the Boxborough selectmen have said, "We want to hear from our residents," before deciding whether to enter into negotiations with Cordish. "That's where we are right now," she said. Cordish representatives had explained their plans to the Boxborough Planning Board on Monday, she said, and had tentatively scheduled a hearing for June 24 to consider necessary changes to the bylaw.
But the big question for residents, she said, is "Do you want to explore further, or stop it in its tracks?"
"It's a decision that has to be made in relative short order," Shaw said. "Cordish is a very responsible and respectful company. This has to be a mutual decision."
As Boxborough wrestles with its decision, Harvard residents can do little more than watch from the sidelines. The decision to enter into a host community agreement with Cordish is entirely up to the five-member Boxborough Board of Selectmen. Boxborough voters will get a say at the required referendum as well as the special town meeting needed to change its bylaws.
Should Cordish win its bid for a license, Harvard, as a so-called "surrounding community," would have a chance to negotiate mitigation fees to compensate for the presence of a casino near its borders. At their meeting Tuesday evening, the Harvard selectmen briefly discussed whether to provide feedback on the plan to Boxborough. Town Administrator Tim Bragan volunteered to call Boxborough administrator Shaw on behalf of the board to find out whether letters would be welcome.
http://www.harvardpress.com/News/NewsArticles/tabid/2176/ID/10066/Gambling_on_the_future_Boxborough_considers_proposal_for_a_regional_slots-only_casino-hotel.aspx
But that's exactly what the privately held Cordish Companies of Baltimore is proposing to do in its plan to build a slots-only casino—Live! Casino and Hotel Massachusetts—at a site on the eastern side of Interstate 495, in Boxborough, just beyond the Harvard town line.
1,250 slots and electronic gaming tables
In a plan presented to the Boxborough Selectmen on April 22, Cordish representatives told the board they want to tear down half of the existing Holiday Inn hotel and meeting center just off Route 111, and replace it with a dining, entertainment and gaming complex that would include three restaurants, a stage, and a "slot box" containing 1,250 "state-of-the-art" slot machines and electronic gaming tables, the maximum allowed by the state. The present-day atrium, swimming pool, and surrounding hotel rooms would be renovated, leaving a "boutique hotel" of roughly 150 rooms for overnight guests. The remodeled facility would also contain 20,000 square feet of meeting space able to accommodate meetings of up to 1,500 people. Guests would be greeted by a grand front entrance that would permit guests to enter the restaurant and entertainment areas without having to traverse a sea of slot machines.
“We’ve picked a venue that has great access off I-495,
is isolated from the center of town, will offer a great
dining and entertainment
experience, and provide
significant economic benefits to the
town.”
—Spokesman,
Cordish Companies
—Spokesman,
Cordish Companies
Joe Weinberg, president of Cordish gaming operations, could not be reached for comment in time for this article. But a spokesman, who did not wish to be named because he was not authorized to speak for the company, described the Boxborough site as "perfect." Preliminary traffic studies, he said, indicated that 95 percent of visitors would arrive by Interstate 495, exiting east on Route 111.
"We've picked a venue that has great access off I-495, is isolated from the center of the town, will offer a great dining and entertainment experience, and provide significant economic benefits to the town," the spokesman told the Press. While the company had looked at locations elsewhere in the state, he said, "We like this one the best."
$2 million in tax revenues
Among the benefits that Cordish is promising Boxborough, according to its website, are annual tax payments of approximately $2 million, or roughly 15 percent of Boxborough's projected future tax collections. The company site says Cordish would invest roughly $200 million to develop the resort (the state requires a minimum investment of $125 million), creating 1,500 temporary constructions jobs and 750 full-time jobs once it opens, positions for which local residents would be given preference, according to the company.
But Cordish must clear several hurdles, and do so quickly, to win what is a race against time. The Massachusetts gaming law allows one slots-only casino in the state, the so-called Category 2 casino.
Three other companies are already competing for that five-year license with proposals for Raynham, Plainville, and Worcester; and the State Gaming Commission has said it wants to make a decision on its Category 2 license by the end of 2013.
To be part of that decision, Cordish and Boxborough must first negotiate a host community agreement, which must be approved by the State Gaming Commission. Then Boxborough must hold a town referendum on the proposal and vote to modify its zoning bylaws to allow for gambling in town. Changes to the Boxborough bylaws will require a two-thirds vote at a special town meeting. A simple majority vote is required to pass a referendum on whether or not to allow a casino to be built in the town.
Boxborough Town Administrator Selena Shaw told the Press Tuesday by phone that the Boxborough selectmen have said, "We want to hear from our residents," before deciding whether to enter into negotiations with Cordish. "That's where we are right now," she said. Cordish representatives had explained their plans to the Boxborough Planning Board on Monday, she said, and had tentatively scheduled a hearing for June 24 to consider necessary changes to the bylaw.
'It has to be mutual'
But the big question for residents, she said, is "Do you want to explore further, or stop it in its tracks?"
"It's a decision that has to be made in relative short order," Shaw said. "Cordish is a very responsible and respectful company. This has to be a mutual decision."
As Boxborough wrestles with its decision, Harvard residents can do little more than watch from the sidelines. The decision to enter into a host community agreement with Cordish is entirely up to the five-member Boxborough Board of Selectmen. Boxborough voters will get a say at the required referendum as well as the special town meeting needed to change its bylaws.
Should Cordish win its bid for a license, Harvard, as a so-called "surrounding community," would have a chance to negotiate mitigation fees to compensate for the presence of a casino near its borders. At their meeting Tuesday evening, the Harvard selectmen briefly discussed whether to provide feedback on the plan to Boxborough. Town Administrator Tim Bragan volunteered to call Boxborough administrator Shaw on behalf of the board to find out whether letters would be welcome.
http://www.harvardpress.com/News/NewsArticles/tabid/2176/ID/10066/Gambling_on_the_future_Boxborough_considers_proposal_for_a_regional_slots-only_casino-hotel.aspx
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