Council Addresses Report Of Gaming Interest In Worcester Site
Worcester city council members expressed interest in talking with developers who have proposals for gaming facilities in the city, but City Manager Michael V. O'Brien said that industry having a presence in Worcester is "a fantasy" at this point.
Speaking at last night's City Council meeting, O'Brien said the city has had what he called "cursory" and "generic" conversations with developers, but nothing of substance.
"We've had no one come forward and be definitive about what their plans are," he said. "We've had some that have said they plan to integrate with everything we're doing here in the community. We've had others say that have just said they're looking at the potential for a big-box slot parlor."
Councilors discussed the topic several hours after the Telegram & Gazette reported that well-known Cambridge-based developer Richard L. Friedman, president and COO of Carpenter & Co. Inc., is interested in developing a 14-acre Wyman-Gordon site into a slot machine parlor and hotel.
Councilor-At-Large Frederick Rushton expressed concern that plans for a potential development would have to move quickly, given that potential casino and slot parlor developers must submit a $400,000 application fee to the state's gaming commission by Jan. 15.
In order for a gaming development to be approved, a clear plan for the site would have to be negotiated with the city manager and it would have to pass a city-wide referendum. Only one slot parlor is allowed in the state, under the state's gaming law passed last year. Three "resort-style" casinos will also be allowed.
"There has been a ton of work done by a ton of community leaders over the past 15 years to try to get Worcester to that next level, and things are coming together and I don't want people swooping in and trying to ruin our vision for Worcester," Rushton said. "My concern is that a chintzy operation lands itself in Worcester and it doesn't coexist with what we vision."
He stressed that if gaming does come to the city, it must be high-quality.
"We're not looking for a 2-star gaming operation in town. They can go to Reno," he said. "If we're going to have a gaming institution here, it's going to be five-star."
Councilor-At-Large Joseph O'Brien said he's open to discussions with a well-known developer like Friedman, who has developed hotels and mixed-used projects since the 1970s, according to his company's website.
Friedman, who could not be reached for comment this morning, has developed the Liberty Hotel in Boston, the St. Regis San Francisco, Charles Square and Charles Hotel, the Brookline Marriott Courtyard, and Hyatt hotels in Cambridge, and Princeton, N.J.
He was also the founder of the Interagency Security Task Force for Washington, which works with agencies like the Secret Service to improve security in Washington, D.C., and is the former chairman of the National Capital Planning Commission, the federal government's urban planning agency. He was appointed by President Obama to the President's Export Council, where he serves as co-chairperson on the Manufacturing, Services and Agriculture Sub-committee.
Councilor O'Brien noted that the Madison Street site, which will require remediation work, has needed redevelopment for 15 years. Metals manufacturer Wyman-Gordon, which also has operations in Grafton and is now a subsidiary of Portland, Ore.-based Precision Castparts Corp., has significantly reduced operations at the Worcester location over the past decade. The company was unavailable for comment this morning.
"I think the reality is, gaming is coming," O'Brien said. It's going to happen in this state. Whether we like it or not, that's a reality. I don't want to just close all doors here when there might be opportunities."
District 5 Councilor William Eddy agreed with Councilor O'Brien's sentiments, saying that leaders owe it to the city to have discussions with developers who have strong track records.
View Larger Map
Image credit: FreeDigitalPhotos.net.
Read more
Editorial: State Must Guard Against Growing Casino Market
State Gaming Panel Chief: We'll Limit Business Impact
Betting Blind On Casinos In Massachusetts
Gaming Commissioner Stresses Collaboration
Worcester May Consider Taking Wyman-Gordon Site
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments