What are your thoughts? Chair City was considered Kimberly Petalas and Melissa Sandford News Staff Writers GARDNER — Attention has turned to Leominster as the potential site of a slots parlor, but Mayor Mark Hawke said developers scouting locations in central Massachusetts had contacted City Hall before turning their attention elsewhere due to the Gardner’s limited highway access to the southern part of the state. “I am not for or against it,” the mayor said. “On the upside, there would be more jobs and a boost to the tax revenue. On the downside, it would come with social issues. It has a positive and negative aspect as most things do.” The mayor noted that the city owns “hundreds of acres of woodlands” potentially accessible to routes 101 and 140. He described the area as being on the periphery of Gardner — being of the city, but not necessarily in it. A small gambling establishment, he said, could “in theory” be developed there. Christine Wilson, who represents Ward 2 on the City Council and has announced her candidacy for mayor, said she is opposed to the idea of a slots parlor coming to the city. “We may be able to get some people off of the unemployment list, but I’m glad it’s not coming to Gardner, personally,” she said. “I don’t think this is the area for it.” Ms. Wilson said even in Leominster, the proposed slots parlor could have some negative consequences for the city. “I think if it goes to Leominster, it will make it easier for people to migrate that way to gamble,” she said. “It could have a negative impact on the people in our city.” Mass Gaming Entertainment LLC, a subsidiary of Rush Street Gaming, and PPE Casino Resorts MA LLC, an affiliate of The Cordish Cos., are each vying for licensure and eying locations in Millbury and Leominster, respectively. Penn National Gaming, meanwhile, is fresh off a bid in Springfield and currently scouting a location Tewksbury. Greater Gardner Chamber of Commerce CEO and President Jim Bellina said while a slots parlor is not being eyed for the city, local residents might benefit from the additional attention and funding a nearby facility could bring in terms of improving infrastructure and transportation within the area. To that end, Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella said the project cannot be approved in his community without a considerable amount of vetting with regard to economic impact and traffic studies. Mayor Mazzarella said he is maintaining an open mind on the matter and believes his constituents should have the final say. “By the time the voters get to vote, they will all have an opinion on it. My general feeling is to let the voters decide,” he said. Leominster City Council President Susan Chalifoux Zephir noted there is only one category two slots parlor license for the entire state. With an Oct. 4 deadline to apply for the license, companies still have the opportunity to scout other locations. “No decision has been made yet,” said Ms. Chalifoux Zephir. “We’re really still in the fact-finding stage.” A host agreement between the Baltimore-based Cordish Cos. and the city would need to be approved by the council no later than July 27, according to Ms. Chalifoux Zephir. If the agreement is approved, the proposal would then need to go before the city of Leominster as a referendum by Sept. 23. It is estimated the $200 million project would create 600 short-term construction jobs as well as an additional 500 full-time, year-round positions that would become available once the slots parlor is up and running, with preference given to local residents during the hiring phase. The proposal for the Leominster site — on Jungle Road, off Route 117 near Walmart — includes three restaurants, a 300- to 400-person capacity entertainment venue and a main floor with 1,250 slot machines. Initial project specifications indicate the site will feature a small hotel with 150 rooms, a fitness center and multiple meeting spaces. Due to their community’s proximity to Leominster, Westminster officials have initiated discussions on the possibility of a slots parlor opening next door. Westminster Planning Board Chairman William “Bud” Taylor II said the subject was first brought up at a meeting last week. “It’s not good regional planning,” he said. “We talked about it as a regional planning and economic development issue. It wasn’t in the plan, but now it’s here.” Mr. Taylor said his board did not know how to react. “We all kind of looked at each other and raised our eyebrows,” he said. “We hadn’t heard anything other than what was in the papers. It wasn’t part of the regional plans.”
Posted on: Tue, 16 Jul 2013 14:48:39 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015