June 13–A small army of volunteers has been out door knocking and holding signs in support of a $1.2 billion Wynn casino in Everett as the Las Vegas gaming titan continued its full-court press by unveiling a scale model of the proposed waterfront resort.
“The support we’ve gotten from the people of Everett has been extraordinary,” said Wynn Las Vegas president and chief operating officer Gamal Aziz. “I’ve seen a major push for Wynn to have the opportunity to build this resort here.”
Aziz and Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria stood side-by-side as a scale model of the gleaming, bronze waterfront tower was unveiled today. The intricate model, which Aziz said itself cost $90,000 to build, showed an impressive resort marked by a new riverwalk along the Mystic River, boat docks, a massive restaurant and retail promenade, a 600-seat outdoor amphitheater and a 100,000 square foot casino — all surrounding a massive, 550-room hotel.
“This is an opportunity for the city of Everett,” Aziz said. “This will be the highest quality hotel in all of Boston. This is really a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for this site.”
The model shows a tree-lined entranceway to the property, which is currently home to a polluted former chemical plant, and includes a restaurant complex with waterfront views, a riverfront “winter garden” and a mall with ornate skylights and copper-topped pavilions. The resort would also include an 18,000 square foot ballroom, a pool and a pool deck, a massive nightclub and a spa.
“I’m excited,” DeMaria said. “I expect nothing but greatness from Mr. Wynn and his team.”
Everett voters will hit the polls June 22 to cast ballots on whether to approve the “host community agreement” DeMaria has struck with Wynn. The deal would pay the city $25 million per year from casino revenues, in addition to local job guarantees and other perks.
Aziz said the development would create 3,700 construction jobs and 4,000 permanent jobs.
Wynn is competing for the Boston region casino license with Suffolk Downs, which wants to build a $1 billion gaming resort at the East Boston racetrack with Caesar’s, and Foxwoods, which has proposed a resort in Milford. The state is expected to issue the Boston casino license in early 2014.
