Everett Land Entrance Nearly Done Deal

The sale of a key access point to the Wynn Everett casino property – and a key component in last week’s lawsuit by the City of Boston – is about to be completed and a $1.5 million deposit from Wynn has already been paid.

“The MBTA conducted a public bidding process by posting Wynn’s unsolicited offer and inviting others to submit better offers,” said MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo. “No competing/better offers were submitted. Since then, the MBTA has been working with Wynn’s engineers to develop final plans for the access points. That work is almost complete. Upon completion, the MBTA will be moving toward conveyance of those access parcels. Also, it should be noted that Wynn has paid the MBTA a non-refundable deposit of $1.5 million.”

The land in question is entirely in Everett and involves purchasing land from the MBTA Maintenance Yard property in order to provide an access to the casino. Wynn Everett has proposed and been accepted to purchase the land for $6 million.

The only other access point, Horizon Way, is partially owned by Boston and partially owned by Everett.

Last week, in a lawsuit filed against the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) by Boston, a key complaint in the suit called for Boston to be a Host Community rather than a Surrounding Community due to the use of Horizon Way.

“Wynn has planned to develop a casino on a parcel of land located in Everett and in Boston known as the former Monsanto Chemical Site,” read the lawsuit. “Due to the location of the casino site, the City of Boston will bear the lion’s share of the traffic, environmental, and public safety harms. Wynn disputed that access to its site would be through Boston, promising the Commission that it would obtain access through adjacent property in Everett owned by the MTBA. Wynn, however, has failed to obtain access through Everett within 60 days of the award of the license – as required by law – leaving the sole access to the site through Boston.”

With the MBTA land deal nearing completion, that part of the complaint seems to be moot – leaving Boston’s claim to Host Community status very much in question.

The question of whether or not the MBTA land sale happened quickly enough – within 60 days – is still up for discussion.

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