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Mohegan Sun in talks to buy land for Mass. casino |
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Written by Administrator
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Wednesday, 01 September 2010 |
Mohegan Sun in talks to buy land for Mass. casino
By JAMES MOSHER
Norwich Bulletin
Sep 01, 2010
Mohegan Sun is negotiating to buy Massachusetts land on which it would build a $600 million casino, a project that executives and municipal leaders hope gets the green light by the end of this month.
The Sun this week confirmed its talks with Northeast Realty to buy 150 acres in Palmer near Exit 8 off the Massachusetts Turnpike. Two years ago the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority signed a 50-year lease on the tract with Northeast.
A sale will likely occur only in the event the Massachusetts Legislature and Gov. Deval Patrick agree on a bill that will permit a resort casino in the western part of the Bay State.
“The specifics of the relationship between Mohegan Sun and our current land owner in Palmer (Northeast) will be dictated by any expanded gaming legislation, and we are exploring a number of different contingencies,” the casino said in a prepared statement.
The Massachusetts Legislature is likely to reconvene this month to consider the implications of recent federal laws. Municipal leaders see a chance to get gambling legislation passed in an election year amid a slack economy. Unemployment in the Palmer area is 10 to 13 percent.
“We’re always hopeful,” said Robert Young, spokesman for a group called Palmer Businesses for a Palmer Casino. “We think there’s a good chance that things may come together by the end of September.”
Palmer is poised to have a referendum soon after legislation is passed, which is a necessary step in landing a resort casino, Young said. The town overwhelmingly approved the idea in a 1997 non-binding referendum.
The land Mohegan Sun is considering buying is very hilly, meaning much soil will have to be removed, Acting Town Manager Patricia Kennedy said.
But the biggest obstacle remains the different views on gambling between the governor and the Legislature about the mixture of resort casinos and racetrack slot machine parlors.
“We’re anxiously awaiting the Legislature’s approval,” Kennedy said.
Mohegan Sun Vice President of Development Paul Brody briefed Palmer leaders Aug. 24. Mohegan has scaled back plans from its pre-recession $1 billion estimate. Palmer leaders are pleased Mohegan has stuck to its estimate of creating 1,200 to 1,500 construction jobs and 2,500 to 3,000 permanent casino jobs.
“Jobs are what we’re in need the most of,” Young said.
http://www.norwichbulletin.com/news/x861573490/Mohegan-Sun-in-talks-to-buy-land-for-Mass-casino
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