Though original plans called for demolitions of certain buildings, the Springfield Historical Commission challenged the demolition plans and MGM is collaborating with the city to incorporate historical sites such as the Union House and the MassMutual Building into the design, according to the Boston Globe.
Unlike most casinos, which are usually built away from city centers, MGM Springfield will be situated in downtown Springfield. Others think the extensive gambling facility will have a disproportionately negative effect on the city’s low-income community. Some residents believe that the casino will bring economic development and job flow that is desperately needed in Springfield. The $960 million project has been in progress since its approval in 2013 and has drawn critics as well as fervent supporters. A new casino complex owned by MGM Resorts International is scheduled to open in Springfield, MA in September of this year.
