Hundreds of area casino proponents gathered to watch the final chapter in the state's years-long quest to bring expanded gambling to Massachusetts in Everett, where, after yesterday's vote, casino mogul Steve Wynn's five-star resort is now all-systems-go.
Although there was little doubt Tuesday night that pro-casino voters would be rewarded, it was not until after 10 p.m. that applause finally erupted and Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria took the stage to officially claim victory for his town.
"The mayor had a pipe dream," DeMaria told the crowd. "Well, hey, listen, sometimes dreams come true, right?"
With the years-long battle to bring casinos to the Bay State finally settled, DeMaria says that his work to transform Everett can now truly begin.
"I’m looking to extend the silver line that’s stopping now in Chelsea," he said. "I’m looking to get that extended down into the 2nd Street area, or near this facility. Other hotels. Other housing developments. Cleaner, better reuses of property. So that’s what’s going to happen. It’s going to explode."
As for Everett’s casino, its fate now falls to Robert DeSalvio, president of Wynn Mass LLC.
"The task, right away, is to finish up with all of the approvals that we need to get underway with construction," he said.
So when will the doors be thrown open at the $1.2 billion five-star resort?
"Well, we’re looking at about three years from the end of the year, so we’ve said the end of 2017, is when we look like that opening would be," DeSalvio said.
But Wednesday night, at least, was for celebrating. For casino backers here in Everett, luck was a lady - and the will of the people was on their side.
