Wynn proposes footbridge over Mystic River

[keithn.livejournal.com]

In an interesting development that is sure to put the mayor in an awkward position, Wynn wants to build a footbridge over the Mystic river to connect the Wynn casino site to Assembly Square. I know the possibility of a bridge has had support from people who don't even plan on visiting the casino, but according to our mayor: “A footbridge would benefit Steve Wynn and Steve Wynn only."

Read more at http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/11/12/wynn-resorts-footbridge-span-mystic/2i7jPr6hCYwSjTCsWwoxpI/story.html

Comments

[totient]

Being "business unfriendly" to a big-box proposal is what got us an enormous mixed-use development and a free Orange Line stop. Casinos are like big-box stores in that they bring neither needed services nor good jobs to the area, just traffic. Mayor Joe may be wrong about whether the casino is still stoppable, and if it's not then it is time to change gears to wringing as much benefit out of it as possible. But he's not wrong about whether it's a good idea.

[teko.livejournal.com]

Beyond anyone's personal feelings about casinos and gambling, I think arguing that casinos don't bring jobs is a bit silly. They're currently hiring for over 4,000 positions. Between that and the 25% of their daily revenue they'll be turning over to the city, they bring a bit more than just traffic.

[totient]

Big box stores bring lots of crap jobs and pay a big percentage of their net in taxes too. That doesn't make them the best deal off the bat. I like what the city of Boston has done to extract benefit from this proposal, including the lawsuit for which that 25% is a settlement. If you want to get value out of Steve Wynn you have to be aggressive.

[ron_newman]

I don't personally have much use for a casino, but it will have a hotel attached, which is certainly a useful service. Cleaning up and landscaping the riverfront on the Everett side (to match the work already done in Someville) will be a major benefit.

A casino would be a bad idea in Somerville, but if Everett wants it, I don't see why Somerville should keep trying to stop it. Let's try to make it work well with Assembly Row.

I don't see other developers lining up for the chance to build on that site. I'd rather have a soccer stadium for the Revolution, but that's not likely (and it would definitely need the pedestrian connection to Assembly).

[teko.livejournal.com]

I would also add that as part of the proposal, Wynn will be funding purchase and upkeep of new Orange Line trains as well as the major road construction needed to ease traffic coming from 93.

[keithn.livejournal.com]

The vast majority of the space in the building will be hotel rooms. There are 600 rooms, and they will be among the nicest hotel rooms in metro Boston, and I believe they are the largest by far. With the footbridge, those people will be coming in to Assembly Square to take the T and they will be going to Assembly Square businesses.

Last I saw, it will also have at least eight restaurants, likely several bars, a spa, shops, meeting and convention space, and wedding venues. Then, of course, they will clean up the site and create a nice park along the river. There's a lot more to it than gambling.

It's really unfortunate that the mayor isn't trying to make the best of the situation.

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

Wynn will be doing the absolute best he can to make sure that people do NOT do ANYTHING in Assembly Sq that they could do at his complex. That's how modern casino/hotels operate.

[teko.livejournal.com]

And I think that sums up perfectly why the Mayor's so grumpy. He doesn't want the shine diminished on his pet project.

[pywaket.livejournal.com]

Yup. How dare people want to walk to Costco!

I have no interest in the casino, but would love to have easier access to Costco without driving or having to ride a bike on that part of rt16, which is utterly insane. This would make it a 1 or 2 ride trip on the T (90 bus, Red->Orange line, etc) instead of the current state of affairs.

The mayor is just being a dick here. Fortunately, no matter how much he stomps his feet, there's nothing he can do to actually stop it since the station is MBTA property, not his. Unfortunately, he's going to waste a bunch of our tax dollars in the meantime with pointless lawsuits (just wait, they're coming).

[ron_newman]

Also, the park where the bridge would land on the Somerville side is a state park.

[ron_newman]

I doubt that Wynn will offer the full variety of shopping and eating that is available across the river. If someone is staying at his hotel to visit Boston, and that person walks over to the Orange Line to go into town, why not stop at Burger Dive or JP Licks on the way?

[mytheria.livejournal.com]

Because you live in the area you know to do that. They'd walk into the east end of the T station and not even look at what is beyond it. They'd be focused on getting 'into Boston' or back to the hotel.

[ron_newman]

Some strategic display advertising inside the Assembly T station (preferably outside the fare gates) could fix that.

[boblothrope.livejournal.com]

Assembly Square has plenty of big-box stores and traffic. The housing doesn't get rid of those problems. The Orange Line stop is useful for some people, but not for anyone coming from the west.