EVERETT, Mass. — The opening for the new Wynn Resort and Casino in Everett has now been pushed back.
Steve Wynn was in Boston Wednesday talking about the hotel and where everything stands.
“I like to build things where people go and say wow,” he said.
Wynn said his plans are still being held up because of a dispute from the Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone over the permitting process. The mayor said Wynn hasn't done enough to support the area around where the 33-acre resort would go.
The hotel, which was scheduled to be finished in 2018, has been pushed back. Primary construction will begin this summer and the hotel should open in 2019.
Wynn said the issues with Somerville did not cause the delay.
“We're already started. The appeal didn't stop us from doing the stage of work that we would do now anyway,” he said.
The casino mogul said he's made friends with several local lawmakers and business leaders, but not Curtatone.
“He was an anti-gaming guy when the legislature was working on it. This is an emotional issue for him,” Wynn said.
Curtatone still defends his position.
“My community stands with me on this. We know, from history, what happens when we don’t plan in a very strategic way,” Curtatone said.
Still, Wynn said, the door is always open for a meeting.
“How's about we have lunch and maybe what you think gaming is and what we are, are not the same. Maybe you'll even have fun coming there for dinner,” Wynn said,
The mayor’s said he's more than willing to sit down with Wynn.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
