MGM offers update on progress of construction

Sept. 22, 2016 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

A construction worker holds renderings of the garage in front of the site.
Reminder Publications photo by G. Michael Dobbs

SPRINGFIELD – The management of MGM Springfield conducted a tour for elected officials, business leaders and the media at its construction site that may be the last one for a while.

The reason being construction activities at the site will be ramping up, making it potentially unsafe for civilians.

During the tour on Sept. 16, the guests saw how huge slabs of concrete had been poured making up the floor of the casino complex, the arrival of the pre-fabricated concrete pieces for the construction of the 3,000-plus car parking garage, the cleaning out of what remains of the historic Armory building and the demolition of the former location of the Glory clothing store on Main Street with the exception of the facade.

Michael Mathis, president of MGM Springfield, said the attention to historical detail is an effort to “create the experience customers had in the 1920s, Springfield’s previous peak.”

Mathis added the nearly $1 billion construction project is now “24 months out.” He called this time in the project’s construction as “really momentous.”

“We’re perfectly in schedule,” he noted.

Brian Packer, vice president, Construction, said that by the end of the month, a massive crane would be in place to lift the pre-fabricated pieces into place.

Randy Pitts of Tishman Construction, said the project is “spending a lot of money on Springfield,” referring to using local sub-contractors and vendors.

Pitts said 14,000 cubic yards of concrete has been poured so far and a crew in the background was preparing to pour more.

Pitts also said the crews are currently building a sample hotel room and completely finishing it at an undisclosed location on Tapley Street. Mathis said the press would not be allowed to see the room, which would act as a template, as MGM doesn’t want to reveal too much to its competition.

Behind the Armory building, members of an all-female demolition crew were clearly out debris from the building. Holding an architect’s rendering, Packer said there will be a common outdoor space between the Armory and the former First Spiritual Church building which was moved earlier this year.

When asked about the status of the apartments MGM Springfield must build as part of the casino plan, Mathis said the company is “continuing to discuss with the city what that package looks like,” While MGM is now the owner of the former School Department building on State Street, the company must find another location to fulfill its contractual obligation of creating 54 market rate apartments.

Mathis said of finding another location the company would like it to be “more transformative and less piecemeal.”

He said a decision should be made at the end of the year.

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