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MGM And Mass. Near Deal On Saving Historic Buildings

Paul Tuthill
/
WAMC
MGM Resorts International Chairman and CEO James Murren at the March groundbreaking for the company's $800 million Springfield casino. He is standing in front of the former Zanetti School that is to be torn down.

MGM Resorts and historic preservation officials are nearing agreement on buildings targeted for demolition as part of an $800 million casino development in Springfield.The Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved a key component of the compromise on Thursday, committing $350,000 toward a new historic preservation trust fund that would support restoration of historic properties within a half-mile of the project.

MGM proposes demolishing all or part of seven historic buildings but preserving facades and architectural elements on others. The casino's plan for the historic structures was among the factors holding up the project.

The commission said it will also conduct its own review now that MGM wants to delay opening the casino by about a year to September 2018 because of a major highway project happening nearby.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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