Western Mass. Residents Hear Casino Plan For Springfield
SPRINGFIELD (AP) — A company that hopes to build a casino in Springfield is assuring local residents that it doesn't have a glitzy Las Vegas-style resort in mind, but rather one that would fit the character of the neighborhood.
Several hundred people packed a church gymnasium Tuesday night to hear Ameristar Casinos outline its plan for a $500 million hotel and casino at a vacant industrial site in the city.
A new Massachusetts law will allow up to three resort-style casinos in Massachusetts, including one in the western part of the state.
Ameristar chief executive Gordon Kanofsky told the gathering that the project would create 2,800 permanent jobs and 2,000 temporary construction jobs.
He promised that the company, which owns eight other U.S. casinos, would address neighborhood concerns about traffic, noise and crime.
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.
