Somerville Drops Legal Challenges To Wynn Boston Harbor

SOMERVILLE (CBS/AP) — Somerville is withdrawing its legal challenges to Wynn's Boston-area casino.

Mayor Joseph Curtatone said Monday the city north of Boston won't appeal the state's decision to issue Wynn a crucial environmental permit for the $2 billion Everett casino complex.

Monday is Somerville's deadline to appeal in state court.

Curtatone says the city will also withdraw four other legal actions against Wynn as the two sides have reached an agreement to address transportation, health and environmental issues.

Specific terms of the deal weren't immediately disclosed. Curtatone says the deal does not include additional financial compensation for the city.

Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria, Jr. called the casino an "economic engine" with "an opportunity to create tremendous regional benefit."

"I am very proud of the tremendous public benefit already generated by the early phases of the development, including the cleanup of a hazardous and barren industrial site that blocked public access to the waterfront, and the creation of several hundred early-stage construction jobs," DeMario Jr. said in a public statement.

A Wynn spokesman said Monday no other legal challenges stand in the project's way.

Work resumed on Wynn Boston Harbor earlier this month. It's now projected to open June 2019.