Over the past several days, Mohegan's commitment to Palmer has been called into question.
This is an update to a story posted at 5:30 p.m.
PALMER - After days of negative publicity regarding its potential involvement with Suffolk Downs over another casino project, Mohegan Sun answered critics by saying it plans to keep the 152-acre site in Palmer and explore it for future development in the wake of its resort casino proposal here failing at the polls.
But the landlord for the site isn't buying it, and said he thinks the Connecticut-based company is merely trying to block another casino operator from opening there.
"This is quite an obvious attempt to control the destiny of Palmer as it relates to the emergence or possible reemergence of another gaming company while at the same time seeking fame and fortune in eastern Massachusetts," Leon Dragone, Northeast Realty manager, said Friday night.
Mohegan wanted to build a $1 billion resort casino on the Northeast land on Thorndike Street (Route 32), but voters rejected the plan by 93 votes on Nov. 5.
Though a recount is scheduled for Tuesday at the Palmer Library, Mohegan's chief executive officer, Mitchell G. Etess, said, "The town of Palmer made a definitive statement on Nov. 5 – that it is sharply divided on the issue of casino gaming. The recount will not change this fact.”
Over the past several days, Mohegan's commitment to Palmer has been called into question, as Dragone, his lawyer, a local pro-casino group and At-large Councilor Paul E. Burns have all asked the Connecticut company about its dealings with Suffolk Downs, which wants to pursue a casino in Revere.
Mohegan denied accusations that it was talking to another casino operator before the referendum was held.
On Thursday, Chip Tuttle, chief operating officer of Suffolk Downs, confirmed that Mohegan Sun is among several companies that have discussed partnering with it on the Revere proposal.
In Mohegan's latest press release, Etess said the company has been "deeply committed to the community for more than five years, and we remain so through our long-term interest in 152 acres off Route 32 and the Massachusetts Turnpike.
“The site off exit 8 in Palmer remains an excellent opportunity for commercial development, and we look forward to coordinating efforts with Palmer so that it is developed for maximum benefit to the community," Etess said.
Northeast representatives said that Mohegan notified the company this week that it wants to break its exclusive agreement regarding casino development at the Palmer site in a letter.
"I think that all of our previous comments and all of our public statements over the last several days are true. They weren't waiting for the final recount and yet they were telling us and the media that they were, and also it took Suffolk Downs to confirm what they denied, that they were in discussions of partnership," Dragone said.
"I think the townspeople see what's going on here and I think the Gaming Commission does. The comments that we made or Councilor Burns has made have been spot on," Dragone said.
Spokesmen for Mohegan did not return an email asking what kind of development the company plans to explore in Palmer.
Dragone said he hasn't been told either. Asked if Mohegan possibly would build a water park at the site (that was part of the billion-dollar proposal), Dragone scoffed.
"They're in the casino business, not in the water park business last I looked. I think that would be unique in America if that were to occur . . . I've been in Palmer for 20 years and I want to see the best thing happen for the town. If they're going to leave, just leave. Don't try and control the destiny of development for the town," Dragone said.
Burns, in a prepared statement, wrote: "Mohegan can claim that they will 'explore' non-casino development on this site; the reality is they are simply exploring ways to ensure there is no real Western Massachusetts competition to their home casino."
"Given recent history (on Tuesday they claim that I lied about their negotiations with Suffolk, on Wednesday they try to break their exclusivity agreement with Northeast Realty) it is clear that their word simply cannot be trusted . . . Good neighbors don’t work to impoverish their neighborhood. Good neighbors aren’t vindictive. Good neighbors care about more than their own bottom line," Burns said.
Kevin Brown, Mohegan Tribal Council chairman, said the company remained committed to Palmer "right up to and beyond Nov. 5." He said there were never any considerations of other gaming options before the election, and said Mohegan invested "tens of millions of dollars and many thousands of hours" in the project.
Dragone said no other casino operators have approached him about the Palmer site.
MGM Resorts in Springfield is the only company left that could win the lone Western Massachusetts license, but it still needs to pass its background check, which the Gaming Commission said will be completed next month. City voters approved the MGM project in July.
The deadline for casino companies to submit their final applications to the gaming commission is Dec. 31, and gaming licenses are expected to be awarded in April.