The $2.4 billion Wynn Boston Harbor project is reportedly moving forward despite the fact that casino mogul Stephen A. Wynn resigned on Feb. 6 in the aftermath of a Wall Street Journal story reporting sexual harassment and assault accusations against him.
Located on the Mystic River in Everett, Mass., the 3-million-sq-ft resort is the largest private single-phase construction project in the Commonwealth’s history.
The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) has opened an investigation into the accusations to determine if it will strip Wynn Resorts of its casino license. According to media reports and casino experts, the project is not viable without the casino license.
“The suitability and integrity of our gaming licensees is of the utmost importance,” the MGC said in a statement, “and ensuring that suitability is an active and ongoing process.”
The project expected to open in June includes a five-star resort with 671 hotel rooms, a high-end spa, retail, dining, a ballroom and meeting space on the 33-acre site. The project also includes a privately funded $30 million effort to cleanup the heavily contaminated site. A six-acre park with a living shoreline, pedestrian and bicycle paths, an events lawn, picnic and public viewing areas will also be build on site.
Wynn Resorts appointed current president, Matt Maddox, as its CEO and Boone Wayson as non-executive chairman of the board of directors. “It is with a collective heavy heart, that the board of directors of Wynn Resorts today accepted the resignation of our founder, CEO and friend Steve Wynn,” Wayson said in a statement. “Steve Wynn is an industry giant. He is a philanthropist and a beloved leader and visionary. He played the pivotal role in transforming Las Vegas into the entertainment destination it is today. He also assembled a world-class team of executives that will continue to meet the high standards of excellence that Steve Wynn created and the Wynn brand has come to represent.”
In a statement, Wynn said, “The Wynn Resorts team and I have built houses of brick. Which is to say, the institution we created — a collection of the finest designers and architects ever assembled, as well as an operating philosophy now ingrained in the minds and hearts of our entire team — will remain standing for the long term. I am extremely proud of everything we have built at this company. Most of all, I am proud of our employees.”
