The process lasted 18 months and cost $68 million to complete, requiring removal of 840,000 tons of contaminated soil from the site and 41,000 tons of contaminated sediment from more than seven acres of the Mystic River. Yet the scope of the cleanup was broader than expected and more than doubled the remediation costs. However, many studies of the site were already completed, says Gordon “so we had a pretty good idea of what we were getting into.” “Nobody wanted to touch it because the environmental liabilities were expensive to touch,” Elizabeth Henry president of the Environmental League of Massachusetts told a New York Times reporter. The magnitude of land remediation, even before the first concrete was poured, made for unusual demands. The group provided invaluable assistance in the restoration and continues to advise on environmental matters and monitoring.

“Whatever the cost would be, we were going to cover the complete cost of remediation and bring it back to the condition it was over 150 years ago.”Įarly on, Wynn partnered with the Mystic River Watershed Association (MyRWA), an organization whose mission is to protect and restore the Mystic River, its tributaries, and watershed lands. Erik Hansen, Wynn’s chief sustainability officer, says Wynn was committed ultimately to making it a pristine site. There’s a lot of international tourism, and it’s a tourist hub for people who visit New England.”Īfter five years of planning, review, and competition-and $2.6 billion-Encore Boston Harbor has risen as a testament to smart development, environmental rescue, and community renewal.īuilding on a polluted site did present challenging obstacles that required cooperation among government, environmental stewards, organizations, and local communities. According to president of development and Winchester resident Chris Gordon, “The Boston market is spectacular, with a vibrant economy, and is a great tourist location.

Once the Massachusetts Gaming Commission approved legislation that legalized gaming, which allowed for an integrated resort, Wynn moved swiftly to gain the coveted license. Once the plant closed and was dismantled after more than a century of producing chemicals and herbicides, the land remained fallow and toxic, an environmental nightmare.īut in 2014 Wynn Design and Development began envisioning a radical makeover of the property to build a world-class resort and casino. More recently, a Monsanto chemical plant sprawled across the acreage to the south, even earning a street name, Chemical Lane. There was a time when many in Everett didn’t know that this city of 45,000 had a shoreline, even though 10 shipyards lined the river once mills sprang up to process grain and spices, paints, cloth, and other products.

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