Over the years, the fate of the vacant 14-acre Wyman-Gordon real estate has been a paradox to city officials, considering its strategic location. According to an article on the Telegram, the said property is one prime development spot because of its closeness to the downtown, the burgeoning Canal District and the major transportation routes. There had been plans two years ago that the said property was going "to be brought back to life when it was eyed by a developer for a $200 million slots parlor development."
However, those plans were brief after Mass Gaming & Entertainment had announced that the negotiations on a community host had been terminated as cited in a report on Telegram. The reason behind the termination was that "the two sides were far apart in reaching a deal and that one likely would not be reached." Also, community opposition to the slots parlor had something to do with said termination.
And as it turned out, the one-and-only slots parlor license of the state went to Plainville, which is situated 35 miles southwest of Boston. With its 1,250 slots machines as well as electronic table games and live harness racing track, the $250 million Plainridge Park Casino which opened in June has brought in huge crowds since.
In the article on Harriscountytx.gov, the Wyman-Gordon real estate is still empty and the city's Office of Economic Development will be holding a public meeting on Wednesday purposely for a discussion about the site. The chairman of the fifteen-member Worcester Redevelopment Citizens Advisory Committee, John P. Brissette, said in a statement that "the city wants to give people an opportunity to offer their ideas on what they would like to see happen there."
Come Wednesday at the Crompton Collective, 138 Green St., the said public consultation will be held at 5:30 in the afternoon.
In 2012, a Harvard University design study group came up with a series of conceptual drawings for the potential development of the property.
