The owner of Encore Boston Harbor has secured an agreement with the City of Everett that opens the door for a major expansion of development along Lower Broadway, including new hotels and funding toward a possible MBTA Commuter Rail stop. The deal was finalized during the final hours of outgoing Mayor Carlo DeMaria’s administration and immediately became one of the first major issues facing his successor, Mayor Robert Van Campen.
Under the memorandum of agreement, Wynn Resorts may move forward with plans to support the construction of up to two hotels on land it already owns near the casino. The hotels would be developed by third parties and would not include any gambling. City officials said the proposal also ties future development to transportation and infrastructure investments intended to address congestion and access challenges in an area already targeted for large-scale projects.
DeMaria announced the agreement shortly before leaving office, describing it as the result of years of negotiations. “This agreement reflects years of work to ensure that any future development delivers real benefits for Everett residents,” DeMaria said in a statement according to CBS News. “This agreement not only secures new sources of tax revenue, supports job creation and advances a long-anticipated commuter rail stop, but it also helps ensure that additional contaminated land is cleaned up and returned to productive use for our community.”
Hotels, revenue, and cleanup plans
City officials said the proposed hotel developments could add as many as 800 rooms near Encore Boston Harbor, subject to approval by the Everett Planning Board. Construction could begin as early as this spring, with completion projected for 2028 under the most optimistic timeline. Everett would receive revenue through property taxes, hotel occupancy taxes, and meals taxes generated by the new facilities.
Wynn Resorts representatives said the projects could produce significant annual returns for the city. “We are pleased to reach an agreement with the City of Everett that may allow for two, future third-party hotel developments on Broadway near Encore Boston Harbor,” a Wynn spokesperson wrote in a statement. “If opened, those developments could generate upwards of $10 million annually in real and personal property taxes and hotel/meal taxes.”
The agreement also requires Wynn to fund construction mitigation measures and infrastructure upgrades, including a pedestrian bridge over Broadway. According to the company, those commitments would total approximately $30 million if the hotels move forward.
Commuter rail funding and location concerns
A central feature of the agreement involves transportation. Wynn has committed up to $25 million toward studies and construction related to a potential MBTA Commuter Rail stop near Encore Boston Harbor, pending approval by the transit agency and agreement on the project’s scope. The Newburyport/Rockport Line currently runs behind the casino between North Station and Chelsea, making the area a candidate for a future stop.
Everett officials have pursued a station in this corridor for years. A 2013 host community agreement already stated that “Wynn will explore with the City and the MBTA provision of a stop on the MBTA Commuter Rail system to serve both the City and the Project.” The document further notes, “Subject to an agreed scope and cost, Wynn agrees to fund studies required by the MBTA and installation of a flag stop in an agreed location if approved by the MBTA.”
Van Campen, sworn in Monday after unseating DeMaria in November, said the agreement will proceed but raised questions about the station’s proposed placement behind the casino. “The concern I have is that doesn’t fully activate the other side of Broadway, the other side of Route 99,” he said. “I would much prefer to see a commuter rail stop on the other side, which would give the city, investors, the opportunity to really activate opportunities on that side of the roadway that I don’t think would exist without that commuter rail stop being situated there.”
New mayor balances support with scrutiny
Van Campen said the deal landed on his desk only minutes before he took office. “My idea is the deal was struck yesterday afternoon, really minutes before I took the oath of office,” he said. “I’m focused today on getting my feet on the ground.”
At his first press conference, he emphasized both the benefits and unresolved issues tied to the agreement. “While I did not negotiate this agreement, it is important to be clear: this project will move forward under my administration. My focus now is on making sure it delivers real, lasting value for the people of Everett. And there are benefits,” Van Campen said.
He also reiterated concerns shared during the campaign. “I am concerned about traffic and congestion in an area that is already heavily traveled, and I have real questions about the location and feasibility of the proposed commuter rail stop. Those are issues that matter to residents who live here every day, and they deserve careful attention,” he said.
The Wynn agreement arrives as Everett advances other major developments, including a planned New England Revolution soccer stadium along the Mystic River. City leaders said transportation planning will play a key role as multiple projects move forward in close proximity to one another.
