Springfield mayor urges MGM to remove scaffolding at 101 State Street and restore mitigation funds to host communities

Mayor Domenic Sarno opened the Massachusetts Gaming Commission's in-person meeting in Springfield, thanking the Commission for holding the session in the city and praising state and private partners for recent public-realm improvements. But he used his remarks to press MGM Springfield on a site he said has been stalled for years. "I want that scaffolding down," Sarno said, referring to the corner property at 101 State Street, which he said has been fenced and blocked with Jersey barriers "going on 7 years." Sarno said the parcel was part of the host-community agreement tied to the casino and urged MGM to follow through on the development obligations the agreement describes.

Why it matters: Sarno framed the issue as a visual and economic impediment for downtown redevelopment, saying the surrounding blocks have improved through coordinated public-private work including the MassMutual Center and Court Square but that one darkened corner undermines the overall plan. Sarno also raised a related fiscal concern: he said recent legislative changes have shifted mitigation-fund dollars away from direct host communities and urged lawmakers to "relook" that decision because those funds support police, fire and local economic-development projects.

What was said and by whom: Sarno emphasized that Springfield lacks the deep pockets of a casino operator and that his administration has used city funds to advance adjacent redevelopment, including acquisitions meant to spur new construction. "MGM, who has deep pockets, has neglected that property," Sarno said. Chair Maynard acknowledged Sarno's remarks and noted Commission staff and licensees in the room had heard the concerns directly.

Response and context from the record: The transcript records no on-the-spot response from MGM leadership to Sarno's specific demand about removing scaffolding. MGM representatives were present later in the meeting and reported on procurement, hiring and community grants, but they did not provide a rebuttal or timetable for the 101 State Street property during this session. The mayor also noted the host-community agreement includes procurement and development commitments; that agreement is referenced in PVPC's analysis presented at the meeting (see separate article on PVPC findings).

Next steps: The mayor asked legislative leaders and the Commission to revisit mitigation-fund changes and said the city will continue pursuing redevelopment on other corners. No formal Commission action on the 101 State Street property or on mitigation-fund allocations was taken at the meeting.