A Peter Pan official said they are in the final negotiation stage with Penn National.
SPRINGFIELD — The same day that MGM Resorts International unveiled its $800 million casino project for the city’s South End, Penn National Gaming Inc. revealed that it is in talks with Peter Pan Bus Lines Chairman Peter A. Picknelly to develop a resort casino in the North End.
Eric Schippers, senior vice president, public affairs and government relations, for Pennsylvania-based Penn National, said they are not in a position to release details, but are discussing a comprehensive economic development project that “will have positive ripple effects across Springfield.”
“In terms of MGM, we have seen their announcement and find it a bit curious their proposal includes land that’s not under their control. In any case, given the strength of our balance sheet and proven track record of developing regional gaming destinations in urban settings, we expect a proposal from us will be very competitive,” Schippers wrote in an e-mail.
Robert J. Schwarz, executive vice president of Peter Pan Bus Lines and Opal Real Estate Group, said they are in the final negotiation stage with Penn National.
Robert J. Schwarz, executive vice president of Peter Pan Bus Lines “We’ve said from day one that we had three goals: to select the best gaming partner, secure real estate and put together the best project for the revitalization of the city,” Schwarz said.
“We’re near completion of negotiating the partnership,” Schwarz said.
Schwarz said he would not discuss where exactly the real estate is located.
However, two companies associated with Picknelly recently presented an option to buy The Republican’s Main Street building and property, as well as the newspaper’s eight vacant acres on the Connecticut River, which is adjacent to property that Picknelly owns. The proposal also would include Picknelly’s bus station property on Main Street, next to the newspaper.
Penn National also had talked with Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik about opening a casino at the former Pavilion Mall site near the Massachusetts Turnpike.
Knapik said he was told by the property owner, Waterstone Realty, that it had an agreement with Penn to perform studies on the site, and that the company had 90 days to tell it if it planned to go forward with a project there. Knapik said he believes the end of the 90-day period is approaching.
“I had the impression these would be resort-style casinos, not something that would be piece-mealed into a neighborhood,” Knapik said.
“At this point we’re just spectators,” Knapik said.
Picknelly’s brother, Paul C. Picknelly, apparently is involved in the MGM proposal, but did not return a call for comment on Wednesday.