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Riverside Park Casino
Description
The proposed Riverside Park Casino project included development of a riverboat gaming complex. The complex was to be an addition to the already popular Riverside Amusement Park., which occupied 165 acres along the west bank of the Connecticut River in Agawam, MA directly south of Springfield, MA. The casino complex would be located in an area separate from the amusement attractions.
The project was promoted as having a positive economic impact on the community, creating up to 1,200 new jobs and producing significant revenue for the town through property taxes and permit fees. In partnership with The Lady Luck Gaming Corporation, the Riverside Amusement park considered three firms as designers for their proposed project before it was awarded to Moshe Safdie. The design was to be contemporary, rather than keeping with traditional New England architecture, with the two triangular structures mimicking sails on a ship. Safdie proposed a thirty story structure, rather than keeping the design under the three-stories that zoning for the area had been then limited to. Consideration was given to parking and the several exits needed for an estimated 2000 cars.
Although casino gaming was still outlawed in the state during the development of the project, then-Governer Weld was in discussion with the Wampanoag tribe regarding future casino projects in the eastern part of the state. He proposed offering the tribe an exclusive casino license, a move that lead to political fury. The Riverside project’s political advisor assured the decision would not stick. Ultimately, in November 1994, it was local Springfield and Agawam voters who rejected a referendum in support of casino gambling and work on the project ceased.
Agawam, Massachusetts, United States of America
The project was promoted as having a positive economic impact on the community, creating up to 1,200 new jobs and producing significant revenue for the town through property taxes and permit fees. In partnership with The Lady Luck Gaming Corporation, the Riverside Amusement park considered three firms as designers for their proposed project before it was awarded to Moshe Safdie. The design was to be contemporary, rather than keeping with traditional New England architecture, with the two triangular structures mimicking sails on a ship. Safdie proposed a thirty story structure, rather than keeping the design under the three-stories that zoning for the area had been then limited to. Consideration was given to parking and the several exits needed for an estimated 2000 cars.
Although casino gaming was still outlawed in the state during the development of the project, then-Governer Weld was in discussion with the Wampanoag tribe regarding future casino projects in the eastern part of the state. He proposed offering the tribe an exclusive casino license, a move that lead to political fury. The Riverside project’s political advisor assured the decision would not stick. Ultimately, in November 1994, it was local Springfield and Agawam voters who rejected a referendum in support of casino gambling and work on the project ceased.
Agawam, Massachusetts, United States of America
Timeline
1994
Location
Status
Completion Date
Theme
Project Type
Subject
Creator
Safdie Architects
Rights:
© Safdie Architects. Explicit permission to use images is required. Contact the communications department at Safdie Architects (media@safdiearchitects.com) for more information.