A development agreement finalized during a change in city leadership outlines plans for new non-gaming hotels, transportation funding, and traffic improvements tied to the area surrounding the Encore Boston Harbor casino in Everett, Massachusetts.
The agreement, reached between the City of Everett and Wynn Resorts, permits the casino owner to develop up to two hotels on land it owns along Lower Broadway. The memorandum specifies that no gambling operations will be included at the proposed hotels.
It also requires Wynn to contribute up to $25 million toward a potential new Commuter Rail stop, along with other transportation improvements intended to ease congestion in the area.
Outgoing Mayor Carlo DeMaria announced Monday that the agreement was completed at the end of his term, describing the timing as occurring “in the final hours” of his administration. In a statement, DeMaria said negotiations over future development near the casino site had taken place over several years.
“This agreement reflects years of work to ensure that any future development delivers real benefits for Everett residents,” he said. “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.”
The agreement became public as Robert Van Campen was sworn in as mayor after defeating DeMaria in November, ending the former mayor’s 18-year tenure. Van Campen said the deal was finalized shortly before he took office.
Van Campen said several approvals are still required before construction could proceed and confirmed that his administration is reviewing the agreement. He also raised concerns about the proposed location of the Commuter Rail stop, which he said is currently planned behind Encore Boston Harbor.
According to the mayor, that placement may not fully activate development opportunities on the opposite side of Lower Broadway. “My goal is to maximize benefits for the people of Everett, and my hope is that my predecessor, through due diligence, did make that happen with these deals, but we are still looking at them,” he said.
If remaining approvals move forward without delays, Van Campen said the most optimistic scenario would see the hotels completed by 2028. He also emphasized the role of access and visibility for the city’s future growth.
The Wynn agreement is one of several large-scale projects advancing in the area. Last week, the Kraft Group reached an agreement with Everett and Boston to move forward with plans to build a soccer stadium for the New England Revolution along the Mystic River, near the casino site.
Original article: https://www.yogonet.com/international/news/2026/01/08/117026-wynn-reaches-deal-with-the-city-of-everet-for-encore-boston-harbor-hotel-expansion
