SPRINGFIELD – MGM Springfield will unveil a revised site plan for its casino project on Tuesday, including a proposal to reduce the size of its hotel from a 25-story tower to a six-story hotel at a new location.

The revised plans will be submitted to the city and to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission for needed approval.

Michael Mathis, president and chief executive officer of MGM Springfield, described various changes to design as improvements.

The project changes will not reduce the $800 million cost of the project and could result in an increase in cost, Mathis said, in a letter to Mayor Domenic J. Sarno.

The 25-story glass-facade hotel was planned at 73 State St., but the hotel is being moved to the corner of Main and Howard streets, according to the revised plans. The new hotel site was initially planned for market-rate apartments, but the housing will be moved outside the casino footprint, according to MGM.

The glass-facade hotel design has been abandoned altogether. The hotel will continue to have 250 rooms, as was initially slated in plans, despite the change in design from 25 floors to six floors.

"I believe this is one of the most exciting moments in the history of MGM Springfield," Mathis said. "As we collaborate with the city on what is best from an economic development perspective, the finer details are taking shape and our programming is improving minute by minute."

The change in design occurs as MGM faces potential expanded competition from Connecticut casinos.

The tribes that operate Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods Resort Casino are planing a joint venture to build a third casino in Connecticut to compete with the Springfield casino project.Several towns along the I-91 corridor, not far from Springfield, are currently in the running.

MGM Resorts International officials plan to present the design changes to the Massachusetts Gaming Commission on Thursday.

Among other design changes being released on Tuesday are the MGM parking garage, which has been reduced in size by one floor, according to plans. In addition, an outdoor plaza appears to be larger in the revised plans.

Regarding the plan for market rate apartments, MGM states that conversations are under way with property owners of nearby residential sites, adding that it will complement the casino development. MGM had estimated having 54 market rate apartments on site, now planned off-site.

"We have never lost sight of how important it is to integrate our development and its unique design needs with this historic New England downtown, Mathis said in a prepared release. "We think the changes along Main Street and this new layout is more in line with a true downtown mixed-use development that will make MGM Springfield the premier urban resort in the industry."

MGM is building its casino project on a 14.5 acre, three-block area in the downtown-South End area. After being granted a request to delay its opening, due to the timing of the I-91 highway reconstruction project, the casino is scheduled to open in September of 2018, one year after the initially planned date.

The revised plans represent proposed amendments to the Host Community Agreement between MGM and the city, and must be submitted for approval by the City Council in conjunction with the site plan review process, City Solicitor Edward M. Pikula said.

There are no changes to the requirements under the Host Community Agreement for job creation and financial commitments, according to city officials.

Under the agreement, MGM is slated to create at least 3,000 casino-related jobs and 2,000 construction jobs, and provide millions of dollars in new revenue to the city and state.

Kevin Kennedy, the city's chief development officer, said the revisions "are a major step toward stimulating the broader economic development associated with the project."

"Once these plans are finalized we will likely see more construction activity downtown," Kennedy said. "I like the idea that the market rate housing projects are planned offsite. Not only does it spread the benefits to a wider area, but the housing can be constructed and opened soon than the casino."

The casino project is being developed between Main Street and East Columbus Avenue from east to west, and from State Street to Union Street from north to south.

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Editor's Note: MGM released a statement late Tuesday morning saying that the design changes being proposed for the casino project call for a six-story hotel, not a five-story hotel, as the company stated in an earlier release. The lobby would be located on the first floor, adjacent to retail, and guest rooms would be located on floors two through six.

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