Posted on: December 4, 2024, 07:13h.
Last updated on: December 4, 2024, 07:13h.
Salem, New Hampshire’s planning board recently approved the establishment of a charitable gaming property in a former Lord & Taylor store.
With a five-to-two vote, officials gave the green light for The Mall at Rockingham Park to host the Live! Casino, a $160 million project.
The three-story space is expected to open in 2025 and will feature 900 historic racing machines, 40 gaming tables, a movie theater, sports lounge, golf simulators, retail shops, restaurants, bars, and live entertainment areas.
Traffic, Public Safety Concerns
During the meeting, lawyer Amy Manzelli, representing neighboring property owners Jamie and Chris Cummings, raised concerns about the lack of information on the casino’s impact on the surrounding neighborhood.
This application is not approvable because it does not provide enough information about how it will impact the neighborhood around it,” Manzelli argued before the planning board, according to the Eagle-Tribune, a regional news outlet.
She highlighted concerns about public safety, traffic, lighting, and effects on pedestrians and cyclists. There were also discussions about a previous deed restriction prohibiting gambling at the location.
Despite the objections, many members of the public at the meeting expressed support for the casino.
Ten years ago, the town voted in support to bring this type of facility to town,” Salem Town Council Chair Joe Sweeney said. “This is an exciting time and something the town has wanted for a bit. This is a positive development I am supportive of.”
Construction is expected to begin early next year, with potential plans for adding a hotel to the complex. The former Lord & Taylor store has been vacant since 2020, and the mall is located near the Massachusetts-New Hampshire border.
The casino is projected to generate approximately $31 million in annual revenue for the state of New Hampshire and approved charities, as well as create over 700 permanent jobs once operational.
The development team behind the project includes Joe Faro, Sal Lupoli, and the Cordish Companies.
Another Casino To Open
Another charitable casino, named The Nash Casino, is set to open soon at Nashua, New Hampshire’s Pheasant Lane Mall.
This casino will offer over 1,000 historic horse race machines, along with various table games, housed in a two-story, 180,000-square-foot former Sears store that has been vacant since 2020.
ECL Entertainment and Clairvest are the developers behind The Nash Casino.