A Tale of Two Casinos: Suffolk Downs Owners Unveil Scale Model of Proposed Site

Suffolk Downs COO Chip Tuttle describes the new 3D model of the $1 billion Caesars Resort at Suffolk Downs. The model will be on display in the Topsider Room at Suffolk Downs and East Boston resident can view the model on Tuesday, April 9 from 6-8 p.m. and again on Saturday, April 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Suffolk Downs COO Chip Tuttle describes the new 3D model of the $1 billion Caesars Resort at Suffolk Downs. The model will be on display in the Topsider Room at Suffolk Downs and East Boston resident can view the model on Tuesday, April 9 from 6-8 p.m. and again on Saturday, April 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Owners of Suffolk Downs unveiled its 3D model of the $1 billion Caesars Resort at Suffolk Downs last week to the media. On Monday, the East Boston Times sat down with Suffolk Downs’ COO Chip Tuttle to get a sneak peak at the model and updated renderings before it begins a tour through the community and City of Revere.

“The plan is to start everything at once; the Route 1A improvements, a complete renovation of the clubhouse and grandstands and the new construction of hotel, casino and parking structure as well as a third party hotel that we are currently in conversation with hoteliers with that right now,” said Tuttle. “In June 2012 we introduced the concepts of Caesars Resort at Suffolk Downs but since then there have been significant updates to those concepts especially in regards to landscape design.”

Tuttle said the idea to create a 3D model of the proposed resort was to bring the development to life from two-dimensional renderings to a model that people from Eastie and Revere can relate to.

“I think this gives people a better perspective of where the building sits and how we can transform this property from asphalt into something that is truly stunning and lot nicer than the landscape that currently exists,” said Tuttle.

For example, Tuttle pointed to the hotel and garage in relation to model views on top of Orient Heights hill.

“Now people can see clearly that when they view the development from East Boston the garage is pretty much hidden and you will have this view of a hotel and second hotel behind it,” said Tuttle. “When we talk of 160 acres of developable land it’s a bit daunting to explain where things are in relation to the neighborhoods that border the property. Part of this 3D model gives people the opportunity to ask questions. And by looking at the design this way will help people frame questions in relation to what they are looking at.”

With a birds eye view of the entire proposed resort, Tuttle said now people can see the vision Suffolk Downs is trying to create.

“Now one can see that from four different entrances you get this great sense of arrival at the resort,” said Tuttle. “From the MBTA station you will walk up to an active courtyard with a café and the second hotel in the background, from Route 1A you will obviously enter the resort looking at the main hotel, circular driveway and fountain. For those wishing to self-park there is the garage and entrances either through the glass catwalk into the casino or out through another active courtyard that has retail space and a small plaza.”

The model was designed by architect of record Elkus Manfredi of Boston and created by GPI Models of Somerville

The model will be displayed in the Topsider Room located on the third floor of the Clubhouse at Suffolk Downs.  Updated renderings of the development will also be on display.

Eastie residents can view the model on Tuesday, April 9 from 6-8 p.m. and again on Saturday, April 13 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Residents are welcome to stop by at any time during each two-hour period.

Tuttle said the specific community day designations are a suggestion and residents of the communities of Eastie and Revere should feel free to come to any of the open houses.

Residents planning to attend are encouraged to RSVP online at www.friendsofsuffolkdowns.com/events or by calling 617-646-1363.

Following the open houses, the 3D will be taken on the road through Eastie and Revere so residents can view the model and updated renderings at various accessible locations within the neighborhoods.

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