Paper City Development, Suher's group pay fees for Holyoke casino proposals

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) - Two groups that wish to build a casino in Holyoke have paid a $25,000 fee to proceed with their proposals, the city’s planning director says.

Director of Planning and Economic Development Marcos Marrero told 22News that Paper City Development and a group owned by Eric Suher have paid the city’s required application fee.

The proposal advanced by Suher’s group, which would have a casino built at Mountain Park, received widespread attention on Monday after Mayor Alex Morse indicated that he thought it was a good option for the city. Morse had run for mayor in 2011 on an anti-casino platform.

Paper City Development had partnered with Hard Rock in an effort to build a casino at the Wyckoff Country Club. Hard Rock had set their sights elsewhere following Morse’s election as mayor, though Paper City’s interest in building a Holyoke casino continues.

Morse says that he remains opposed to casinos in principle, but is entertaining proposals for one in Holyoke due to his concern about the possibility of a casino in nearby Springfield.