Rendering of proposed casino at The Rockingham Mall in Salem, NH

As we wait to learn the fate of his proposed Hamilton Canal Innovation District project here in the Mill City, Sal Lupoli continues working toward other major developments throughout the surrounding areas.

The latest; a new casino slated to open at The Rockingham Mall in Salem, NH.

This past Tuesday, while the Lowell City Council met in executive session to discuss the HCID development, WMUR-TV (Channel 9) was reporting on the Salem Planning Board reviewing the application for a casino in the former Lord and Taylor storefront, which has been vacant since 2020.

If approved, the Lupoli and Joe Faro project would create a multi-story casino with more than 900 historic horse race games and 40 tables, along with space for restaurants, bars and live entertainment.

Lupoli also owns the Hampton Beach Casino, where he is undertaking a $600-million upgrade.

Meanwhile, here in Lowell, the developer appears to be at a standstill with the city over his plans to alter a promised 13-story, steel and glass office building and instead build a 5-story stick structure with first floor retail and market rate housing above.

A number of councilors have expressed public frustration over Lupoli’s lack of movement on the original project and the scaled down plans. Others in the city feel the developer isn’t helping himself by telling Lowell, in essence, there really isn’t a market for more retail or commercial here in the downtown, while simultaneously proposing major projects elsewhere.

Given the progress at UMass Lowell’s LINC project and rumblings there is interest in expanding to other Mill City locations, there’s a growing belief City Hall should hold out for some kind of tower in the HCID, or find a way to part with Lupoli and seek a new developer for those parcels.

City Councilors have gone into executive session during consecutive meetings to discuss the matter and have been keeping a very tight lip on where the situation currently stands.