Four months ago work on the brand new Wynn Boston Harbor Resort was terminated after a key waterfront permit the property which had been issued earlier was appealed by Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone.

Months after the operator faced yet another hurdle, which is considered to be the last one stopping it from completing the $2.1 billion project, an official from the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has recommended that the establishment should receive the environmental permit and proceed with construction.

The DEP hearing official, Jane Rothchild, presented a 50-page decision on Friday, stating that the operator should be granted the long-awaited waterfront permit only if certain requirements regarding better use of the property’s harbour area and the provision of wider open space around the resort are met.

While presenting the decision, Rothchild gave several proposals on how these conditions can be followed by the operator. For example, she mentioned addition of a fishing pier as well as a kayak and canoe launch alongside a ferry service. Moreover, she recommended that the initially planned 4.5-acre open space around the casino should be increased to 6.5 acres. Another key note by the official was the recommendation for the permit’s term to be reduced from 85 to 50 years. In her decision, Rothchild didn’t fail to recognise and acknowledge Wynn Resorts’ efforts to clean up a polluted area and she asked the DEP do to the same as well.

The future of the Wynn Everett Casino is now in the hands of Martin Suuberg, DEP Commissioner. Suuberg now has several weeks to decide whether Wynn Resorts should receive the environmental permit. Nonetheless, experts familiar with the matter believe that the recommendation from Rothchild raises hope for the project.

Meanwhile, the resort’s strongest opponent, Mayor Curtatone, revealed that he was considering the option to appeal a possible DEP permit to the Supreme Court.