SPRINGFIELD — The future of four historic buildings in the MGM Springfield footprint generated a spirited discussion Thursday evening at a meeting of the Springfield Historical Commission.

The commission heard what was likely the casino company's next-to-final offers, if not the bottom line altogether in some cases.

The commission was unanimously opposed to MGM's pitch to recreate a facade on Howard Street to emulate the old YWCA, which currently houses the Western Mass. Correctional Alcohol Center.

The seven-member commission had varying opinions, however, regarding MGM declining to save the rear portion of the old State Armory, the plan to recreate a portion of an ornate lobby currently inside the property at 73 State St. and MGM's plan to save the entire Main Street facade of the old Union House hotel but just a small part of the Bliss Street facade.

Chuck Irving, President of MGM's local retail partner Davenport Properties, told the board that the company is doing its best to address their concerns while maintaining the intended feel of the $800 million gaming facility and adhering to the timeline that projects a 2017 grand opening for the project, which is expected to create at least 3,000 new local jobs.

Built in 1907 to originally house the YWCA, this building now houses the Western Massachusetts Correctional Alcohol Center.

The biggest point of contention revolved around the old YWCA on Howard Street, which MGM wants to demolish to make way for a cul-de-sac at the end of Howard Street near Red Rose Pizzeria, which will remain. MGM's offer to recreate the brick building's two ornamental porticos on a smaller scale while about halving the size of the entire facade about 20 to 30 feet closer to Bliss Street was unanimously rejected by the commission.

"I'm not seeing any redesigns. I'm seeing the same stuff. And I'm hearing a cul-de-sac is more important than that building," said Ralph Slate, chairman of the commission. "I'm not even seeing an attempt to mitigate the loss of this building. It's got a little bit of treatment, but that's it."

Irving said he heard their concerns, but he is "100 percent against" altering that portion of the plan because it could negatively affect the retail offerings, which he said were designed with the intention to uplift the struggling downtown area. Additionally, it seems the cul-de-sac that terminates on Howard Street ahead of Red Rose's parking lot was hashed out with the pizzeria long ago, and MGM is reluctant to change it.

Brian Packer, the newly appointed vice president of development and construction for the MGM Springfield project, asked the commission if there was any flexibility beyond retaining the entire facade, and Slate said there wasn't.

"It seems like you just want to take the building down and now you're presenting reasons for it," Slate said. "I haven't seen much change on this in over two years now."

Historical commission member Robert McCarroll said, "We've already given up on the building. Now we're down to just one wall – 90 feet."

Irving said he would return to Las Vegas with the group's thoughts on the building and see what could be done, but he warned that the pitch they'll return with next will likely be the last one before looking for final approval from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission out of concern for the MGM timeline.

The Springfield Host Community Agreement stipulates that MGM is financially penalized for taking longer than a 33-month build time to open the casino, and the fact is certainly not lost with the project's developers.

The discussion over the other properties were somewhat less contentious.

Erected in 1910, this building was constructed for the offices of the United Electric Company.

Regarding the ornate, marble-adorned lobby inside the atrium of 73 State St., Irving pitched to save just the stained glass dome, either in the hotel lobby, or another high-traffic area.

"We struggled with this because we'd be creating a space for this (the ornate lobby) but very few people might see it," Irving said.

McCarroll suggested saving more of the lobby, including the lower marble-lined walls, and placing it elsewhere on site.

Board member Myron Hatchett said the plan MGM presented was "disappointing," because so much of the lobby was lost in the pitch.

A detailed discussion led the group to seemingly agree that if MGM worked to save more of the lower portion of the lobby, even if it emulated the octagonal shape with something to represent the columns, most of the group could live with it.

Built in 1846, the Union House is the third oldest commercial buildings left in Downtown Springfield.

Regarding the old Union House Hotel building, which the commission recently abandoned hopes of saving, the point of dispute remaining concerns just how much of the Bliss Street facade is saved. MGM has agreed to save the entire Main Street facade of what was most recently the Glory Shoes building, but only a small portion of the Bliss Street facade. While different members of the all-volunteer commission had different ideas and concerns here, a majority seemed to be alright with the plan.

The last point of contention related to the rear portion of the old State Armory building on Howard Street, which MGM plans to demolish to make way for an outdoor ice skating rink. A majority of the commission was willing to withdraw a call for MGM to save the addition to the original castle-like front of the building, which will be kept.

Built in 1885, this imposing castle-like structure was built to house the state militia. MGM plans to demolish the back half of the building and reuse the front half.

Slate said that while he believes the rear portion of the building could be used for indoor retail space, citing Thorne's Marketplace in Northampton, he added, "This isn't worth fighting over, in my opinion."

Irving said he appreciated the group's feedback and that he would once again take their thoughts and concerns back to the MGM brass in Nevada. He also said the company is near the end of its overtures to modify the casino plans any further as it has still yet to formally submit a site plan to the city Planning Department for approval, ahead of consideration by the City Council. The council will review the casino overlay district, which simplifies the permitting for construction.

Both MGM and the Springfield Historical Commission are also currently in talks with the state historic commission. Of all the projects the state commission has been involved in, not one development entity has failed to reach a compromising agreement in regards to preservation of historic assets.

The Massachusetts Gaming Commission has final say over any disputes between a casino developer and the city historical commission, which is tasked with working to preserve historic properties and mitigate any potential losses. But the commission is hoping that most everything will get hashed out on the local level before they have to step in.

MGM announced this week that it plans on breaking ground with demolition of the old Zanetti school on Howard Street on March 24 with the aim of demolishing 18 other properties by the end of 2015.