SPRINGFIELD — MGM Resorts International is doing everything it can to hit a mid-March groundbreaking in the South End of Springfield, and the city's historical commission threw them a bone on Thursday.

In a unanimous vote, the commission granted MGM Springfield a waiver from a city ordinance which states any permit application to demolish a building that is at least 100 years old is automatically rejected, sparking a review process. This move paves the way for the old Zanetti School at 59 Howard St., which was damaged in the June 2011 tornado, to be leveled.

That building along with the old state Armory at 29 Howard St., were purchased by MGM for $1.6 million each back in 2014. MGM put our a call for bids to demolish the school last month and interviewed contractors a couple weeks back.

MGM is expected to announce a specific date for demolition, which sources say will likely include a public event to demonstrate their official entrance into the South End, in the coming days.

Charles Irving, president of MGM's local retail development partner Davenport Properties, said he appreciates the commission granting the waiver, and that the old school is crucial to kicking off the whole $800 million project.

"The school is directly where our parking garage is supposed to go. During the construction of our project and the (I-91) viaduct, we are phasing construction," Irving told The Republican and CBS 3 Springfield. "During construction, that garage will be prioritized for approximately 3,000 of our construction workers, about 500 state workers and overflow will go toward courthouse workers."

MGM Springfield has purchased every piece of property it needs to build its $800 million resort casino (see gallery below) in downtown Springfield, and is currently in the process of assisting current tenants with relocation efforts.

MGM Springfield's property acquisitions in city's South End and Metro Center 41 Gallery: MGM Springfield's property acquisitions in city's South End and Metro Center

Part of MGM's property purchases includes several parking lots – many of which serve the busy Hampden County Courthouse on State Street.

Irving said that with construction of the parking garage complete, it will help to keep vehicles belonging to construction workers out of the already crowded downtown streets and Springfield Parking Authority garages, which are being filled by workers displaced by the lots in the casino footprint.

The Springfield Historical Commission is currently working with MGM Springfield's design firm Gensler and Davenport Properties to come to a consensus over four disputed historical buildings in the casino's footprint. Twelve other historic buildings were previously reconciled.

Both sides recently toured the four disputed buildings with the intentions of moving closer to a final design everybody can live with.

Irving said that plans are still to have the MGM Springfield casino hold its grand opening in September 2017.