SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield's design firms met with the Springfield Historical Commission on Wednesday in an attempt to come to a compromise on four disputed buildings in the footprint of the planned 14.5 acre casino.

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

But unlike past meetings which have taken place inside a room at City Hall, this gathering took the group to the actual locations.

Beginning inside the lobby of 73 State St., a 1910 structure originally built to house the offices of the United Electric Company, concerns relating to historic preservation and the casino design were aired.

While MGM already said it will save the facade of the building to visually serve as the grand entrance to its hotel tower, the commission asked the design firms to consider saving the entire marble-adorned lobby of the building. At a meeting in June, Steve Newbold, senior associate with the Boston-based design firm Gensler, said the plan was to "recreate it entirely" elsewhere on the property. On Wednesday, he explained that plans were focused on saving the lobby's stained glass dome and recreate the octagon-shaped lobby, placing it somewhere such as in one of the casino's restaurants or the spa. Members of the historical commission varied in their reactions to the plan, with some being satisfied, at least in part, and others wanting to see the lobby remain where it is.

Since the lobby sits where the elevators are planned to be built, approximately 31/2 feet above the anticipated grade of the hotel's ground floor, the company is resistant to retaining the entire structure. Still, no decisions have been finalized and Wednesday's meeting was to get closer to both sides signing a memorandum of understanding with the Massachusetts Historical Commission.

That building and a few nearby parking lots were sold to MGM by Century Investment Co. for a little over $6 million.

The next disputed property was the former Union House hotel, most recently the home to Glory Shoes. The four-story brick structure at the southwestern corner of Bliss and Main streets once lodged presidents including James Polk, and sold sold by Joo B. Lee and Hyo J. Lee to MGM for $4 million.

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

While MGM previously offered to save most of the facade along both Main and Bliss streets, the commission had wanted them to save the entire building. But as the tour progressed to the upper levels of the building, MGM's claims of serious structural damage and decay were confirmed, at least visually.

Floors were sloped and sagging and ceilings had collapsed, with signs of water damage.

Still, both sides discussed what the first-floor storefronts should look like since the current configuration has changed much from its original design. A point of informal emerged from Newbold's statement that they want to see a variety if designs along Main Street to ensure the context of the area is preserved.

The next disputed building was the old YWCA on Howard Street, which currently houses the Hampden County Sheriff's Office substance abuse treatment program. The minimum security facility at 26 Howard St. was owned by Lyman Taylor Realty Co. LLC, and leased by the sheriff's department through the Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management. The building was sold to MGM on Dec. 12 for $4,450,000.

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

MGM officials say the structure impedes too much on the footprint of the casino plan and would create a wall in an area where they are hoping an openness will contribute to the feeling of the outdoor entertainment plaza. MGM previously agreed to incorporate architectural elements deemed important to the commission into the structure it plans to build there, but on Wednesday the discussion progressed further.

Newbold said the potential to save the facade exists but some sort of alteration would be necessary. He said the building is too wide, to tall and at a higher grade than the planned points of egress for the entrance there to the gaming facility.

As a potential point of compromise which seemed to pique the interest of the commission, Newbold said perhaps the facade could be retained if the first-floor windows were lowered to the ground with some becoming doors. He said other changes such as removing the concrete patio would also be necessary.

For commissioner Robert McCarroll, the most important part of the building to preserve are the porticos on both sides of the building which help lend to its distinctive style.

But even if the building is entirely demolished, Newbold said he'd like the commission to explain specific architectural elements they'd like reflected in a new building on the same part of the site.

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.

The last disputed building discussed was the old state armory, which the city sold along with the former Zanetti School for a total purchase price of $3.2 million plus $166,295 in retroactive payments in lieu of taxes. While MGM plans to save the front portion of the building with its distinctive turrets and stone face, it wants to demolish the rear portion of the building to make way for a planned ice skating rink and retail offerings.

Commissioners were split over how they felt about retaining only a portion of the building but a potential compromise was discussed as retaining the exterior side walls of the rear of the structure but eliminating the back wall entirely.

No decisions were finalized and both MGM's design firms, Gensler and Davenport Properties, plan to continue to work toward a compromise with the commission before moving into the construction phase.

MGM is currently working to obtain the permits necessary to start demolition of the former Zanetti School and the company hopes the groundbreaking there will kick off a 30-month construction process concluding with a 2017 grand opening.