SPRINGFIELD - The City Council met with MGM Springfield officials for more than two hours on Tuesday, receiving an update on MGM's casino project and expressing concerns from some members about proposed design changes including the elimination of a 25-story hotel tower.

The changes proposed for the casino project include replacing the 25-story tower planned at 73 State St. with a six-story hotel on Main Street at the corner of Howard Street. The hotel would still have 250 rooms.

MGM Springfield is proposing that its prior plans for market rate housing at the corner of Main and Howard streets would instead be moved to other sites in the downtown area. Any significant changes need approval from the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and the City Council.

Here are five takeaways from the City Council meeting:

1. Councilors' views on casino redesign vary.

City councilors have expressed different views about the elimination of the hotel tower. While Council President Michael Fenton said been critical of the design change, suggesting it removes the "wow factor" and seems "cost driven," aimed to reduce costs, Councilor Timothy Rooke said he agrees with MGM officials that the change benefits the project and makes it "much better."

2. Councilors want more information.

Several councilor told MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis that they expect much more information, and more timely information about the casino project. Mathis said he agrees that communication can be better and that MGM will work on that.

3. Councilors hesitate on ordering removal of Jersey barriers on Main, State streets.The council was not ready to order the Department of Public Works to remove Jersey barriers on Main and State streets, surrounding the casino project, as proposed by Fenton. Councilors heard concerns from the Public Works director that removing the barriers would affect public safety, and that utility work was occurring and will continue in coming months. The issue was referred to committee.

4. MGM Springfield President Michael Mathis hints at flexibility on redesign.

Mathis, in defending the design changes, said he knows the council expects, and MGM Springfield will be ready to provide much more information about the changes. He said MGM is fully committed to the casino project, and said regarding the design changes that "We are not asking for a take it or leave it."

5. Despite the proposed redesign, casino work is ongoing.

MGM officials stressed, in their presentation to the council that work is ongoing on the casino site including fencing, demolition of some structures, environmental work, utility work and a new site developed for the relocated Springfield Rescue Mission. MGM reported there has already been about 675 construction workers, and approximately 104,000 hours of worked to date.

MGM Springfield Presentation Sept. 29, 2015