This time it appears it is really going to happen. Development will take place at the former Norwich Hospital campus in Preston, dramatically expanding the town’s tax base and giving an important economic boost to the region.

Last May, Preston and Mohegan tribal officials announced plans by the tribe to buy and develop the 393-acre property for mixed-use development that would include entertainment, recreation, housing and retail components. The parties mutually set a six-month deadline to negotiate and announce details.

Though that date arrived and passed in November without a deal — the two sides announcing an extension to Feb. 19 — it proved to be only a small delay, unlike past proposals that came to nothing.

On Saturday, the Mohegan Tribal Gaming Authority announced the negotiations had moved past concept to details. Representatives of the tribal authority will present plans to the town’s Planning and Zoning Commission at a special meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday. According to the tribe, the plan carries the potential for $600 million in development. The tribe projects the development will create 750 construction jobs and hundreds of permanent full-time positions.

Mohegan tribal leaders continue to show astute judgment in diversifying their business model. Increasing casino competition, including new venues to open in Massachusetts, will almost certainly mean a decline in gaming activity at the Mohegan Sun Casino and a corresponding loss in jobs there. But with the development of the former hospital campus property, located across the Thames River in full view of the Mohegan Sun complex, the tribe will create new revenue sources and jobs.

In the process, the envisioned project will boost the entire region’s attractiveness as a tourist-destination.

“Highlights” announced by the tribe include outdoor and indoor entertainment attractions; a large indoor water park and adjacent hotel; a sports-themed complex with hotel; an RV park; a marina; retail outlets; and senior housing.

Credit First Selectman Robert Congdon for doggedly pursuing his vision for development of the property, long littered with deteriorated buildings once used to warehouse people with mental illness. Through numerous starts and stops, controversies and disappointments, the people of Preston kept returning Congdon, a Republican, to office, sometimes by narrow margins, providing him the opportunity to bring his hopes for the site to fruition.

In 2009 town voters approved Congdon’s recommendation that it accept the state’s offer to take possession of the property. The first selectman was convinced the town could do a better of job cleaning it up and marketing it than the state. In this editorial space we urged Preston voters not to take that step, noting it was an awfully big job for a small town with limited resources. We are happy that Congdon and the townspeople proved our apprehension was misplaced.

Congdon, serving his 11th consecutive two-year term, has announced he will not seek re-election in November.

Credit, too, goes to the Preston Redevelopment Agency and its chairman, Sean Nugent. This all-volunteer group showed great ingenuity in finding the resources necessary to get the property cleaned up and attractive for development.

Unlike his predecessors, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy and his administration have shown an interest in supporting Preston’s efforts. A $2 million state loan to Preston becomes a grant if 200 jobs are created. And the state has pledged up to $10 million to complete the environmental remediation of the property it once owned. Given the payoff, that investment will prove well worth it.

We also note the work of former state Sen. Andrew Maynard in advocating for state support of the redevelopment efforts. The 18th District that Maynard represented included Preston. The Democrat did not seek re-election in November.

Support for getting the site redeveloped has been bipartisan, with the current Republican who holds the 42nd House District seat that represents Preston, Rep. Mike France, following the work of his Democratic predecessors, Reps. Tim Bowles and Tom Reynolds, in working for state support.

The cynic could argue that this is not ideal development, too heavy with service jobs. Ideally, biotech or some other clean high-tech and high-paying industries would have landed there. The market, however, dictated a different outcome. Ideals aside, the town, the region and the state will be better off in seeing this impressive property overlooking the Thames River finally redeveloped.