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Thursday, August 21, 2008
BREAKING NEWS: Foxwoods Looking At New Casino Locations

Gov. Rendell and Mayor Nutter today announced that the developers of Foxwoods, a casino proposed for the Delaware riverfront in South Philly, are considering different locations for the project.  Rendell said the developers did not say where those new locations might be, other than that they're inside the city limits, not on the riverfront and not within 10 miles of casinos already open in Bensalem and Chester. 

Rendell cautioned that the new locations are only being considered. "This should not be considered definitive," Rendell said. "There is nothing that is sure or certain here."

Foxwoods and SugarHouse, another casino proposed for the Delaware riverfront, were awarded gaming licenses by the state in December 2006 but have run into a series of snags with the city government, state officials, neighborhood groups and anti-gaming protesters.  Three other investment groups applied to the state Gaming Control Board for the two casino licenses in the city but were rejected.  The decisions were based on the proposed locations, which prompted reporters to ask if the rejected casino applicants might now sue the state.  "Anybody can sue anybody for anything," said state Sen. Vince Fumo, who had called for the Foxwoods meeting.*

SugarHouse and Foxwoods have previously refused to consider new locations.  SugarHouse did not attend the meeting but is expected to gather with Rendell, Nutter and others after Labor Day.

* This quote was originally and incorrectly attributed to Rendell.

UPDATE:  Foxwoods just released this statement:

"Foxwoods Casino Philadelphia has delivered a world-class casino project with significant value to the City and the Commonwealth, and was awarded a license in an open competition by the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board at our South Columbus Boulevard site.  We have remained open to others’ responsible ideas, suggestions and concerns and have examined many alternatives to improve the value we will bring to the City and the State. 

We have shared with City and State officials the obstacles that resiting would entail.  Following those discussions we have agreed, in principle, to consider other alternative sites and ways that we can mutually overcome those obstacles.  We are committed to continuing those discussions, while preserving our rights to the South Columbus Boulevard site."

Posted by Chris Brennan @ 4:05 PM  Permalink | 37 comments
Comments   
Posted 04:26 PM, 08/21/2008
Breath EZ
Casinos should go down by the Stadiums. They are already building a restaurant/hotel complex where the spectrum is. Plus it would give the Navy personal something to do down there and not congest traffic in the city since it's accessably from i95.
Posted 04:28 PM, 08/21/2008
Breath EZ
Also as another idea why not a riverboat casino? I mean there are already a few charter boats such as the spirit that already provide drinks and music for partygoers cruising the river. Why not a casino boat. I would be coo especially at night and it will have the views if not better if they would have had it on deleware ave. The boats can leave down the river past bestbuy near that gentleman's club is.
Posted 04:29 PM, 08/21/2008
longshanks
Awesome, the anti-casino crowd saved that empty, trash-filled lot. I was worried that we were going to lose it. Now, the residents of the new locations will cry foul and create more years worth of headaches with their whining. Go celebrate Pennsport and Whitman, maybe you can throw some dirty diapers, tires, and broken bottles into the lot that should've been Foxwoods.
Posted 04:30 PM, 08/21/2008
gary massino
What a shame this area has lost Millions of dollars. because 500 people didn't want the casinos on Del ave. Now these same people will be happy to see the casino go anywhere else and think its the greatest location ever. I hope those 2 fields say trash and dirt ridden forever
Posted 04:38 PM, 08/21/2008
anon
NOT down by the stadiums! Market St. It would clean up the short, icky part between City Hall and Old City.
Posted 04:56 PM, 08/21/2008
gigglespaisano
Navy yard is still the best place...offers infrastructure from 95 and 76. Broad street line can be extended. It complies with the 10 mile rule. Create an entertainment area. it has the parking....it may reduce the traffic after the games but allowing people to stay there longer and thereby increase the amount of time when people leave. You can build hotels. It has a private airport and marina. You may be able to have ferries go directly there from NJ
Comment removed.
Posted 05:00 PM, 08/21/2008
sweettalk
They aren't moving for free. So sorry you will now have to pay to get your trash picked up and your kid will never have new school buildings. Apparently, the City has spent all of your tax dollars fighting against the development of vacant lots, fighting against new jobs, and fighting against new much-needed tax revenue. Way to go, Philly!! Whohoo!!!
Posted 05:02 PM, 08/21/2008
Breath EZ
Anon your crazy lol...first of all there is no parking on market street and it would make traffic unbearable. I agree that area needs to be re-done but casinos will only attract more panhandlers there because they KNOW people will be spending money there. Which means more muggings as people would HAVE to walk a block or so to their cars parked in garages at all times of the night. Not a good look. I would suggest more of entertainment complex for market street kind of like Time Squre used to have. Movie complex/arcades plus more family friendly things so that tourists who stay at the downtown hotels have something to do in the immediate area when they come visit with their children.
Posted 05:02 PM, 08/21/2008
Sparerib
I tell you what Gary and longshanks, you come on down and see how you would like if they built a haven for drugs and money laundering in your backyard. Not to mention the fact that you wouldn't be able to get anywhere on the streets with 5,000 more cars and buses clogging up already overburdened streets. Anyone who thinks that a casino would "improve" the neighborhood should take a look at any area in Atlantic City that is not wholly owned by a casino investment group.
Posted 05:05 PM, 08/21/2008
gary massino
Yea knock down the homeless shelter and school hookie hang out know as the gallery and put something nice there
Posted 05:05 PM, 08/21/2008
gary massino
Yea knock down the homeless shelter and school hookie hang out know as the gallery and put something nice there
Posted 05:08 PM, 08/21/2008
Jes44
maybe you can throw some dirty diapers, tires, and broken bottles into the lot that should've been Foxwoods. You should go celebrate Squareib in this great piece of land now that you got your wish.
Posted 05:10 PM, 08/21/2008
Sparerib
I tell you what Gary and longshanks, you come on down and see how you would like if they built a haven for drugs and money laundering in your backyard. Not to mention the fact that you wouldn't be able to get anywhere on the streets with 5,000 more cars and buses clogging up already overburdened streets. Anyone who thinks that a casino would "improve" the neighborhood should take a look at any area in Atlantic City that is not wholly owned by a casino investment group. How about a legitimate business taking over the land. Pharmaceuticals or technology companies. No, the state wants the easy way out, feed off of people's addiction and false hope.
Posted 05:14 PM, 08/21/2008
NotADoneDeal
Wait a second, I thought this was a "done deal"? Are we to believe that all the grass roots activism is actually forcing the politicians and their big-money donors to reconsider their intentions? YAAAAAY!!!! (Might additional activism do even more?)
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About Chris Brennan and Catherine Lucey
PhillyClout
Chris Brennan, a native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, joined the Daily News in 1999. He has written about SEPTA, the Philadelphia School District, the legalization of casino gambling, state government, the mayor, the governor, City Council and political campaigns.

Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002. Since then she has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. For the past two years, she covered the 2007 mayoral election. Now that the battle is over, she has moved down to the City Hall bureau where she will report on the Nutter administration.

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