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Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Foxwoods Heckled, Chased From Gaming Control Board Meeting

Foxwoods, a casino originally approved for the Delaware riverfront in South Philly, told the state Gaming Control Board this morning that it will seek approval to relocate to the former Strawbridge & Clothier department store at 8th and Market Street. The board, which had called a meeting to hear updates on plans for Foxwoods and SugarHouse, a casino approved for the Delaware riverfront in Fishtown, nearly lost control of the meeting as a crowd of about 50 angry protesters heckled and berated casino investors.

Foxwoods officials were forced to leave through a back door, crossing over the stage where the board members were sitting, after protesters refused to clear the isles of the State Museum, where the meeting was held. Many of the protesters were from Chinatown groups opposed to the Foxwoods move, which was first announced more than seven months ago for the Gallery at 11th and Market but now moving three blocks east. The protesters grew more strident as Foxwoods announced its plans, pressing forward and waving signs denouncing the casino investors for targeting their neighborhood.

"We have a lease in place. We have financing in place," said Brian Ford, CEO for the local investor group that owns 70 percent of the casino license. "This all came together in the last several weeks."

PhillyClout has asked Foxwoods for more detail on when the lease was signed, how much space the casino will take up and when the investors will seek board approval for the move.

SugarHouse officials, who spoke before Foxwoods, were also heckled as they recounted how a recent agreement with Mayor Nutter on development details had cleared many roadblocks to construction.

“We want to look forward and not back. We clearly are optimistic and see light at the end of the tunnel," said Neil Bluhm, the majority stakeholder in SugarHouse. “We’re burying the hatchet. We’re moving forward with the city.”

Posted by Chris Brennan @ 1:30 PM Permalink | 36 comments

Comments

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:48 PM, 04/08/2009

The best site for Foxwoods is the waterfront. Moving it just opens a new can of worms, as you can see from today.

— CleanupPhilly

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:23 PM, 04/08/2009

The South Philly location made the most sense from the start. Where was everyone (except for when Crazy Horse came to town) when all the strip clubs and night clubs opened on Delaware Avenue/Columbus Blvd? The sites are perfect because not only are they near I-95, but you can possibly draw people from Camden and Burlington County, New Jersey to come over the Ben Franklin and Walt Whitman Bridges, which are conveniently near the casino sites. The state knew what they are doing. I just wish the city would stop screwing around and leave things the way they were.

— phillyguy73

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:33 PM, 04/08/2009

Another example of politics getting in the way of progress again for this city... no wonder businesses run from the place, or just refuse to come here at all!

— dankil13

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:33 PM, 04/08/2009

"burying the hatchet"......regarding the Foxwoods group that originated as an Indian-land casino? here comes the next protest!

— chrisv

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:36 PM, 04/08/2009

Open it up next to Dave&Busters. I expect this post to be deleted because everytime I mention D&B in a post it is removed.

— Drew777

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:42 PM, 04/08/2009

The Foxwoods site was nixed because it brought the vice of gaming to people who were headed into the strip clubs. It would pull money out of their pockets and victimize them with gaming, when the girls need that cash for their plastic surgery.

— CleanupPhilly

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:44 PM, 04/08/2009

Let's be totally honest -- the Foxwoods South Philly site was nixed because it would interfere with the gambling that is already, there and who would give Seth Williams money to be the top law enforcer, the Philly DA, otherwise? See: http://www.philly.com/philly/news/homepage/41418612.html

— CleanupPhilly

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:46 PM, 04/08/2009

Where are Mayor Transparency's traffic studies and any other plans or details on the Gallery site for Foxwoods? It's been how many months since they approved the site change and received zoning approval, despite not having any plans, studies, or details in place. It's nice to know that the supposed data-centric Mayor makes decisions based on speculation and personal opinion. Meanwhile they didn't do anything for SugarHouse, even though they had all their studies done several years ago, until the state started to act. Btw I haven't seen any good Terry Gillen quotes lately, like "the Gallery isn't in Chinatown." The back of this site is two blocks from the friendship gate. I wonder if she'd be so sanguine if it were two blocks from her house in Fitler Square or Graduate Hospital or wherever she lives.

— anodyne

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:24 PM, 04/08/2009

You would think that Chinatown would rather be protesting how dirty it is in Chinatown. So easy to blame others for your vice...maybe I should protest against all the restaurants that serve MSG laden food, or subjecting me to horrible smells? I sometimes sense that the protestors don't even know what they're protesting against, just told when to scream and yell by a few ring leaders taht think of only themselves. all the fuss about how chinatown isn't just restaurants, (the argument against the convetnion center, the ball park, etc.) meanwhile I sure don't see any asian companies building anything in that area?? The lot at 7th and Race was to be mixed use....what happened there? really tired of the anti casino talk... Don't see any other major money coming into to town to bring jobs? last i looked, Slots were legal, as opposed to a lot of activity in Chinatown.

— bingo

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:05 PM, 04/08/2009

What are you babbling about? Metropolitan Hospital at 7th and Race was turned into condos. There aren't any other lots there unless in your mind Franklin Square is a "lot." Do you mean 9th and Race, where a mixed use development was built in the past several years? 9th and Cherry, recent mixed use? 9th and Arch, new residential? The two hotels that were converted to residential? New housing across Vine Street around Callowhill? Do you ever actually go there? It kind of seems like you don't since all you can do is cite things that don't make any sense or are sub-literate stereotypes.

— anodyne

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 4:50 PM, 04/08/2009

I do not mind the residents of chinatown protesting - but should they not also protest against all the massage parlors there - which is part of human trafficking and sex slaves - that is more unjust than any casino/slot parlor.. They protested the sports stadium from there - they need to shoulder some of the pain in the growth of the city

— gogglespaisano

Comment removed.

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 8:45 PM, 04/08/2009

When the casinos come and generate millions in taxes and economic opportunity, will the naysayers admit they were wrong? Just curious. FYI naysayers, you're wrong. You're making casinos a bogeyman...they're not.

— Philly Phorever

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 9:09 PM, 04/08/2009

When all is said is done, I am sure that there will be a happy ending somewhere in all of this.

— There He Is

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 9:20 PM, 04/08/2009

Center City is the best place! I don't hear them complaning about the Gisha Houses.

— phlent

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About The Philly Clout Team

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.

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David Gambacorta spent a small eternity writing about cops, drug dealers and serial killers. Now he’s writing about power and politics – which sometimes reminds him of the old crime beat. He joined the Daily News in 2005. And yes, he knows you’re not quite sure how to pronounce his last name. E-mail tips to gambacd@phillynews.com

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Catherine Lucey joined the Daily News in 2002 and has written about murderous drug gangs, political protesters and Harry Potter. After covering the 2007 mayoral election, she moved over to the City Hall bureau where she has been reporting on the Nutter administration.

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Jan Ransom, a native New Yorker, joined the Daily News in 2010 after graduating from Howard University. She has since written about the difficulty of filing police complaints, tax deadbeats and life after violent home invasions. She joined the Daily News City Hall Bureau in 2011 and has plunged headfirst into reporting on administration budget battles and City Council shenanigans.

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