Brian Ford, CEO of the local investor group pushing to build the Foxwoods casino in Philadelphia, said they would follow an order from the state Gaming Control Board today to build something "substantially similar" to the project approved by the board in December 2006. Foxwoods, which toyed with the idea of moving to Center City, was also ordered to stay put on its original location at Christopher Columbus Boulevard at Reed Street in South Philly.
The board ordered Foxwoods to hit a series of benchmarks, including advance warning of any changes in the casino license ownership or bankruptcy by any of the owners. That seemed to be motivated by the news this week from the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation, partnered with the local investors in the casino project, was trying to restructure more than $1 billion in debt. Ford said that should not impact the local project.
"Anytime anyone has difficulty in the family, it creates a distraction," Ford said. "We've been assured by our partners at Foxwoods that this won't be the case here."
Ford also said it was difficult to imagine the investors walking away from the casino license since they've sunk $160 million so far in the project.
"We can't imagine such an event," Ford said. "How do you walk away from an investment of that magnitude."
The investors considered moving to Center City due to interference from city officials, including Mayor Nutter's administration, which had concerns about the original site. Ford said the investors are confident that the city will cooperate on casino plans for South Philly.
Why do they have to stick to the orig plans or at least very similar when Sugarhouse was allowed to redesign into a crappy box with surface parking lots? Why doesn't the PAGB force them to stick to orig design as well?— FishtownYo
We'll be the envy of places like Baltimore and Chicago!!! They don't have parking garages and slot barns on their waterfront. Thank God that the Gaming Control Board has the courage to stick to the cause!— NickEeee
Comment removed.- Let's see, Philly's mayor doesn't pay taxes and neither does half of the city workers; Camden City Hall is even more corrupt then Philly City Hall and was taken over by a corrupt Trenton coalition (FBI is still rounding up the scoundrels); Philly Police are going out and staying out on disability (many are false claims); The Philadelphia Parking Authority aka Parking Wars is destroying our main money maker in tourism; Unions are destroying the businesses here and of course we pay the Second highest wage tax in the nation! And all people are focused on is Casino location???— BFlint
- Comment removed.
- This important project for economic development needs to move forward as soon as possible. Not only will there be revebue for the City but jobs for residents and an expansion of our turism industry. I call on CasinoFree Philadelphia to list its list of funders so the public can see if they are being supported by Atlantic city casino intrests. I hope the City does not spend additional taxpaer dollars fighting this casino development in court. The City has already lost on three separate occasions.— equalityman
- Just open the bidding up again on the 8th and Market site. I'm sure Foxwoods isn't the only casino developer who can get the job done. The original Foxwoods deal was kind of shady to begin with. Let Trump, etc re-bid on it. That's their fault for sticking to the Columbus Blvd location as long as they did. They should have moved quicker to examine alternate sites (not to mention propose alternate sites to begin with instead of shoving these down everyone's throats). And as usual the PA state government shows that it's the only governmental body around that could make city of Phila look functional and competent by comparison.— J E
- J E, the site on Columbus is a fine site, better than any center city location.— flavious27
- Besides the traffic clusterf*ck it would cause, how much money are tourists going to be putting into casinos? Philly isn't Vegas. It's going to be local gambling degenerates and senior citizens playing nickel slots, so no need to tie that into the tourist-y areas. That riverfront area is prime real estate....too valuable to waste on a casino, imo. There were several neighborhoods that wanted the casino - the old Schmidt's brewery site comes to mind and a few others for jobs and runoff business. Pennsport never wanted it. It was a square peg/round hole from the get-go.— J E
Follow Chris on Twitter
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
Follow Dave on Twitter.
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.
Follow Catherine on Twitter
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.
Follow Jan on Twitter
Share your tips
Catherine Luceyluceyc@phillynews.com
Chris Brennan
brennac@phillynews.com
Jan Ransom
Ransomj@phillynews.com
- Attytood
- Philly Gossip
- Philebrity
- Philadelphia Will Do
- Its Our City
- Heard in the Hall
- The Daily Examiner
- Phawker
- Suburban Guerilla
- Young Philly Politics
- OurPhiladelphia
- PoliticsPa
- The City Room
- Politico
- Drudge Report
- The Huffington Post
- Wonkette
- Eschaton
- Daily Kos
- Choose Judges on Merit
- Blogorrhea
- February
- January
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
- Budget
- Campaign News
- Casinos
- City Council
- City Hall
- DC
- Haikus
- Nutter
- Rendell
- Statehouse
- News | Sports | Business | What's Happening | Restaurants & Food | Entertainment | Living | Marketplace | Jobs
