Next Up For Foxwoods: Casino Zoning At 8th & Market

Mayor Nutter and City Councilman Frank DiCicco are scheduled to make an announcement this afternoon about Foxwoods, a casino proposed for the former Strawbridge & Clothier department store at 8th and Market streets.  PhillyClout hears Nutter and DiCicco will lay out the process for Foxwoods to obtain "commercial entertainment district" zoning for the former store, an important step in opening a casino here.

This will be the third go-round for Foxwoods at CED zoning.  The state Supreme Court in April 2008 ordered the city to approve zoning for Foxwoods at its original state-approved location on the Delaware riverfront in South Philly.  The court agreed with complaints from Foxwoods that city officials had been purposefully stalling the project.  Foxwoods in September bowed to political pressure from Nutter and Gov. Rendell to relocate the project to Center City. That set up a speedy but rancorous zoning process for the casino, which then was looking to set up shop inside the Gallery at 11th and Market.

Foxwoods last week told the Gaming Control Board it has now settled on 8th and Market for its casino.  That location, like the Gallery, has incensed anti-casino activists from nearby Chinatown.  City Council held a rare Saturday hearing on Nov. 1 to consider zoning for Foxwoods at the Gallery.  Nutter quickly signed into law the Gallery zoning after meeting with Chinatown protesters.

While Foxwoods works to get city approvals needed for the casino, it also needs to make two important requests to the state Gaming Control Board.  Foxwoods needs an extension on its one-year license to build a casino, which runs out next month.  The casino's investors also need the board to approve its relocation plans.  Both requests will be the subject of public hearings.  Foxwoods predicts it can be open within six to nine months after getting the necessary approvals.