SugarHouse Inks Deal With Two Community Groups

SugarHouse, a casino proposed for the Delaware riverfront in Fishtown, announced today that it has signed a community benefit agreement with two local community groups -- Fishtown Action and the New Kensington Community Development Corp.  SugarHouse has agreed to pay $1 million per year to fund a special services district created by the community groups, once the casino is open.  The casino's developers also promised to hire local residents and vendors, create internships and job training programs and create a program that encourages customers to patronize local businesses.

You can read the SugarHouse press release on the agreement here.

Richard Levins, Chairman of the New Kensington Community Development Corp., released a statement praising SugarHouse for promising an ongoing dialogue with the community about the impact of the casino. He added the agreement "ensures that residents in the community will have opportunities for permanent full-time jobs with health benefits; construction jobs; student and non-student casino internships and payment by SugarHouse of employment licensing fees charged by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The CBA also provides neighborhood businesses with the opportunity to have direct vendor relationships with SugarHouse and the ability to participate in casino 'comp' programs."

Other neighborhood groups, such as the Northern Liberties Neighbors Association and the Fishtown Neighbors Association, did not negotiate with SugarHouse.  Some residents oppose the casino's location on Delaware Avenue as Shackamaxon Street and have pushed city and state officials to relocate it to another area.  Mayor Nutter has called on SugarHouse to consider moving the project.