The state Supreme Court this afternoon shot down City Council's last-ditch effort to stall construction of Foxwoods, a controversial casino proposed for the Delaware riverfront in South Philly. The court on April 2 ruled that Council had improperly blocked efforts by Foxwoods to get zoning changes needed to start construction. The court ordered the city to change the zoning and to turn over to Foxwoods gas and water rights-of-way under Reed and Dickinson streets.
Attorneys for City Council hung their hopes on those rights-of-way, telling the court on April 16 that the 2004 law that legalized casinos prohibits the taking of city-owned property for a casino project. Mayor Nutter's administration, through the city Law Department, on April 30 agreed with Council, telling the court it shouldn't "cede control and authority and decision-making" to Foxwoods for property the casino doesn't own.
The court today refused to consider its ruling, denying Council's request to re-argue the case. The order hasn't been posted as of now on the court's web page but it is listed in the case's docket.