Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Council OKs Foxwoods at Strawbridge's location

City Council unanimously approved a zoning bill to allow Foxwoods Casino to be built in the old Strawbridge & Clothier building at Eighth and Market streets.

Council OKs Foxwoods at Strawbridge's location

POSTED: Thursday, June 11, 2009, 12:06 PM

City Council has unanimously approved a zoning bill to allow Foxwoods Casino to be built in the old Strawbridge & Clothier building at Eighth and Market streets.

The zoning approval is an important step for the partnshership behind Foxwoods to transfer its planned slots parlor from the Delaware waterfront in South Philadelphia to Center City, but by no means the last.

Foxwoods still must ask the state Gaming Control Board for permission to transfer its license to the Strawbridge site.

City Councilman Frank DiCicco noted that Foxwoods must also receive approval for a plan of development from the city Planning Commission, and work out a lease with its landlord with at least one of the owners involved in the buidling opposing it.

"Shame on you" a half-dozen protesters shouted as DiCicco spoke. Some residents of nieghboring Chinatown and antiaicasino activists remain opposed to the move.

Click here for Philly.com's politics page.

Jeff Shields @ 12:06 PM Permalink | 20 comments

Comments (20)

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:29 PM, 06/11/2009

good progress. Lets bring them jobs and tax money to Philly.

— Flyers2001

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:30 PM, 06/11/2009

We already have Sugarhouse not even a mile away? How many more casinos do we need? Yeah, pick on Chinatown where the people are passive. Get ready for a big fight.

— SayHello2MyLittleFriend

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:44 PM, 06/11/2009

As if traffic downtown isn't already bad enough, let's add a CASINO to the mix. Also, I wouldn't encourage gamblers to ride the SEPTA systems because, win or lose, you're getting mugged underground. They can't find a better spot than this?

— amd804

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 12:46 PM, 06/11/2009

DiCicco, you are a tool! It was not OK to put the casino in South Philly, your turf, but it's ok to put it next to Chinatown. DROP DiCicco and the rest of City Council.

— SayHello2MyLittleFriend

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:05 PM, 06/11/2009

the jobs are minimal. the enslavement of our already poor population to slot machine is worse. the crime that will spring out of this is insane, not to mention traffic. imagine 800 of our "troubled youths" running that place and smashing windows to grab cash?

— MichaelZoe

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:12 PM, 06/11/2009

suddenly 8th and market is chinatown?

— philly57

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 1:13 PM, 06/11/2009

SHUT UP AND BUILD IT. PHILADELPHIA IS THE WORSE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Taxes, schools, crime and politics are out of control. I was born and work in Philly. I will not die there though. The city bows to special interest which lowers the quality of life for all of its residents. You special interest....40 to 50 people who need to think of everyone, instead of U first.People being affect by not bringing in new tax $$$$ from payroll, highest payroll taxes in the US, creating tax on the working class, and screwing the hard wroking people who live there will less services.

— martin710

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:08 PM, 06/11/2009

center city isn't the proper place for a casino. it should be built in a less populated section because the traffic will be terrible

— wired22223

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:13 PM, 06/11/2009

I use too live in center city. But about 6 month's ago I moved out to florida. But i still visit there. What i'm trying to say is this Philly needs jobs. A casino or 2 will bring that. As for the crime. well look at A.C The crime over there is'nt so bad. And yes traffic is bad.But If they make the right improvements then I think it will turn out a good investment in the long run. and you should'nt complain to much about traffic because once the convention center is completed that's going to have more traffic then the casino in center city. So please stop complaining and let them build them. Oh as for chinatown All that don't want the casino should'nt want the convention center eather. cause you know they both will bring traffic. But on a good side they both will bring dollers to your neiborhood through all of the customers you will be getting at your shops.

— mikey6939

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:29 PM, 06/11/2009

Why do people believe casinos are the answer to everything? The people who benefit most from a casino are the casino owners. Jobs for the every day person? For what? So that they can throw it away in a slot machine? Am I the only person that can see the vicious cycle?

— Rudykizuty

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 2:54 PM, 06/11/2009

A Pew poll showed 60% of Philadelphians oppose a Center City casino. This issue is bigger than Chinatown or "anti-casino" activists.

— mansei

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:01 PM, 06/11/2009

I hate the idea of a casino being so close to, not only Chinatown but our Historic District/Independence Mall. It's just so tacky. Also I don't think casinos create enough jobs to solve the City's budget issues. The problem is that we don't have enough REGULAR companies headquartered here. I can't believe this is the only answer. . How pathetic!

— koffeetalk

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:02 PM, 06/11/2009

i guess the pairing of conv. center & the casino can be a good idea. & the subway MAY be good if u feel safe. yeah, i know that's iffy. close to the sugar casino? it sorta is, having one hearer to the sports complex MAY have been better. when do we see prop. tax relief from these things?! that WAS the deal.

— tfcino1

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:03 PM, 06/11/2009

I wish they'd build these things so everyone would shut up about them already. It will happen one way or another, and personally - as a Chinatown resident - I never cared one way or another. What I do care about is what we're doing in the mean time (and always do as the dysfunctional, digressive, anti-anything-new town that we are) is once again telling all prospective businesses, "this is what you have to deal with if you want to set up shop in Philly" and chase them all to Charlotte. Bravo kids. Keeping Philly second-rate all for the sake of idealistic rhetoric. Before the ribbon cutting, these CasiNO hipsters will have found another bandwagon and targeted another completely irrational cause to boost their liberal guilt-driven self-worth.

— Philatonian

0 like this / 0 don't • Posted 3:30 PM, 06/11/2009

right next to city hall can anything be more cheesy? way to go nutter and the rest of the democratic machine. the people deserve everything they get until they vote the bums out.

— give me liberty or death