Foxwoods seeks slots extension

Calling the past year "a highly tumultuous period," Foxwoods Casino asked state regulators yesterday for up to two more years to get a slots parlor open in Philadelphia.

Under its slots license, Foxwoods was supposed to have 1,500 slot machines in operation by this coming Friday.

In its petition for an extension, Foxwoods told the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board that it would miss that deadline "through no fault of its own."

The original site for the slots parlor has moved from the waterfront in South Philadelphia to the Gallery in Center City - and now to the old Strawbridge & Clothier store at 801 Market St.

No hearing has been scheduled.

Since early this year, Foxwoods has been trying to negotiate a lease for the Strawbridge site with the owner of half the building, the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT).

Those talks, however, are stalled - a fact not mentioned in Foxwoods' filing with regulators.

The owner of the other half of the building, Gramercy Capital Corp., does not like the idea of a casino as a neighbor. PREIT and Gramercy have yet to iron out their differences. And until they do, City Councilman Frank DiCicco will not advance for a vote a bill to zone the former store for a casino.

Like the South Philadelphia location, the proposal in Center City faces vocal opposition. A coalition of 30 community groups and churches is backing a campaign called "No Casino in the Heart of the City."

"They should not be granted more time," said Rosanne Loesch, incoming president of the Society Hill Civic Association. She said a Market Street location "has no chance of working out."

In the filing with regulators, Foxwoods said relocating the casino to the store building was "the most reasonable and appropriate" way to expeditiously meet the conditions of its slots license.

But Foxwoods maintains in the filing that if that location does not work out, it will go back to its original plan of building on the river. Its license is for a 16-acre site on South Columbus Boulevard. For Foxwoods to move to Center City, it would have to file a separate petition with regulators to relocate.

Maureen Garrity, a spokeswoman for Foxwoods, said yesterday, "We're still interested in the Strawbridge & Clothier site. But we've always said we reserve the right to develop on South Columbus Boulevard."

The negotiations between PREIT and Gramercy are causing serious delays for Foxwoods. Before Foxwoods can ask regulators for permission to relocate to the Strawbridge building, it needs City Council to approve zoning the property for a casino.

But before DiCicco will bring the matter to a vote, he wants to see in writing that Foxwoods has a lease with PREIT, said Brian Abernathy, an aide for the councilman.

And the clock is ticking. Council begins its summer recess on June 18.

In yesterday's filing, Foxwoods said the "extraordinary events" of the last 2 1/2 years should provide "ample good cause" for extending the license.