South Philly Review

With more moves than an NFL footballer's prized playbook, Foxwoods' game of trying to bring a casino to town is well into overtime.

Nearly four years after the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board granted the Connecticut-based casino group a license to build at Columbus Boulevard and Reed Street, the project has stalled, thanks largely to vocal anti-casino activists. But a recent board ruling signals a powerful about-face that has landed Foxwoods right back where it started -- in South Philly.

The board unanimously voted Aug. 28 to extend Foxwoods' license until May 2011 only if it builds on the Delaware River. In other words, all bets are off for the alternate site announced in September '08 in the former Strawbridge & Clothier building near The Gallery at Market East.

The Center City location was one Mayor Michael Nutter supported and, in wake of the ruling, he issued the following statement: "My administration has been working diligently with both Foxwoods and SugarHouse over the last year and today's news is a step backwards. I support having two casinos opened in Philadelphia, but the location of these facilities remains critically important.

"I have supported the Foxwoods casino at the Eighth-and-Market site not only because it is a location that will allow for the fastest start of its operation, but also because that site will allow the City to receive greatly needed tax revenues almost immediately. The fact is that the Delaware waterfront is a bad site for the Foxwoods casino. It was a bad site a year ago and it remains a bad site today."

Residents like Mary Reinhart, of the 100 block of Manton Street, who have been at the forefront of the battle to drive Foxwoods out of the area are reeling from the state's decision.

"As we all know, this is an abhorrent idea for thousands of riverfront residents. Many of us are becoming increasingly alarmed," Reinhart said.

As far as Casino Free Philadelphia founder Jethro Heiko of Fishtown is concerned, slots parlors anywhere in Philadelphia are all wrong, but having two on the waterfront simply lacks vision. SugarHouse, the second casino to be granted a license in December '06, is setting up shop on the Fishtown waterfront. Heiko and about 20 other opponents attended the Aug. 28 Harrisburg meeting.

"I'm not overjoyed by any stretch with the decision, but it speaks to how bereft of any vision on the part of the [state and city officials]. I think citizens have a much more powerful vision for the city than casinos," Heiko told the Review.

Despite the ruling, the grass-roots group founder does not concede defeat.

"We've been hearing that for about three-and-a-half years now that it's a done deal. My expectation is that the people of South Philly will continue to get involved in the issue and fight this," he said.

May 31, Foxwoods sought an extension from the board for various reasons including "challenges faced in trying to build on Columbus Boulevard" and negotiation difficulties with securing a lease from the Strawbridge's building owner, Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, Foxwoods spokeswoman Maureen Garrity of Tierney Communications told the Review.

Now, Foxwoods is excited about erecting a slots parlor at its original site.

"Philadelphia Entertainment and Development Partners (PEDP) appreciates the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board's time and direction and their ruling to extend our license. We have fulfilled, in good faith, our commitment to the governor, the mayor and others who put forth a sincere effort to find a suitable alternative site to take to the board for approval. PEDP is fully committed to following the direction of the board and will now fully focus our efforts on delivering a first-class casino on South Columbus Boulevard," Garrity said.

Last summer, the focus shifted to Market after years of opposition to the Columbus/Reed site with concerns over traffic and impact to surrounding neighborhoods. Slots nay-sayers had kept the pressure on until Gov. Ed. Rendell and Nutter urged the group to look elsewhere.