Aug 22, 2008 7:32 am US/Eastern
Foxwoods Casino Officials Consider Relocating
PHILADELPHIA (CBS 3) ―
For the first time, officials with one of Philadelphia's two controversial riverfront
casinos, say they're considering relocating their project.
Executives with the proposed Foxwoods Casino told state
and city officials Thursday afternoon they are looking at other sites, and
those sites are not on the Delaware River.
The executives would not say how many sites
they are considering or where specifically the new sites are.
Under state law, a new location must be inside Philadelphia city limits but more than 10 miles from
existing casinos in Bensalem and Chester,
Pa.
That would likely rule out real estate near Philadelphia International Airport.
"This is not alleluia, but this is a big step forward,"
said State Senator Vince Fumo at a late-afternoon press conference in City
Hall.
"We all have our fingers crossed,
but the devil is in the details."
"Re-siting is in the best interest of the city and in the
best interest of the redevelopment of the waterfront," said Philadelphia Mayor
Michael Nutter.
Earlier this summer Nutter came out against the proposed
locations of the two casinos saying they don't fit into a master plan for
redeveloping Penn's Landing and the Philadelphia
waterfront.
The Foxwoods Casino is slated to be built on land at Columbus Blvd. and Tasker Avenue, in South Philadelphia.
Executives with Philadelphia's other planned casino,
SugarHouse, did not attend Thursday's meeting and have so far shown no signs of
moving.
The SugarHouse project is
planned for land on Delaware
Avenue in Northern Liberties.
Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell has repeatedly said both
casino projects must agree to relocate because they already have approval from
the state legislature to build on the river.
Rendell cautioned that this is not a done deal but said it
is "good news for Philadelphia,
good news for the citizens who live down by the river."
"It would destroy the fabric of our neighborhood and our
community," said Debbie King who lives in Northern Liberties, about three
blocks from the SugarHouse site.
For nearly two years, neighbors of the planned casinos
have fought to have them moved.
Thursday's announcement may be a sign their efforts are paying off.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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