In Philadelphia, where the wrangling continues over the prospective locations and construction of two slots casinos in the city, it has emerged that the SugarHouse developers have offered to redesign the buildings. Many Philadelphia residents and the city’s Mayor Nutter are strongly opposed to having casinos along the Delaware riverfront. Now SugarHouse has said that a more urban-friendly concept in line with the city’s waterfront plan could be produced. The original design has large box-like parking structures and would impede the grid plan of the waterfront area.

So far SugarHouse shows no sign of agreeing to relocate away from the riverfront. Last month the other licensed slots casino, Foxwoods, which was also located on the Delaware, decided to seek another site. Foxwoods is now looking at building in Center City at the Gallery shopping mall. SugarHouse is fighting through the courts to get building permits granted so that it can start construction. Governor Rendell, Mayor Nutter, State Representative Dwight Evans and Neil Bluhm, the SugarHouse developer, met at the end of August to discuss the present stalemate.

This week Bluhm and SugarHouse CEO Greg Carlin met Mayor Nutter at City Hall and proposed altering the size of the buildings and parking structures. Following the meeting the Mayor said that his position remains unchanged and that slots parlours on the riverfront did not fit in with the city’s planning vision. Governor Rendell has promised to convene talks to discuss moving both Foxwoods and SugarHouse. There will be a community meeting next week on the possible relocation of Foxwoods to the Gallery. Carlin maintains that SugarHouse is focused on getting its casino built where it was planned when it received a licence from the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. (E-10.03.08)

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