It's all about location, location, location.
Foxwoods Casino and state and local officials announced at a press conference yesterday that the casino would consider building its planned multi-million dollar venue at the Gallery shopping center near 10th and Market streets.
The city has staunchly opposed Foxwoods' previously decided site on the Delaware riverfront.
The move was defined as "only an option" yesterday by Gov. Ed Rendell, who recognized that there is still much to do to make the project move forward.
Despite longstanding controversy in the city over the casinos, officials say it is a matter of when and where - not if - they will be built.
The second casino development, SugarHouse, is planning to move forward with riverfront plans, despite opposition from the mayor's office and city planners - including Penn Praxis, a consulting arm of Penn's Design School - who fear increased traffic congestion.
"We recognize [Foxwoods'] willingness to be flexible," Rendell said.
Foxwoods legally reserves the right to build along the riverfront, like SugarHouse, but acknowledged that such a move would be against the wishes of the city.
With that in mind, Rendell focused on the benefits of casinos in Pennsylvania, touting the 6,200 jobs directly related to the casinos, many of them paying as much as $30,000 per year with health benefits, and the 14,000 construction jobs attributed to casino developments.
Additionally, Rendell said, the casino industry in the state spends about $62 million per month on goods and services, including those from local, small businesses.
Mayor Michael Nutter argued that Foxwoods, having already invested $100 million in the initiative, will be part of a larger goal to "revitalize" the Center City district, and dismissed congestion concerns because of the city's large public transportation system.
"We believe collectively that it's high time this development take place," said State Rep. Dwight Evans (D-Philadelphia).
The tough sell with the proposed location for Foxwoods will be to the Chinatown community, some of whom carried protest signs into the conference hall.
"This will kill the community," said Debbie Wei, a Chinatown resident who fears both congestion and a decreased quality of life.
But officials recognized that no matter where the casino is built, there will be a community group with concerns.
Rendell noted that the taxes Pennsylvania collects from the casino will reduce overall property taxes and fund other projects
