The game’s changed again when it comes to Philadelphia casinos, and this time likely for the worse.
In what seems to be becoming a never-ending saga in Philadelphia, the state’s Gaming Control Board late last month moved the planned location of a Foxwoods casino from the former Strawbridge & Clothier building on 8th and Market back to its originally planned location along the Delaware Waterfront.
Although local residents vehemently oppose the location, there, at least, the casino can feasibly become a focal point of Market Street redevelopment. The Strawbridge’s building is on the National Register of Historic Places, and that designation limits any possible reuses of the building and similarly prohibits developers from tearing it down. The building has been unoccupied for four years, and in the days of strip malls and online shopping, it’s unlikely that another department store will ever fill the spot. The casino could also help bring retail to the blighted area.
Sticking the casino along the Waterfront, however, would severely limit designers’ ability to develop the area thoroughly. Because it’s relatively undeveloped, city planners have been envisioning new, sustainable designs for the area but have been stymied for the last several years. The Waterfront is a chance for Philadelphia to engage in actual, deliberative planning, and it deserves that opportunity.
Both locations come with their share of problems and reservations, and we still question whether a casino will ultimately benefit the city of Philadelphia. If we must have one, however, the Market Street corridor is a better solution for the entire city.
