As Sugarhouse unveils new design, Nutter applauds, DiCicco gives up the fight
Casino and city officials gathered at Philadelphia City Hall on Monday to unveil modified plans for the Sugarhouse casino slated to be built in Fishtown. Sugarhouse representatives say that the new designs reflect input from the community and city leaders.
Casino and city officials gathered at Philadelphia City Hall on Monday to unveil modified plans for the Sugarhouse casino slated to be built in Fishtown. Sugarhouse representatives say that the new designs reflect input from the community and city leaders.
Transcript:
The modified design includes changes to reduce the impact of traffic, and construction that’s shifted back from the river.
HSP Gaming Development Manager Terry McKenna: “Instead of a two-story structure we have a more pedestrian friendly one-story structure. We’ve eliminated a number of the drive lanes in front of the facility and we’ve reduced the overall mass of the casino building and used the site more efficiently by sliding a portion of the gaming floor underneath the garage.”
City Councilman Frank DiCicco says after years of battling the casino, he’s given up the fight. DiCicco says he’ll work with the developers to address traffic and quality of life problems.
Sugarhouse officials say they want to have 1,700 slot machines operating at an interim facility on the site in about a year.
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On Wednesday SugarHouse officials are headed to Harrisburg to present their new plans to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board. Busloads of Philadelphia casino opponents are planning to attend.
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