Blatstein wants to turn Inquirer-Daily News building into casino complex

[cjPhilly]

Philadelphia developer Bart Blatstein stood on the roof of the former state office building at Broad and Spring Garden, looked down at the Daily News/Inquirer building he now owns at Broad and Callowhill streets, and announced plans to build a massive casino complex on the site while turning the iconic tower building into a hotel.

Stretching over three blocks from Broad to 17th streets, the development will be anchored by the only downtown casino in a "top five major city," Blatstein said, and will be a major economic engine for North Philadelphia.

The project depends on Blatstein securing the state casino license that is available because of the failure of Foxwoods casino to develop its site along Columbus Boulevard near Tasker.


Blatstein wants to turn Inquirer-Daily News building into casino complex


And from NewsWorks:


Our Dave Davies has confirmed reports that developer Bart Blatstein envisions a casino on North Broad Street around the building Philadelphia Media Network will soon vacate.

Here are some of the details, according to Dave's conversation with Blatstein:

- Will front on Callowhill Street
- Will consist of of 2,000 parking spaces, a 200-room hotel and 40,000 square feet of shops
- Will have six restaurants, a concert hall, event facilities, a spa and fitness center
- The casino will be 100,000 square feet


http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/t...h-broad-street

[seand]

the development will be anchored by the only downtown casino in a "top five major city," Blatstein said, and will be a major economic engine for North Philadelphia.

Blatstein wants to turn Inquirer-Daily News building into casino complex

Because going further down the population list to cities like Detroit and New Orleans with downtown casinos is not as fashionable a reference, I guess.

There is another thread going.
http://www.philadelphiaspeaks.com/fo...tml#post484691

[John Goodman]

I'm for it.

I wish bart all the luck in the world fighting the hoardes of nimbys that are about to come out of.the woodwork

[mixiboi]

Well people said they wanted a casino near the Convention Center.

The biggest hoop besides Chinatown fear of gambling, he still need to get the lozenge back fro the state that already has sweetheart deals with other cities....

[Jayfar]

Chinatown has already weighed in, nevermind that the site doesn't touch their borders, real or imagined.

John Chin, executive director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, opposes a casino adjacent to his community.
"Gambling is a problem for the residents of the Chinatown community," Chin said. "And, as we said before [when a casino was proposed for Market Street East], a casino so close to Chinatown would just be too much of an enticement for problem gamblers."

Developer plans casino complex for Inquirer-Daily News site

[dcss1205]

Chinatown has been growing, and has no absolute boundaries. But, I wonder what the Mormons will say to the City!

[yassie]

there goes the traffic

[mixiboi]

Again, Bart doesn't even have the license, nor is it going to be easy to get when several other small towns want ot bad.


So lets not freak out about traffic and such yet

[boognish]

Too bad John Chin doesn't worry about the omnipresent garbage, stench, and odd pools of mystery fluids in Chinatown instead of attempting to dictate what happens in other communities.

[eldondre]

Too bad John Chin doesn't worry about the omnipresent garbage, stench, and odd pools of mystery fluids in Chinatown instead of attempting to dictate what happens in other communities.

yeah, nobody goes to chinatown, it's too crowded. has john chin weighed in on this project or is this some preemptive bashing?
edited: sorry missed that post. nonetheless, some opposition is to be expected. just look at the hyperventilating going on on naked philly

[Bob_Head]

John Chin, executive director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, opposes a casino adjacent to his community.
"Gambling is a problem for the residents of the Chinatown community," Chin said. "And, as we said before [when a casino was proposed for Market Street East], a casino so close to Chinatown would just be too much of an enticement for problem gamblers."

Yeah, and hot asian women are a problem for old white guys. So why doesn't John do something about all the Rub n' Tugs on every block in Chinatown? All that hot ass is just too much of an enticement for guys with yellow fever.

[mixiboi]

yeah, nobody goes to chinatown, it's too crowded. has john chin weighed in on this project or is this some preemptive bashing?

He has, you know they(the CT Community Group) HATE casinos.

Blatstein wants to turn Inquirer-Daily News building into casino complex

[John Goodman]

are these chinatown people for real or looking for a pay out?

is having a casino close to asians actually a big deal?

are they suggesting that asians are inherently more likely to gamble?

i don't get it

[mixiboi]

Yes to all your questions. There are many stories out there on Asian Families who lost fathers to gambling additions.


Is it true, eh with such a small sampling, its hard to tell.

[Bob_Head]

are they suggesting that asians are inherently more likely to gamble?

At the risk of furthering a cultural stereotype, oh yeah. I've been around all types of unsanctioned gaming, and there is nothing like the mad stacks of cash the asians throw around. It would make Goldman and Sachs pay attention.

[Tartan69]

So instead of a culture trying to fix their problem by looking inward at the real cause, they push the blame onto another culture and ask that they go out of their way to fix it. Hmmmm where have I heard that before?

[eldondre]

So instead of a culture trying to fix their problem by looking inward at the real cause, they push the blame onto another culture and ask that they go out of their way to fix it. Hmmmm where have I heard that before?

americans with the drug war?
remember, there was casiNo even in fishtown where the casino received more support than in south philly. should I take it to mean you are not in opposition to the idea? It might not be my first pick for a casino site but I'm not against it if it wins a state awards process.

[RainboTeabagger]

are these chinatown people for real or looking for a pay out?

is having a casino close to asians actually a big deal?

are they suggesting that asians are inherently more likely to gamble?

i don't get it

Don't play dumb.

[seand]

So what non-Philly towns have bid for the second Philly license since Foxwoods imploded? I keep seeing references to this but have not seen anything in the news about this.

[Oladybug]

Too bad John Chin doesn't worry about the omnipresent garbage, stench, and odd pools of mystery fluids in Chinatown instead of attempting to dictate what happens in other
communities.

Amen.