Their bet's on old Strawbridges

City Councilman Frank DiCicco will introduce legislation today to rezone the former Strawbridge & Clothier department store as a "commercial entertainment district," an important step toward converting the historic Center City location to a casino.

Foxwoods, approved by the state in December 2006 for a South Philly riverfront casino, told the state Gaming Control Board last week that it will seek approval to open instead at 8th and Market streets. Foxwoods investors bowed to political pressure last fall from Mayor Nutter and Gov. Rendell to relocate.

Nutter and DiCicco hailed the project yesterday as a boon to redevelopment efforts for East Market Street. Their City Hall announcement was attended by about 25 anti-casino activists, mostly from nearby Chinatown.

Foxwoods plans a casino for the second and third floors of the former store, owned by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, which said it hopes to bring "signature restaurants and nice retail" to the first floor.

The City Planning Commission will consider the zoning legislation on Tuesday. Council will hold a public hearing on the issue May 7. The Planning Commission will also hold a public hearing on the casino's development plan in late May or early June.

DiCicco noted that the new casino location is on the "outskirts" of residential neighborhoods but is a better option than South Philly.

Ellen Somekawa of Asian Americans United complained that the city and Foxwoods have provided little information since last fall, when the casino's investors considered the Gallery at 11th and Market streets. She accused DiCicco of allowing Foxwoods to pick and chose locations.

DiCicco countered that only the state can approve casino locations. Council has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on legal challenges to casino locations since 2006 with no victories, he added.

"We lost 17 out of 17 cases in the state Supreme Court," DiCicco said. "The end result may not be satisfactory to everyone. But it is the best option, I believe, that we have on the table today." *