Interested party surfaces to oppose Foxwoods plan

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, May, 2009 | by Jennifer Lin Inquirer Staff Writer

A new obstacle to Foxwoods Casino's move into the old Strawbridge's building emerged yesterday at a City Council hearing - an opponent so significant that members postponed a zoning vote on the project.

In a terse statement, Joshua Cohen, a lawyer for Gramercy Capital Corp., described the property at 801 Market St. as a "business condominium" and said his client owns the top six floors of the 13-story building.

Gramercy opposes the casino zoning designation, Cohen told Council, saying it "would not be in our best interest."

The Foxwoods partnership has been negotiating for months with the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust for a lease to open a slots parlor on two floors. But first the building must be zoned for a casino. Currently, that designation exists...