Pulse: Power: See Slots … Run
South Philly:
What: Slots plus theater, retail, restaurants and a hotel, off Columbus Boulevard.
Who: Vegas-based gaming barons Caesars Entertainment. Local power lawyer Lenny Klehr is on board.
Political Friends: State Senator Vince Fumo is pushing the site.
Odds: Pretty good bet; a solid plan with easy access for out-of-towners and locals.
Fishtown:
What: A waterfront slots parlor near Penn Treaty Park, with entertainment.
Who: Ameristar Casinos of Vegas, which has facilities in Missouri, Iowa, Colorado and Mississippi, has an option on land partially owned by State Senator Mike Stack.
Political Friends: House Speaker John Perzel helped put the land deal together.
Odds: The location works, but some gambling experts have questioned Ameristar’s “old-fashioned style” casinos.
East Market Street:
What: Slots, with a parking facility and room for retail and business.
Who: The Girard Estate, which operates Girard College and owns the property, is rumored to be working with Ron Rubin’s PREIT.
Political Friends: Rubin has ties to Governor Ed Rendell.
Odds: Decent. But there’s not much room for expansion here, and some object to the proximity to the Convention Center
Disneyhole: (8th and Market)
What: Slots plus a movie theater and parking (run by the Parking Authority).
Who: The empty lot, currently run by Central Parking, is the subject of an ownership dispute between real estate heavyweights Ron Rubin and Ken Goldenberg.
Political Friends: Rubin’s tight with Rendell; Goldenberg with Mayor Street; Parking Authority is controlled by Perzel.
Odds: Weak. The site is cramped, and the political struggle for control makes a reliable proposal difficult.
Navy Yard:
What: A slots-equipped site at the Navy Yard.
Who: Manny Stamatakis and developer Peter DePaul head a group of businessmen and politicos. The Flyers’ Ed Snider and Nets ex Lewis Katz are said to be involved.
Political Friends: Indicted Street crony Ron White was pushing the deal before he died.
Odds: No dice. The legislation may preclude the site altogether, and the White connection is an unseemly coda.
