Posted to Daily News on Mon, Aug. 4, 2008

ARECENT article asked if the casinos were in the right places. As a veteran of the Delaware Waterfront Real Estate Wars, I was asked by a potential casino developer to suss out potential sites. After doing so, our client decided not to proceed, but our analysis is still applicable.

We did an evaluation on those sites that had the needed infrastructure. Among the characteristics studied were availability of public transit for workers – without this there would have to be parking for 300-500 cars.

Construction costs – if we had to build on pilings, it would add 7-10 percent to the cost. Easy access to convention attendees, which would mean one casino should be built close to Center City. Site size was important, but price was not.

The sites got ratings from 5-10. Sites that were already spoken for weren’t considered, like the Foxwoods site. Lack of public transportation, pilings, size (16 acres) would have ruled it out. One site received a full 9, the others are as follows:

Adams Mark Hotel, City Avenue. Rating 7. Could convert building, but not convenient to conventioneers.

Top of Gallery, plus 8th and Market land. Rating 7.5, but had already been spoken for.

Trash site, Delaware and Spring Garden. Rating 6. Too small at 13 acres.

Would have to acquire additional land on either side next to pier of bridge or Delaware Avenue, and build out west side of avenue for parking.

SugarHouse. Rating 9. Close to El stop, has expansion capability. Only negatives: construction cost and no direct highway access from I-95.

Gold Medalist – Spectrum.

Rating 9.5, had the most potential.

The current recommendation would be to move Foxwoods to the Spectrum site and build SugarHouse with transportation between the two locations.

Eliott Fuhrman, Kennedyville, Md.