Vandals Inflict $5K in Damage at Casino Site
NBC Philadelphia
Police are investigating a case of vandalism at the site of the SugarHouse casino.
A day after developers broke ground on the SugarHouse Casino, officials say someone inflicted thousands of dollars in damage to earth moving equipment.
The vandals struck Thursday night at the site of the future casino at Delaware Avenue and Shackamaxon Street in Fishtown, police said.
The oil lines to four pieces of heavy construction equipment were cut, inflicting approximately $5,000 worth of damage.
Developers and city officials broke ground on the $550 million project Thursday, which is expected to generate up to $18 million in revenue for Philadelphia annually. The first phase of the project, which includes 1,700 slots, is expected to open in 2010. It will be the first casino to open inside city limits.
The SugarHouse project has been a hot button issue in the city of Philadelphia. Anti-casino groups like Casino-Free Philadelphia have held countless protests against the project. Police arrested fourteen protesters late last month for blocking the entrance to the casino's construction site.
Those protesters seem to be in the minority, though. A recent survey conducted by the Pew Trust found that two-thirds of Philadelphians approve of SugarHouse's waterfront site.
Authorities have yet to name potential suspects, but are investigating.
Posted Friday, Oct 9, 2009 - 2:15 PM EST
