Like an old horse past its prime, the proposal to build a harness-racing track at the Philadelphia Naval Business Center collapsed before the finish line late last week.
A community hearing had been planned for Tuesday morning at the Holiday Inn, 10th Street and Packer Avenue, with the Pennsylvania State Racing Commission and members of the Philadelphia Trotters and Pacers Inc.
The group — led by Delaware River Port Authority chairman Manny Stamatakis — had lobbied the state for a permit to build at the former Navy Yard since 2002.
However, Stamatakis withdrew the permit request Friday in the face of mounting opposition, according to state Rep. Bill Keller.
"They knew they had no support going into the meeting. The only people that were going to be there were going to be speaking against it," said Keller, who had planned to testify along with representatives of the Stadium Complex Special Services District.
Keller said he doubted Stamatakis was deterred by the city’s recently unveiled long-term plans for residential and commercial developments at the former Navy Yard.
"They wanted to force that track down there like a square peg into a round hole," the legislator said. "This time, things worked out in our favor."
Judy Cerrone, representative of Stadium District One, said with the racetrack plan behind them, neighbors are worried that slot machines will be the next possibility.
"Right now, we have some breathing room, but I’m sure that it’s only a matter of time before they bring up the slot shops," she said.
Keller, however, believes it’s unlikely that anyone would try to reopen the subject of slots or racetracks in South Philly.
"I don’t believe they would try anything like this again, not with the way this situation ended," he said.
