Mayor Nutter signed two bills into law in November that will rezone Center City as a commercial entertainment district. The new zoning district includes the Gallery at Market East, the shopping center that would house the proposed casino development from Foxwoods. The next step would be for the casino company to get approval for a plan of development from the City Planning Commission and the Gaming Control Board.

Vocal opposition to the plans already forced Foxwoods to choose an alternate site from the original one planned in South Philadelphia on Columbus Boulevard. Critics of the plan include those who say the administration has failed to conduct the proper impact studies and cost assessments before signing the legislation.