Oct. 4

Good morning.

Our new daily feature designed to bring you up to date on breaking news developments related to planning and development issues that are being reported in Philadelphia is casino oriented this morning.

As SugarHouse Casino interests continue to attempt to work out a community benefits agreement with potential neighbors, The Inquirer's Jennifer Lin reports that the Philadelphia Police Department will form unique units to cover the two proposed casinos and adjacent neighborhoods, such as the ones that patrol special services district now in the city. 

How much will this cost? Check out the Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Cooperation Authority report on casino budget impact issued in July. Also click on the PlanPhilly report on special services district best practice.

In other news.

Metro reporter Mike Benner reports that some insiders feel SugarHouse Casino operators may take their fight to the courtroom if the city doesn't move on siting and permitting requirements. ... Citypaper editor Duane Swierczynski writes about the PennPraxis effort on the waterfront.  ... Don't miss Inquirer architecture critic Inga Saffron's appreciation of Herbert Muschamp, the former New York Times architecture critic who died Tuesday.