The neighborhood most organized at this point around the casino question is the northern edge of Center City. Long before the gaming board announced in June a reissuing of the city’s second casino license, developer Bart Blatstein made it known he wanted the license.

More than two dozen neighborhood associations, schools, churches, and one synagogue have formed the North Broad Community Coalition to interact with Blatstein on what they view as quality-of-life issues. Blatstein, who has attended more than 35 meetings with groups, wants to use the former headquarters of The Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News as the anchor for a casino-entertainment complex.

Among the coalition’s top concerns: parking and traffic congestion, security and crime, litter and lighting.

(Full story at: Pennsylvania gaming board accepting public requests to speak at Philadelphia casino hearings)