A reader tipped us off a few weeks ago about a zoning notice at 314 N 16th St., a small building and lot just south of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services office and just west of an onramp to I-676.

Little building

The zoning request, which was granted in December, calls for automobile and limousine rental, along with auto detailing, a travel agency, and a concierge service.

At the time, this didn’t seem like such an exciting new development, considering its location. Highway to the south, parking lots to the north, this seemed like an unexciting use at an out-of-the-way location on the fringe of Center City that wouldn’t really hold a whole lot of interest for our readers. But then, all of a sudden, last week’s bombshell: Bart Blatstein’s plan for a hotel at the Inquirer Building, and a casino on the 1500 block of Callowhill Street. Yes, just around the corner from this site.

The Inquirer Building, just to the east, beyond the onramp

Surely the owners of the property, who we believe to the Flynn Company, had no idea about this casino plan when they purchased the property for $850K a little over a year ago.

But we can’t imagine that they’ll complain about a massive new casino development that would likely drive countless tourists and locals alike to this nearby business. After all, when we’re visiting casinos in other towns, we couldn’t imagining traveling around in anything but a limo. Well, perhaps a stretch Hummer.

If Blatstein’s proposed project goes through, we imagine this business will be a smashing success. Talk about right place at the right time.