PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia 76ers downtown arena proposal is likely to gain new strength with impact reports, released Monday night, predicting economic benefits as well as disruptions to the surrounding neighborhood. Those reports have generated vastly different reactions from different stakeholders.
To developer 76DevCorp, the reports support their plans for 76 Place. “Our parking and traffic assumptions are achievable,” said the developers in a statement. “These findings are evidence that [the arena] can be developed in ways that protect our neighbors.”
The report estimates average tax revenue of $13 million a year, along with some job creation and increased consumer spending.
Councilman Mark Squilla, who represents East Market Street, where developers hope to build the arena, has been waiting for the impact studies before introducing any legislation. He says that action is still a while off. But he now believes it’s possible to craft a bill that would allow the project to go forward while addressing community concerns about traffic, gentrification and local business disruption.
“I think there’s a viable option of enough protections that we could come up with that could make this a viable project for the city of Philadelphia,” said Squilla.
Still, he says it will take engagement with an array of stakeholders — including Chinatown residents who are adamantly opposed, Jefferson Hospital and other residents of nearby neighborhoods, and transit agencies SEPTA and PATCO, which would have to accommodate thousands of new riders during events.
“It’s going to be a lot of work, and I think Council and the administration are up for that,” Squilla said. He expects a bill proposal in the fall. Meanwhile, Mayor Cherelle Parker says the studies will inform her decision on the arena.
Vivian Chang of the Save Chinatown Coalition disagrees.
“Any talk of mitigating or community benefits? There’s no community left if this arena goes in,” she said. “It literally says, word for word, ‘the loss of cultural identity in Chinatown.’”
Chang previously dismissed the studies as not credible because they were paid for by the arena developers, but she says she believes the community impact study.
“These studies confirm the arena would just decimate Chinatown. It could bring dangerous gridlock, and they don’t even provide that much taxes, so it’s not worth the squeeze.”