PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker says she’s about to greenlight a downtown arena for the 76ers, over the protest of residents in nearby Chinatown.
The mayor made the surprise announcement in a 4-minute video her team posted to her social media channels while she was in a closed-door meeting in City Hall with Chinatown leaders, who remain opposed, and while demonstrators protested outside.
"It is the best financial deal ever entered into by a Philadelphia mayor for a local sports arena, and I wholeheartedly believe it is the right deal for the people of Philadelphia," she said in the video.
"It means an economic opportunity plan, quite frankly, the likes of which has never been seen in our city."
The Sixers have said they will require no public financing for 76 Place and will invest over $1 billion in the project. Parker said the arena, to be built on East Market Street adjacent to Chinatown, would bring millions in new tax revenue and create hundreds of jobs. At the same time, she says, she does understand the concerns of Chinatown residents.
Chinatown leaders on Wednesday say she told them she also negotiated a $50 million "community benefits agreement" for the neighborhood, though she gave them no details.
"We have the best Chinatown in the nation and I am committed to work with you to support it," she said in her video. "I want your rich and vibrant community and proud history to not just survive but to thrive."
Protestors outside City Hall were not impressed with the assurances. A crowd of hundreds had gathered to show their opposition to the proposal.
When Debbie Wei with the Save Chinatown Coalition relayed Parker’s decision via bull horn, the crowd returned a chorus of boos and "Shame! Shame! Shame!"
Wei, who has called opposition to the arena "a quintessential David and Goliath fight," said the Chinatown community will be destroyed if the area is built on East Market.
Much of the pushback has been related to upticks in traffic and keeping Chinatown’s small businesses open.
The Center City arena proposal gained strength last month with the public release of impact studies predicting economic benefits as well as disruptions to the surrounding neighborhood. Developer 76DevCorp says the reports support their plans, including parking and traffic, and they say they are confident the property can be developed in ways that protect neighbors.
But John Chin, executive director of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation, was in Parker’s closed-door meeting and said her decision is disappointing.
“The impact study that the city issued points to the fact that 50% of our businesses are at threat of being lost if this arena is built. So we are very concerned about that,” Chin said.
Wei Chen, civic engagement director for Asian Americans United, says the fight is not over: “Chinatown is our home, our culture center, our spirit center — and this is not for sale,” he said.
Save Chinatown Coalition's Wei called Parker a "coward."
“We are street fighters,” said Wei. “Like, they spent over $5 million in lobbing money, these developers — and we have t-shirts that say ‘No Arena.’ Our t-shirts are going to win.”
A Sixers spokesperson released a statement after Parker’s announcement, saying, "We are grateful to Mayor Parker and her team for their time and diligence in evaluating our proposal and look forward to advancing to the next steps with City Council."
Parker said she would be sending the necessary legislation package to City Council, likely by next week, and Councilmember Mark Squilla, who represents East Market Street, would be introducing it.
Squilla's office said on Wednesday that the Council member is committed to circulate the package of bills to all stakeholders for at least 30 days. “During this time, we expect to consider all concerns and amend the legislation as needed. Council will follow their legislative process and insure [sic] there are safeguards in place for the community stakeholders if legislation is introduced."
Chinatown Development Corporation’s Chin says opponents of the proposed location now must take their cause to City Council. Organizers are encouraging members of the public to contact their city representatives with their opinions on the stadium proposal.
“We got to hope for a chance and really hope City Council listens to our issues,” he said.
Reactions in Camden, NJ
Last month, New Jersey officials floated a proposal to build a mixed-use arena, including retail and housing units, across the river in Camden, north of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge, at the site of a former prison.
“I do believe that it is a very attractive situation for the Sixers to move their arena here, to the city of Camden,” said the city's Mayor Vic Carstarphen. He isn’t quite ready to throw in the towel and says New Jersey's offer stands if things don’t work out in Philly.
“Mayor Parker made a decision, but you know there’s still a long way to go, still a long way to go, and I don’t know how that shakes out,” Carstarphen said.
Ryan N. Boyer, business manager for the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, released a statement, thanking Parker for backing the construction of 76 Place on East Market to prevent the Sixers from moving to Camden.
"Jobs are the Trades’ lifeblood. The thousands of jobs 76 Place will provide is unprecedented. I am imploring City Council to look past the sensationalistic headlines and support the development of 76 Place on East Market," he wrote in a statement.
Parker promised more details at a briefing early next week and at a series of town hall meetings.