PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — A proposed 76ers stadium at a Fashion District site on Market Street, one block from Chinatown, has spurred both curiosity and opposition among the people who live nearby.
“Large events bring large problems,” said John Chin, executive director of the Chinatown Development Corporation. He says members of the 76ers planning team reached out to his organization last week, prior to the announcement of the potential new stadium.
“And quite frankly, this is so new to us, we really haven't had the time to let it sink in to figure out all aspects of how this thing's going to impact our neighborhood,” Chin said.
“We drilled them about parking, and they were honest with us. They have a lot more to vet through about the parking; but they said … that there's 9,000 parking spaces within a 15-minute walk.”
Parking is exactly why Wei Chen, civic engagement director with Asian Americans United, says his group opposes the project.
“We currently know they’re not gonna build any additional parking spaces,” Chen said, “They will let people take public transportation, which — you know — this is not going to be true.”
Meanwhile, neighbors are trying to figure out the logistics of the plan. Lacky Xiong owns Tip Top Nails, in the Hilton Garden Inn at 11th and Arch streets. The business is right at the crossroads of Reading Terminal Market, the Pennsylvania Convention Center and the proposed 76ers arena site.
Xiong said the block already has a high volume of traffic.
“Just imagine how much more traffic is it going to have,” Xiong said. “Let alone parking.”
Where would all the people who would work at the arena park, she wonders. “These garages only fit so many cars.”
“First thing for me is safety,” said Jack Zhang, a member of the community. He says, as a Philly sports fan, he is interested in learning more, but he also fears that bringing in more visitors could lead to more crime.
Jack Zhang, cashier at Huge Family Store on 10th Street, a half-block from the proposed site, says he’s not against the stadium, but “more people” means “more dangerous.”
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“We welcome developments,” said Chin of the Chinatown Development Corporation. “We welcomed the Fashion District when they came in, but first and foremost, we're here to protect Chinatown.”
Chen, of Asian Americans United, says the development partners behind the proposed arena never requested any input from the community prior to the announcement.
“And we want lawmakers, city councilmembers, senators to advocate for us,” Chen said.
Representatives of the Sixers' development company, 76 Devcorp, say the new site would bring an economic boost to Market Street, but some residents seem concerned that those millions of dollars could cost surrounding communities millions of problems.
76 Devcorp has also said it will engage with the community — particularly, Chinatown and nearby Washington Square West — to ensure their interests and concerns are considered and that the proposal is equitable for all.
“I’m not going into a community and creating massive change,” said 76 Devcorp Chairman David Adelman.
Officials say the proposed 76ers project would not start demolition until at least 2026 and construction by 2028. The hope is to complete the arena by the 2031-32 season — when the Sixers’ current lease ends at the Wells Fargo Center.
