PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Philadelphia branch of the NAACP announced its support on Tuesday for the Sixers’ proposed 76 Place development plan for Market East in Center City.
Catherine Hicks, president of the Philadelphia chapter of the NAACp joined other leaders and David Adelman, chairman of 76DevCo, at String Theory Charter School on 16th and Vine Streets for the announcement.
Hicks said the organization’s support came down to “potential job creation,” among other selling points.
"The development could potentially provide access to affordable housing, educational programs, social services that can uplift and empower underserved communities,” she said.
Adelman piggybacked off Hicks to point to the project’s proposed $50 million community benefits agreement to support surrounding communities. He said supporting Black-owned businesses was a “fundamental” part of the agreement.
“A $2 million fund to support Black-owned businesses to scale and grow before 76 Place opens so that those businesses can be a part of building it and being there when we open up,” said Adelman.
But not everyone is supportive of the project.
Bishop Dwayne Royster, the executive director of POWER Interfaith and a member of the Save Chinatown Coalition issued a statement after the announcement, calling the developers' promises “window dressing.”
"Don’t be fooled by the promise of jobs for African Americans in the city. We will not become a thriving city with part-time and seasonal arena jobs that perpetuate an ongoing African American underclass,” he said. “That doesn’t help our people, but it does make team owners richer."