PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Protests against development projects leading to gentrification have increased throughout Philadelphia in recent months. On Friday afternoon, hundreds of protesters — many of them students — marched through the University of Pennsylvania to speak out against a proposed Philadelphia 76ers arena next to Chinatown.
They call the arena plan a threat to the vibrant culture of the community, as well as affordable housing for long-time residents.
The planned project, called 76 Place, includes an 18,000 arena built on a portion of the Fashion District between Market, Filbert, 11th and 12th streets.
It would stand across the street from what the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation defines in its neighborhood plan as Chinatown’s southern border on Filbert Street.
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Developers aim to have the arena built by the 2031-32 season, at the end of the current Sixers lease at the Wells Fargo Center.
Chinatown has had its share of developers attempting to change the neighborhood. Taryn Flaherty and Chia Chau, who organized the march, say they were 5 and 6 years old.
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“They fought off a [Phillies] stadium in 2000, a casino in 2008, and we were there. We were protesting in Chinatown in the streets as well. We have grown up in Chinatown,” said Flaherty.
“We have been growing up in activism around Chinatown and education, and so it was kind of crazy when the arena was proposed. We realize that we will be living through the same exact things that our mothers fought through themselves.”
Friday’s protest against the proposed 76ers arena started with hundreds of attendees in front of the Ben Franklin statue on the University of Pennsylvania’s campus, and ended in front of Campus Apartments near 40th and Walnut streets, owned by Sixers arena developer David Adelman.
“The fortunes he's using to build the Chinatown arena started here in West Philadelphia with his gentrification of the communities here,” said Flaherty.
The protest drew students from various local colleges and universities, as well as longtime supporters of Chinatown who emphasized the project leaders’ connection to UPenn.
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“Besides [76Devcorp Chairman] David Adelman, we're also protesting against Josh Harris and David Blitzer, the other two billionaires behind the 76ers arena in Chinatown,” said Chau. “They both graduated from Wharton [business school] and Josh Harris himself actually gave $100 million to the school in the same week that he cut his workers wages.”
Chelsea Martin, from Drexel, said she is fighting to save communities under attack by developers and gentrification.
“Communities in Philadelphia are under attack because gentrifiers like Brett Altman, David Adelman, sponsored by universities like Drexel University, like the University of Pennsylvania, {Drexel President] John Fry, [UPenn President] Liz McGill, all the preceding UPenn presidents are all a part of this, and are specifically trying to push out communities to bring in new business and to basically puff up their pockets,” said Martin.
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"In response to a group of concerned community members observed outside Campus Apartments, I respect their right to express their opinions,” said Adelman in a statement.
“To avoid the missteps caused by past projects planned near Chinatown and to ensure the arena is a win for everyone, we have been deeply engaged for several months in a thoughtful community engagement process. Thus far, the communities near the site have been open-minded to ways this project can be a catalyst for much-needed growth, economic recovery, and revitalization of an important area of Center City. We will not shy away from dialogue with these communities and continue to proceed with the goal of delivering an arena that can best serve our city, fans and team.”
Other recent protests against development projects include the planned real estate project that would displace residents of the University City Townhomes on 39th and Market streets, near the area of Friday’s protest, and upscale triplexes, duplexes and a luxury apartment building in Point Breeze that neighborhood residents believe will lead to higher property costs, forcing them out of the neighborhood.