Chinatown activists and developers lobby City Council on 76ers arena bid

As the city legislators assembled in their City Hall chambers on a Thursday morning, outside activists set the tone with the powerful anthem of “Fight the Power.” The Save Chinatown Coalition, a relentless community organization fighting against the proposed 76ers arena on Market Street, was leading the charge. These dedicated individuals have been protesting the arena since its inception, making themselves known to the city councilmembers entrusted with making the final decision. The coalition’s latest message comes at a critical juncture, following a surge of activity from both proponents and opponents of the project.

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The City Council had put off deliberating on the project pending the completion of impact studies. These reports, finally submitted on August 27, detailed the potential economic, traffic, design, and community implications of the arena. Now armed with this crucial information, 76 DevCo, the project’s development arm, is urging local lawmakers to make a decision. The team insists that City Council approval must be granted before the end of 2024 to meet the arena’s completion deadline of 2031, aligning with the expiration of their lease with the Wells Fargo Center.

Opponents of the arena argue that the team has not earned the right to proceed. At the Thursday morning rally, activists expressed concerns that the project would devastate Chinatown and end up costing the city more than it could generate. The coalition cited a recent poll, conducted in partnership with Cornell Belcher’s brilliant corners polling firm, revealing that 80% of respondents feared the impact increased traffic would have on access to critical medical care at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, located just two blocks from the proposed site.

“It is absolutely unthinkable that the city is considering a project that would jeopardize patients’ access to healthcare,” said Ricki Santos, a passionate medical student in Philadelphia. “Arena traffic would obstruct vehicles at intersections crucial for ambulances, delaying patients in emergencies where every second counts.”

Other speakers at the event included Brittany Alston, the executive director of the Philly Black Worker Project. She raised concerns about the impact of the new arena on formerly incarcerated and temporary workers, calling attention to the subpar wages, lack of benefits, and absence of union representation for these employees who often find work at stadiums.

Meanwhile, inside the chambers, developers from 76 DevCo were presenting a document outlining their case for the construction of the arena. Acknowledging the funding controversy over the impact studies, the developers underscored the project’s viability and potential positive economic impact on the city. They also addressed concerns raised in the community impact study, proposing solutions to mitigate the negative effects on Chinatown’s small businesses.