PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Save Chinatown Coalition is holding a rally and march in Philadelphia on Saturday against the proposed new 76ers arena, 76 Place.
The Sixers, who currently play in the Wells Fargo Center in the South Philadelphia Sports Complex, have proposed building an arena in Center City, next to Chinatown, in an area bounded by Market, Filbert, 10th and 11th streets.
The team and its development arm, 76 Devcorp, want to arena and a mixed-use high-rise building with approximately 395 units on the site of the former Greyhound bus station and part of the Fashion District Philadelphia shopping center.
However, the proposal has been met with opposition from groups such as SCC, which argues that the development could be detrimental to the Chinatown neighborhood.
CBS News Philadelphia
One of the impact studies on the proposal found that half of Chinatown’s small businesses “are unable to capitalize on the Arena” and may experience negative consequences.”
Another study found that traffic in the arena would only be manageable if 40% of visitors came to the matches by car and 40% took public transport.
The project’s economic impact study said that arena would bring jobs to the area as well as $390 million in new tax revenues and $1.9 billion in new economic activity.
According to SCC, thousands of people will attend the event and it is one of many events planned for this fall.
The demonstration began around 1 p.m. at City Hall. The protesters planned to march along Market Street to 11th Street, right past the site where the stadium would be built.
The Sixers declined to comment on Saturday’s demonstration.
