Chinatown’s Opinion of Montco Developer’s Center City 76ers Arena: It’s an Airball

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76 Place at Market East
Image via 6abc.

A recent survey of Chinatown businessowners has put some statistics behind what has been anecdotal evidence that 76 Place, the proposed new Center City Sixers arena put forward last year by Penn Valley developer David Adelman, is ill advised. Nina Baratti reported the data for KYW Newsradio.

The poll results reflect data gathered by the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation (PCDC).

It collected more than 230 surveys and gauged public sentiment at three community meetings purposefully positioned as bilingual.

Results were not encouraging to Ademlan’s vision or the 76ers hopes: 93 percent of businessowners and 95 percent of visitors are against its construction.

As a result, the PCDC finds it cannot endorse the proposal either. Its statement on the issue read that the arena “… deeply imperils the future of Chinatown.”

The thumbs-down reactions cited three common fouls:

  • Traffic
  • Chinatown’s erasure
  • Gentrification and displacement

The PCDC has committed to continue to evaluate 76 Place, according to its executive director, John Chin.

Adelman issued no comment on the survey.

The 76ers organization called the results “disappointing.” It further claimed that the PCDC’s opinions came without a review of the official proposal, which, featured “one of the largest community benefits agreements in the history of our city … .”

More on the future of 76 Place is at KYW Newsradio.

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An early report from 6abc on 76ers Place at Market East.

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