After months of intense opposition from Chinatown residents and activists, the Philadelphia 76ers have officially abandoned their plans to build a new arena in Center City. The team has instead opted to construct a new arena in their existing location in South Philadelphia. This victory for Chinatown comes after widespread protests and concerns that the arena would have negatively impacted the neighborhood.
Chinatown activists are celebrating a major victory after the Philadelphia 76ers canceled their plans to build a new arena in Center City. The team has instead decided to stay at their current location in South Philadelphia and construct a new arena there. While city officials claim the shift was due to a change of heart by the Sixers, opponents of the arena believe their persistent resistance played a crucial role in the outcome.
'There will not be an arena in the heart of our city,' declared Mohan Seshadri of the No Arena Coalition, addressing a gathering of supporters and media in Chinatown on Monday afternoon. Those who opposed the controversial arena project couldn't help but feel that the entire city had been used. 'When you roll out a red carpet for the Sixers, you become the carpet they will trample all over,' stated Taryn Flaherty of Students for The Preservation of Chinatown. The Sixers' initial plans to build an arena in Center City were met with fierce opposition from Chinatown residents who feared the project would decimate their community. This led to widespread protests, with some demonstrators even being arrested on the final day of voting. On that day, they sat on the floor of Philadelphia City Council chambers in an attempt to prevent the council from approving the arena plan. Although the Center City arena is no longer a reality, Chinatown advocates are continuing to push for the benefits that were promised to the neighborhood under the initial agreement. These benefits include millions of dollars for local businesses and affordable housing. On Monday, activists expressed their gratitude to the five council members who voted against the proposal and also took note of those who supported it. There were also criticisms of Mayor Cherelle Parker's press conference, which took place shortly before the anti-arena press conference. In her address, the mayor highlighted the proposed arena in South Philadelphia and the city's efforts to secure a WNBA team. 'No matter how Mayor Parker tries to spin it, this was never a WNBA bid. This was a colossal waste of time and city resources,' stated West. The Sixers still intend to collaborate with the city on the development of Market East, a project that the Save Chinatown Coalition does not oppose. They simply demand to be included in the planning process this time. 'We're ready to say, 'Hey, doors open, let's have a conversation that we need to have about a project that's the right size and right fit,'' said Seshadri. 'Just because it's not an arena doesn't mean the community should be taken out of the equation again,' added Vivian Chang of No Arena Coalition. These groups are determined to safeguard their community, which they believe narrowly escaped destruction
CHINATOWN PHILADELPHIA 76ERS ARENA DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS PROTEST
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