By Randall Yip, AsAmNews Executive Editor
Boos and catcalls from an overflow crowd greeted representatives of the Philadelphia 76ers, the developer and the city during a town hall about the team’s proposed new arena next to Chinatown Wednesday night.
Little children sat in front of the crowd on the floor proclaiming they loved Chinatown. Participants held signs proclaiming “No to the Arena.” At one point they broke out in the chant “hands off Chinatown.”
They peppered 76er Chief Diversity and Impact Officer David Gould, Leslie Smallwood-Lewis, founder and co-owner of the arena Developer HBSE Real Estate and 76 Devcorp; and City Councilperson Mark Squilla with questions.
“We are aware is the trauma this community has experienced in the past,” said Gould. “The feedback we have received is that they have concerns about the arena, about the impact on traffic. The proposal we put forth in July is not complete. It requires a lot of conversation and feedback.”
Gould says the team thinks the arena would be good for the city and good for Downtown and the Fashion District which he says has underperformed. The proposed location would literally border the outskirts of the city’s Chinatown which measures about about four square blocks.
Gould denied any members of the arena steering committee made up of community representatives would personally benefit in any way from the proposal.
“We haven’t paid anyone on the committee, No,” he said. “We haven’t paid or going to pay anybody on the steering committee. What we have said, we have budgeted money for a community benefits agreement.”
He said that they’ve budgeted $100,000 for security cameras to address community concerns.
No members of the 13-member steering committee took part in the town hall. However, John Chin of the Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation and co-chair of the steering committee spoke to AsAmNews just hours before the meeting.
“We are are not part of any community benefits agreement,” Chin told us. “Our primary interest is in the protection of Chinatown.”
He listed traffic and parking along with affordable housing and the displacement of businesses as the top four concerns his committee has about the arena.
“We do not support the arena,” he declared.
Gould pledged that no one from the steering committee would be hired in any way.
“I think anyone negotiating on behalf of the broader community, shouldn’t be compromised in any way. Our goal is to find what does the community need to ease negative effects and amplify any positive effects.”
City Councilman Mark Squilla pledged that no legislation would be considered without first sharing it with Chinatown. He was responding to criticism the City Council last week tried to sneak through a measure that would have closed off Filbert Street near the arena.
It was a move opposed by the Chinese community and seen as a way to fast-track the arena’s development. The council voted the proposal down after protestors packed the meeting in opposition.
Developer Smallwood-Lewis said the community’s concerns about the future of Chinatown would be addressed.
“We’ve worked in a lot of communities to avoid the type of concerns you have. We understand we need to celebrate culture. That is very important to the company and to the 76ers, she said.”
The steering committee announced in a news release that three more town halls would be held.
They will be at Crane Chinatown Community Center on the following dates:
January 9th at 2:00 p.m. for business owners and representatives
January 18th at 7:00 p.m. for Chinatown residents
January 29th at 1:00 p.m. for those who visit, attend Church, send their children to school in Chinatown or who patronize Chinatown businesses.
Wednesday’s town hall was organized by a coalition of 24 community organizations largely opposed to the arena plans.
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