Developers for a new Philadelphia 76ers arena have announced updates to their plans. The arena will likely be built near the city’s Chinatown and has been protested for months by Chinatown residents.
According to ABC 6 Philadelphia, developers say they no longer plan to close traffic completely on 10th and 11th streets near the arena. They have also drawn up plans to attract business to the East Market Street corridor when games are not being played.
Originally, developers had asked for 10th and 11th streets to be closed before and after 76ers games. Now, they are willing to leave one lane on each of the streets open, NBC Philadelphia reports.
Updates also showed plans for shops and restaurants right by the arena as well as data that claims that 75% of fans will exit the arena within 15 minutes after the game.
David Adelman, a Philadelphia developer and co-owner of the 76ers, said developers wanted to respond to community concerns. But, members of the community say the updates still fail to address core issues.
“Not a single person spoke favorably of this project in the last six hour meeting, and developers still fail to address the most persistent public feedback on 76 Place: it’s in the wrong location,” Vivian Chang, Executive Director of Asian Americans United and member of the Save Chinatown Coalition said in a statement per NBC Philadelphia. “With 76 Place developers’ baseless assumptions about fans’ change in travel, significant street closures, and refusal to answer who will pay for needed changes to infrastructure and SEPTA, this document raises more questions than answers.”
Organizers will be able to give their input at a civic design review meeting on April 2, 2024 at 9:30 a.m.
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