Mayor of Philadelphia, Sixers reach agreement on proposed Center City arena

Mayor Cheryl Parker has backed the Sixers' plans to build a new arena in Center City, saying in a video on social media Wednesday that she has reached an agreement to keep the team in Philadelphia.

The news comes a week after the mayor Host a town hall for the controversial project that will affect neighboring Chinatown.

In the video, Parker claims the arena proposal is “the best financial deal ever entered into by a Philadelphia mayor for a local sports arena.” He said he believes building the arena in Center City is “the right deal for the people of Philadelphia.”

The proposed $1.55 billion arena, 76 Place, would stand in the Market East section of the city, at Market and Filbert streets and 10th and 11th streets, and would replace part of Philadelphia's Fashion District. It will also bring a mixed-use high-rise building with about 395 units next to the arena.

With Parker's approval, the proposal now needs City Council support to gain final approval. The mayor said he would hold additional town halls for the proposed arena as it moves through the City Council. He said the deal will “bring more than $1.3 billion in private investment to our city.”

“We are grateful to Mayor Parker and his team for their time and diligence in evaluating our proposal and look forward to moving forward with the City Council on the next steps,” the Sixers said in a statement.

The Sixers' proposed arena, slated for release in 2022, would be in Councilmember Mark Squealer's district. He had previously spoken of a decision 76 places were likely in the fall.

Squilla said in August that if legislation is introduced in the arena, hearings will be held to gather public comment and consider amendments before any final decision is voted on. He also said he will share the law with key stakeholders 30 days before launching it to get feedback.

On Wednesday, Squilla said city officials are committed to helping protect the people of Chinatown and surrounding areas.

“We know the challenges when these big projects are brought to us and it's up to us to ensure those safeguards,” he said.

The Sixers previously said they were running out of time to get the arena approved if they wanted to open it by the 2031-32 NBA season. The team's lease at the Comcast Spectacular-owned Wells Fargo Center expires in 2031.

On Wednesday, Comcast Spectator CEO Dan Hilferty said he would keep the door open to having the Sixers at the Wells Fargo Center as Harris continues to negotiate with the city of Blazer Sports Entertainment.

“Regardless of the outcome of the City's negotiations with HBSE, our door will always be open to the 76ers joining us in South Philadelphia if they ever decide that's what's best for their team,” Hilferty said in a statement. “Besides Phyllis, we're building Dynamic and accessible destinations For sports and recreation that will create thousands of jobs, enrich our city and create countless community benefits. Either way, we always want what's best for Philadelphia.”

Parker's announcement came later New Jersey gives the Sixers a chance to make the proposed field On the Camden waterfront just north of the Ben Franklin Bridge. The deal included more than $1 billion in tax credits and bonds.

After the treaty emerged from New Jersey, Parker said that was a priority The team considered all options to keep the Sixers in the city.

In late August, the city was liberated Four highly prospective independent studies On the impact of the proposed arena. The long-awaited reports focused on community impact, traffic impact, economic impact and the design of 76 Place.

The report found that the Sixers' proposed arena could indirectly displace businesses and residents in Chinatown, which would sit north of 76th Place. D The report found that public transport will be important For the success of the field, and if more than 40% of people drive in 76 places, some intersections can become clogged with traffic.

Sixers and others supporting the proposed arena, including the Philadelphia Building Construction Trades Council, IBEW Local Union 98 and NAACP Philadelphia, said it would revitalize Market East and create jobs.

In a statement Wednesday, Ryan Boyer, business manager for the Philadelphia Building and Construction Trades Council, thanked the mayor for approving the Sixers' new arena.

“Jobs are the lifeblood of commerce. “I urge the City Council to look past the sensational headlines and support the development of 76 Place in East Market. Failure to do so could result in the franchise leaving for Camden. Don't let that happen.”

D Save Chinatown Coalition Strongly opposed the construction of the arena, saying that the development will harm the surroundings. “The fight is not over,” the Save Chinatown Coalition said in a statement Wednesday.

“Mayor Parker hasn't even visited Chinatown in so long, yet she feels she can have a position on whether our community should live or die,” Debbie Wei with the Save Chinatown Coalition said in a statement. “This has never been about one person, and this fight is not over. We're going to fight it, and we're going to the mat. It's on.”

In a video supporting the proposed arena, Parker said he heard the concerns of Chinatown advocates.

“Now, to the good people of Chinatown, please listen to me,” Parker said in the video. “I see you. I hear you. I want your rich and vibrant community and proud history to not only survive but thrive. I believe we have the best Chinatown in the country, and I am committed to working together with you to support it.” .”

Parker said a full presentation about the proposed arena will be released “very soon.”

Annie Lowe, an attorney with the Asian American Legal Defense Fund, said she was one of about a dozen people invited to a meeting with Parker but left with more questions than answers for the mayor.

“He announced his decision for a few minutes but decided not to give us any details on the community benefits agreement that he apparently already negotiated with the developers,” Lowe said. “He previewed that he would have another briefing next week. We don't know the day or time. He said maybe Monday or Tuesday.”

Katie Garth, co-founder of No Arena Washington Square West, has an online petition urging the city to reject the Sixers arena. As of Wednesday evening, it had 952 signatures.

“Last week, we saw New Jersey release some renderings, I'm sure some of them were influenced by the Sixers wanting to go there,” Garth said. “And this week, we're effectively bullying Mayor Parker into accepting this deal. The meetings he's been having are smoke and mirrors, and we know he's not listening to the voters.”

“Independent researchers almost unanimously agree that these projects are not economic revitalization projects,” he added.

Lexi Daniels, who lives in the city, also opposes the arena. Daniels claimed the arena would have a “devastating effect on the culture” in Chinatown. Daniels also said parking will be an issue.

Richard Rogers lives in the suburbs and says the Sixers belong in the city, but he said he understands the concern about its potential impact on Chinatown.

“I always thought a sports arena should be in the city, not in the suburbs or across the river,” Rogers said. “But Chinatown is an asset to the city, and it wouldn't be good if it took it over or destroyed it in some way.”

Anthony Martin Jr. lives in Philadelphia and said a Center City arena would be “a really good thing for the city.”

“It's going to bring more business. It's going to bring more money to the city,” Martin Jr. said. “So that's a good thing. More job opportunities, that's all.”