The Market East neighborhood in Center City, Philadelphia, has a clear future now that the City Council has approved a $1.3 billion plan to build a brand-new arena for the Philadelphia Sixers.
The City Council voted in favor of the legislative package that would pave the way for a plan that might significantly alter the region during its planned meeting on Thursday, December 19. Following months of discussions with developers, community meetings held throughout the city, demonstrations, and outbursts from both sides of the argument, the approval was finally granted.
A raucous start
There was no shortage of protest at the beginning of Thursday’s meeting, as a number of people opposed to the arena idea stood on the floor of the City Council chambers in City Hall, yelling and blowing whistles.
Donning shirts that read Protesters gathered on the city council floor as the meeting was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., but the city council sold out Philly and shut it down.
Law police officers removed a number of demonstrators from the room at approximately 10:15 a.m.
The demonstrators on the chamber floor had been cleared by around 10:25 a.m., but the audience still chanted throughout the room.
Chants of shame filled the rooms for a while as Kenyatta Johnson, the president of the City Council, tried to open the meeting.
Although there was considerable ruckus, the meeting was finally called to order by approximately 10:35 a.m.
Johnson spoke to the crowd as he opened the meeting, urging everyone to respect the process because the arena design has been the subject of eight hearings held by the council.
At the beginning of the morning’s meeting, Johnson stated, “All we are asking is just respect our process and let us continue our business.”
Both sides of the debate contributed to the opening of public comment, which Johnson claims had an incredibly lengthy list of speakers.
The arena might create jobs and have a favorable economic impact, according to several people who spoke favorably of the idea.
Daisy Cruz of the service workers union 32BJ SEIU stated, “We want to make sure that this arena is built.” I appreciate the chance. I appreciate you constructing the arena.
According to Paul Brown, a school psychologist in the Roxborough neighborhood of the city, the council ought to have pushed for the school system to receive more funding in the deal with arena developers.
Right now, you have a great chance to demand something better that doesn’t hurt or displace people, but you only want to close a deal that provides them less, he added.
How did the voting go?
Every one of the eleven articles of legislation required a separate vote.
And by a vote of 12 to 5, most of these bills were approved.
The councilmembers that opposed nearly every bill in this package were: Jamie Gauthier (D-3rd dist.), Rue Landau (D-At-Large), Jeffery Young (D-5th dist.), Kendra Brooks (Working Families Party, At-Large) and Nicolas V. O Rourke (Working Families Party At Large).
However, more council members backed several of the bills.
One bill, for instance, that would establish an overlay for the Chinatown area was approved 14–3.
Other bills that were put to a vote were overwhelmingly approved.
What s next?
The proposal would bring an arena to the intersection of Market and Filbert streets at 10th and 11th streets.
Ahead of the day s vote, City Councilmember Mark Squilla (D-1st dist.) said that, even after the day s voting, City Council will continue to meet with stakeholders and members of the community to ensure neighbors are part of the development process.
According to Squilla, the process is not finished yet.
City Council has been holding meetings since September focused solely on the arena plan. Additionally, there have been a few issues.
What the developers intend to incorporate in a Community Benefits Agreement with the communities closest to the project site may be the most significant.
Initially, developers proposed $50 million in that agreement, but some suggested that figure be doubled.
In fact, some members of groups that opposed the development planhad sought to have that figure upped to $300 million.
But, in legislation that was read before City Council forits first reading last week, the proposal was amended to request $60 million in that CBA.
According to the amendments, $33 million would be allocated for projects in and around the city’s Chinatown neighborhood, such as creating a community master plan and giving $2 million in grants to small businesses, as part of the $60 million in CBA funding.
The remaining $27 million would then be spread to other initiatives citywide, including $7 million for extended day/extended year schooling and $3 million for public transit at the arena.
With City Council s support on Thursday, construction is expected to begin sometime in 2028.
Developers hope to open the arena in 2031.
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