New Sixers Arena: 4 analysis reports published

PHILADELPHIA – The city of Philadelphia has the four separate reports by outside consultants who were commissioned to conduct analyses of the planned new Sixers arena in Center City.

On Monday, City Hall was a hive of activity surrounding the planned 76ers arena in the Market East neighborhood as Mayor Cherelle Parker met with the Save Chinatown Coalition.

Later Monday night, the mayor's office released hundreds of pages of the highly anticipated consultants' report on the proposal, which was commissioned and paid for by the Sixers.

“We are releasing these detailed reports so the public can better understand the impacts of such a multifaceted project for Philadelphia,” said Mayor Cherelle L. Parker. “On behalf of the City, we thank the independent consultants who conducted this work. Transparency is a core value for me as Mayor, and that is why I wanted to ensure these reports were available to all interested stakeholders. These studies are important inputs into my review of this proposal.”

The four reports include:

1. A Community impact assessment
2. An analysis of the economic impact
3. Design consulting and
4. A traffic, transport and parking analysis.

The community impact report focuses on Chinatown, an area the report says is car-dependent, and calls it a “regional hub for Asian residents and businesses.”

It says that there are already problems with parking and loading in the area.

However, the effects of increasing traffic congestion and the intensification of the already existing negative dynamic due to rising real estate prices are also becoming apparent.

As for the residential and commercial sectors, the report says the project will not result in direct displacement of housing. However, it found evidence that it could result in increased indirect displacement of small businesses and people on low and fixed incomes.

It is said that one in five small businesses in Chinatown could achieve a positive net economic benefit through the establishment of businesses in the entertainment, food and hospitality sectors.

However, it also says that half of Chinatown's small businesses will not be able to benefit from the arena and may be negatively impacted. These are likely to be businesses in financial and professional services, healthcare, supermarkets, grocery stores and wholesale trade.

Some participants in the meeting with Mayor Parker reacted differently.

“Every sports team does the same thing: They pay for a study. The study says what they want to hear, but it doesn't tell us, the city and the government, what's going to happen,” said Vivian Chang of Asian Americans United.

Although the Sixers paid for the reports, the team said it had no impact on the results.

In a press release sent to FOX 29 on Monday evening, other members and leaders of the Save Chinatown Coalition addressed the reports.

“The fact that the Sixers funded these studies and failed to disclose this fact from the beginning says everything you need to know about their credibility. The economic analysis was conducted by a consultant who has a track record of faulty data and incorrect projections in Philadelphia,” said Vivian Chang, executive director of Asian Americans United and a member of the Save Chinatown Coalition. “The failure to calculate the financial costs of the arena to Chinatown, other neighborhoods and existing businesses shows how frivolous and flawed these documents are. As we continue to carefully review these documents in the coming days, it will be clear that these are not the studies the community has requested or that the city needs.”

“Let's be clear: billionaire developers will benefit the most from 76 Place, and these studies are just a gimmick to obscure that fact. Don't fall for it. The truth is that 76 Place will not pay property taxes. The truth is that wages for Black workers go down when stadiums are built. That doesn't help our people. For a year, we've seen developers pit Blacks and Asians against each other and keep us employed while behind the scenes, wealthy corporations cash in like bandits and leave the rest of us with nothing but crumbs,” said Rev. Greg Edwards, POWER Interfaith Executive Director and member of the Save Chinatown Coalition.

A spokesperson for 76 DevCo issued the following statement Monday evening:

“We are reviewing what has been published and will have more to say when we have completed a full analysis, but it is already clear that they support what we have been saying since 76 Place was first announced: the arena is an appropriate use for Center City and will generate significant new jobs and tax revenues because Philadelphia can support two arenas. Our assumptions regarding parking and traffic are actionable and these results are further evidence that 76Place can be developed in a way that protects our neighbors and maximizes the benefit to Philadelphia.”