Brief by Faith Zantua, Co-News Editor
Photos by Jeffrey Heng, Co-Opinion Editor
On Thursday, Councilmember Mark Squilla introduced 13 related pieces of legislation to the Philadelphia City Council during its regular stated meeting that, if approved, would allow for the implementation of the 76 Place at Market East project, a plan to construct a new arena for the Philadelphia 76ers in the Fashion District.
Community members have shown mixed reactions since the announcement of the stadium in July 2022. Various worker unions and organizations have supported the project for possible economic opportunities while groups such as the Save Chinatown Coalition have opposed it because of the harm it could pose to the nearby communities.
Hours before the meeting started at 10 a.m., community members gathered outside of City Hall as they waited to enter. Groups set up tables carrying shirts, posters and food to support or oppose the arena.
Hosted in Room 400 of the City Hall, interim chief clerk Elizabeth McCollum-Nazario read the legislation to the council. During her presentation, attendees chanted in opposition to the project and held protest signs at times, with others responding in chants of support for the arena. As a result, police removed some community members against the proposed arena from the meeting, and a majority of attendees supporting the Save Chinatown Coalition left the room.
The council moves to begin the legislative processes, including committee hearings, regarding the project’s legislation and its potential approval in the future. According to the 76 Place at Market East website, the project team aims to finish the legislative approvals by the end of this year.
Faith Zantua can be reached at [email protected].
Jeffrey Heng can be reached at [email protected].
