‘No Arena Gayborhood’ group joins ‘Save Chinatown’ advocates to oppose 76 Place at Market East

Quick update on the anti-arena groups rallying against the construction of 76 Place at Market East. It appears there’s a new dog in the fight with representation from Gayborhood joining Chinatown in opposing the arena.

“No Arena Gayborhood” according to the name of their group, does not want 76 Place in the Gayborhood area of Philadelphia. “Save Chinatown Coalition” does not want an arena in Chinatown.

If you check out Google, you’ll find the following information on the Gayborhood and Chinatown.The Gayborhood is located between South 11th Street and Chestnut Street, as well as Lombard Street and South Broad Street, covering less than a mile from end to end.

Gayborhood Area:

Chinatown is located around the area where Arch Street meets North Broad Street and Franklin Square, roughly a mile from one end to the other.

Again, here’s a picture showing the exact area where Chinatown is located for those who need something visual rather than just reading my words.

Chinatown Area:

Market East, where Parker and team officials confirm the arena is being built, is located between Chinatown and the Gayborhood. Yet again, here’s a picture showing Market East from Google where it clearly indicates that the area is a street or two beyond both neighborhoods.

Market East Area:

Now that we’re on the same page on the locations of Chinatown, Gayborhood, and 76 Place, I have no other choice but to hand over this post to comedian Dave Chappelle so he can speak for me.

My response to No Arena Gayborhood and the Chinatown Coalition:

The “No Arena Gayborhood” group and the “Chinatown Coalition” group could just shut the fuck up, right? I mean honestly, what are we doing here? Based on location only, 76 Place isn’t impacting either area of Philadelphia and is only going to be constructed in the Market East section of Center City.

Let’s stop real quick and touch on the five key principles that were outlined by Mayor Cherelle Parker in her press conference earlier this week.

76 Place guided by five key principles:

1. Fiscal Responsibility: The Mayor emphasized the importance of careful stewardship of city resources to ensure fiscal stability as the top priority.
2. Economic Development: There is a focus on maximizing the potential city-wide impact of this large-scale project to foster broader economic benefits.
3. Market East Revitalization: The goal is to unlock the long-overdue redevelopment of Market East, which aims to attract investment, create jobs, generate new tax revenues, and bring vibrancy to a historic commercial area critical to the city.
4. Chinatown Preservation: The team is committed to preserving and enhancing Chinatown, addressing long-standing challenges that have emerged over the years.
5. Equitable Opportunities: Finally, there is a strong emphasis on ensuring that city residents and businesses, especially those historically excluded, have access to employment and contracting opportunities related to the project.

Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle Parker provided essential details for 76 Place arena project

Trust me, I understand that there’s more implications than just the actual location but that doesn’t mean that the location alone, from a business perspective, is at least enough of a reason to not really give a shit about either group and their concerns about 76 Place.

Given the five principles above, it seems like there will be a focus on fiscal responsibility, economic development, a revitalization of Market East, preserving Chinatown (no location impact on actual Chinatown), and providing equitable opportunities to to ensure that city residents and businesses, especially those historically excluded, have access to employment and contracting opportunities related to the project.

Knowing all of that information, it appears that the “No Arena Gayborhood” group is just mad that they weren’t mentioned by Mayor Parker.

How about we review all the details of the proposal from 76 Place, which is going to be privately funded to the tune of $1.3 BILLION.

• Community Benefits Agreement: The project includes a $50 million commitment to support nearby communities and city-wide investments in education and economic opportunities. Parker took pride in negotiating a front-loaded spending plan, with 70% of the funds allocated early to maximize impact, especially in the first ten years.
• Commitment to Chinatown: Parker clarified that the arena is adjacent to Chinatown, not within it. Importantly, no structures in Chinatown will be demolished for the project. Instead, the investments are intended to enhance Chinatown’s vitality and strengthen this treasured community in Philadelphia.
• Job Creation: The development of 76 Place is expected to create over 1,000 jobs during both the construction and operational phases. The economic opportunity plan is designed to ensure that these jobs benefit local individuals and businesses.
• Tax Revenue Generation: The arena is projected to generate over $700 million in new tax revenues for Philadelphia and its school district, addressing the critical need for revitalization in the Market East area

Key Provisions of the Agreement:

• Annual Payments: The Sixers will make an average payment of $6 million per year for 30 years, covering pilot and use-and-occupancy fees.
• Housing Support: A $3 million allocation for affordable housing preservation, senior housing, and home-ownership support.
• Public Transit Encouragement: $3 million will be invested to promote the use of public transit for arena events, benefiting SEPTA and PATCO services.
• Public Safety Enhancements: The community benefits agreement includes $4.1 million for 21 new CCTV cameras and improved lighting around the arena, alongside the construction of a new neighborhood security substation staffed by various organizations, including the Philadelphia Police Department.
• Educational Initiatives: $4.5 million allocated to support City College for Municipal Employment and extended-day schooling programs to prepare students for careers in the building trade.

Uh oh! That seems like a pretty sweet deal for every neighborhood in the surrounding area. It seems like the Gayborhood is just mad that the Mayor didn’t mention them by name while “catering” to Chinatown.

according to press release, the Sixers arena will destroy the Gayborhood in addition to Chinatown. by 2031, there won't be anything left in Center City except the arena: pic.twitter.com/dpTRR1cOBw

— Kevin Kinkead (@Kevin_Kinkead) September 26, 2024

Two blocks south and on the other side of Market from 76 Place? Well that hardly seems like anything the Gayborhood should be concerned with, let alone protest against.

On top of that, if you pull up Google Maps again, you’ll quickly realize that William Way and Giovanni’s Room is no where near the construction site of 76 Place.

In fact, it’s on the opposite side of the neighborhood.

Yikes.

Luckily, the entire thing seems to be pretty pointless to begin with. The protest they mustered up was just a few kids who had nothing better to do but complain. 

No Arena Gayborhood group joins Chinatown advocates to oppose Center City 76ers arena.

Video: @NBCPhiladelphia pic.twitter.com/P7ezGBlFoj

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) September 26, 2024

Honestly, the Mayor shouldn’t have even mentioned Chinatown by name because that just opened up the doors for every other neighborhood and/or group to ask why they weren’t mentioned.

The Gayborhood specifically has no legs to stand on. Literally zero dog in this fight.

This entire conversation is exhausting. I want someone from Chinatown and someone from the Gayborhood to respond and simply tell me what they are trying to preserve at Market East.

Spoiler alert: There’s nothing fucking there except trash.

The arguments go round and round and no one has two legs to stand on.