Lucy Yan: Harriton High School 2026
The complicated realities of gentrification have reached Philadelphia Chinatown’s Friendship Gates. However, the coalition of activist groups, tight-knit communities, and beloved family businesses that stand steadfast beneath the intricately patterned arch meet the impending threat of cold corporate cultural decimation with their undying devotion to their cultural enclave. The intimidation of capitalistic endeavors is no stranger to Chinatowns across the country. The circumstances of the proposed Sixers stadium would cut painfully into Chinatown businesses, just like the development of the Vine Street Freeway traversing through Philadelphia's Chinatown, that has damaged the close-knit cultural communities of the region through which it passed.
In Philadelphia specifically, there have been numerous efforts to build large developments in Chinatown, which would leech revenue from businesses, forcing long-time inhabitants out and eliminating culture. Over two hundred families lost their residence for the construction of the Convention Center, and the Vine Street Expressway took six whole city blocks. Although the neighborhood didn’t succeed in stopping them, the fights fostered a base of awareness to the potential of impending gentrification. However, the community was victorious in their efforts to prevent the proposal of a baseball stadium where the Folk Arts-Cultural Treasure school is now. Without their collaborative effort, a whole school dedicated to serving immigrant youth would not exist. The primary mode of preventing these developments is public outreach and dissent, thus, abstaining from action is just as bad.
Most recently, the possibility of the construction of a new seventy sixers stadium has invited concern to the community, and groups such as Philadelphia’s Students for the Preservation of Chinatown (SPOC), Students Against the Sixers Arena (SASA), and their newest sibling organization, Ginger Arts Center (GAC) have taken action against the proposal. The concept was initiated by a new development company, 76 Devcorp, led by Philadelphia business leader David Adelman, in partnership with Harris Blitzer Sports Entertainment (HBSE). The stadium proposal would push out residents and rapidly increase the frequency of affluent residents moving in.
Despite the developers’ facade of “bringing the city together” evidence shows clearly how in the past, Chinatowns across the country have been culturally destroyed or physically demolished by nearby sports stadiums, arenas, or casinos. A tragic example is the Capital One arena next to Washington, D.C.’s Chinatown. Co-Leader of SPOC and UPenn student, Taryn Flaherty explained it as, “The running joke is that it’s now a Chinatown with no Chinese. All the Chinese-owned businesses and residents were displaced. It’s now a lot of large chain businesses like Starbucks with Chinese signs translating their names. Even those businesses are struggling to survive because no one wants to live next to an arena.” (Lee par. 1)
As of earlier this fall, Mayor Cherelle Parker has even endorsed the stadium, much to the community’s chagrin. She has gone on record talking about her plans to use the stadium to replenish the city’s economy using all the revenue opportunities and job creations. She is also pushing a CBA (Community Benefits Agreement) of three million dollars to ease the wounds of the neighborhood. This proposition was met with backlash and in a statement following the announcement, the Save Chinatown Coalition said in part, "It is outlandish that the mayor is unilaterally trying to impose a CBA on a project that lacks even the most basic studies on housing and rent costs, impacts on small businesses, livability, and transit access — issues that will impact the city for years to come, between multiple years of construction and long-term damage to traffic flow and access to emergency healthcare. We are united in opposition to the arena and the rushed, haphazard process surrounding it." This activist group (SCC) exhibited their disdain for Mayor Parker’s take on the situation and the fight continues, stronger than ever.
While some corporate officials prioritize profit, in actuality, their greed driven desire will only condemn culture, widen the wealth gap, and stunt equitable growth. Gentrification is a systemic injustice and understanding the institutionalized impacts of anti-asian antagonism, inciting policy change, and studying protest patterns to spread awareness and inspire action are of the utmost importance. Activism has stopped projects like the proposed Seventy Sixers stadium before and with public outreach it will again; the groups mentioned above, among countless others and the full force of a passionate Chinatown at their sides, have held massive rallies to protest the construction of the arena for the past two years. Pushing for policy change and education on the culture and history of the neighborhood, are the main means of halting these changes, and being a bystander is contributing to the problem.
Sources
Comments