Second Time Around for 76 Place and Civic Design Review

Back in the day, Shalamar had a hit with “The Second Time Around.” As the song goes, the second time around is “better than the first time.”

The first time that 76 Place at Market East development team presented their plan before Civic Design Review, the only people who said anything positive about the project are on the Sixers’ payroll. During the public comment period, no one spoke in support of 76 Place.

The development team will sing the same old song that 76 Place is a “win-win” for Philadelphia during their second time before CDR. However, the 106-page CDR Resubmission is no better than the one presented the first time around.

The updated plan leaves unanswered questions that have been asked for nearly two years, including who will pay for infrastructure and SEPTA upgrades? Who will pay to relocate the entrance to the Market-Frankford Line? Who will pay for the disruption in SEPTA service and ridership?

The Sixers propose using 12th and Chestnut Streets as rideshare pick-up and drop-off zones.

The narrow one-way streets are used by Routes 21 and 23, two of SEPTA’s highest ridership bus routes. Demolition, construction and game days would disrupt Route 33.

It is also the second time around for two government officials whose communications with the Sixers are the subject of my Right-To-Know Law Request: Philadelphia City Planning Commission Interim Executive Director Martine Decamp and PCPC Presenter Ian Litwin.

The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records ordered the City Planning Commission to turn over the records. Rather than comply with the OOR’s final determination, the Philadelphia Law Department filed an appeal with the Court of Common Pleas.

I have an appointment to watch paint dry so I will miss the Sixers’ dog and pony show on April 2. If you are interested in joining the Zoom meeting, you can register for the webinar here.