Protesters rally against proposed NBA arena in Philadelphia’s Chinatown

City leaders had miscalculated Chinatown’s fury and the fight that residents would put up to save their homes and preserve their touchstones of their culture.

The project has a number of carve-outs that would greatly reduce the Sixers ’ tax burden.

It has crafted a community benefits agreement worth $50 million over the 30 years , or about $1.6 million each year .

The city would maintain ownership of the land, so the city would not pay property taxes.

The arena project has a strong whiff of New York -ification trends, though Philly is a very different, smaller city.

It could end up like the Madison Square Garden/Penn Station area in Manhattan , notoriously a complex that locals seek to avoid unless they have an event or a train to catch.

A survey commissioned by the Save Chinatown Coalition found that nearly 70 percent of Philadelphians opposed the arena.

Chinatown coalition of neighborhood groups and social justice leaders has an uphill battle against the powerful politicians who want to get the deal done.

The final decision now moves to Philadelphia City Council .

The earliest the legislation can be introduced is October 24th .