Winding Up a Wrecking Ball for Downtown Philadelphia

Philadelphia City Council approves 76 Place, a $1.5 billion arena for the city's NBA team, on the doorstep of the city’s Chinatown.

The controversial project threatens that neighborhood, other residential areas, and small businesses in the downtown core.

The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority ( SEPTA ) is the key to sparing downtown Philadelphia this gridlock.

Philadelphia City Council vote on 76 Place takes place on December 19 .

The city wants to plunk a shiny bauble on top of Jefferson Station .

Critics have compared these proposed changes to the ones foisted on the “new” Penn Station in New York .

SEPTA concludes that construction disruptions and delays at Jefferson Station would cost the system anywhere from $25 million to $50 million .