PPL Park was going to lead a city rebirth. While the mayor
remains hopeful, frustrations are rising.
CHESTER - Far more than a mere sports arena, the Major
League Soccer stadium was going to be the centerpiece of an economic
renaissance for the struggling city of Chester.
In announcing $47 million in state funding for the project
in 2008, Gov. Ed Rendell went so far as to say it would "change the face
of Chester forever," the axis for development that would include housing,
a convention center, office and retail space, and a riverside promenade on the
city's historic waterfront.
Today, with the Philadelphia Union in their fifth season,
PPL Park, in the shadow of the Commodore Barry Bridge, remains an island among
vacant land and dilapidated buildings.
In the meantime, two modest projects are in the works. The
Union are preparing to build practice fields next to the stadium on land
earmarked for the envisioned development, and plans are underway to renovate a
building nearby that will house the Union's corporate offices.
But the $7 million projects have caused frictions to surface
between the team and the city - and have underscored the challenges of bringing
large-scale private development to a financially troubled city.
"The business environment here continues to be inconsistent,"
said the team's chief executive officer, Nick Sakiewicz.
Mayor John Linder, who is working to bring the practice
field and office space projects to fruition, said that he hoped they would
represent progress.
"It's frustrating sometimes to wait when you need
something to happen right now, but I'm hopeful and optimistic that this is a
signal that some of these other things will come," Linder said.
Chester may keep waiting, said Villanova University
professor Rick Eckstein.
About the lack of development, "I'm not
surprised," said Eckstein, a coauthor of Public Dollars, Private Stadiums:
The Battle Over Building Sports Stadiums. Eckstein has been skeptical of the
project since plans were unveiled. "Many of us who follow stadiums through
the years know that the development rarely, if ever, comes," he said.
Both the city and the team point to a poor economy as a
barrier to development in Chester, a financially distressed city with nearly
one-third of its residents living below the poverty level.
Months after announcements of public investment for the
soccer team and the proposed $500 million riverfront revival, a recession took
hold.
Construction of PPL Park nevertheless commenced in December
2008, funded primarily with the state money and $30 million from Delaware
County. Other plans, however, were scaled back and put on hold.
"We always had a grand plan to build a lot of stuff
down here, but . . . the economy made it very difficult for us to get any kind
of bank financing or people interested in developing," Sakiewicz said.
Quick exits
Sakiewicz said the stadium has "over-delivered" in
creating 650 jobs, most of which are part-time, game-day positions. Half of
those employees live in Chester, said team spokeswoman Aimee Cicero.
But the stadium has not been the anticipated boost to
Chester's economy. More than 18,000 fans pack PPL Park during games - and most
immediately leave town when the games are over.
"I would like to see something where they stay and they
spend money here on that waterfront," Linder said, citing the importance
of nearby retail or restaurants.
After Sakiewicz went public a few months ago with his
frustrations with the city, Linder has worked closely with him. The team had
shelved plans for the practice fields and new offices, but the mayor helped
them back on track.
Sakiewicz praised Linder's efforts but continued to express
doubts about the city's ability to work with business owners. In an interview
last week, Linder said he did not want to discuss Sakiewicz's comments about
the city's business climate.
"We have a process with each developer, and we will
take their issues as they bring them," Linder said. "But our goal is
to continue to make this a place for businesses to come and develop."
Lost revenue
When the practice fields are completed, the next phase of
development would include renovation of a building next to the Wharf at
Rivertown, an office building near the stadium. Both buildings are owned by the
Buccini/Pollin Group. The developers are part owners of the Union and have led
the plans for the waterfront site. The company did not respond to requests for
comment last week.
Sakiewicz said the Union would move their corporate offices,
now in the Wharf at Rivertown, into the renovated annex building.
However, further development isn't on the horizon, even as
the economy has improved.
And Sakiewicz said that other attempts by the city to gain
revenue have hurt the team.
Private parking lots have opened near the stadium, and the
Union unsuccessfully fought zoning changes in court that allowed the lots.
Sakiewicz said the private lots have meant about $1 million in lost revenue to
the team annually. The city also instituted a new tax on parking facilities
last year.
Linder defended the tax, noting that the city has been
declared financially distressed by the state and needs to consider all revenue
options.
He said he still hoped to see development blossom in the
stadium area, as does Sakiewicz.
"If people want to move to Chester or build in Chester,"
Sakiewicz said, "we could relocate the [practice] fields."
Source: Philly.com
No comments:
Post a Comment