[VT – Philadelphia] On June 23, 2025, the launch of Philadelphia’s “People’s Vision” initiative was held at the Center for Architecture and Design. The event, hosted by the Asian Americans United (AAU) and co-organized by the Save Chinatown Coalition and Center City Organized for Responsible Development (CCORD), drew over 100 residents, community organizations, and local leaders. The goal: to reimagine the future of the Fashion District and surrounding areas through a community-led planning model that centers public needs while promoting equity and cultural preservation.
The event stems from over two and a half years of grassroots resistance to the proposed $1.3 billion Sixers arena project, which was ultimately shelved due to overwhelming public opposition. Yet, advocacy did not end there. Through over a year of community workshops, thousands of resident surveys, and interviews with local businesses, organizers created a people-centered development blueprint. As AAU co-founder Debbie Wei said:
“The arena fight showed us what happens when community voices are ignored—and also the power of collective action. Now we’re putting forward an alternative: a development model that collaborates with communities and prioritizes the public good.”
The “People’s Vision” was unveiled through visual displays and short films, outlining proposals developed through deep community engagement. These include preserving small business clusters, establishing a cross-community cultural corridor, integrating transit networks, and using Community Land Trusts to prevent displacement.
Vision Highlights: From Enclosed Mall to Community Hub
Rejecting the top-down logic of traditional commercial development, the “People’s Vision” advocates for adaptive reuse of the Fashion District rather than demolition and redevelopment:
- Breaking Down Walls: Introduce open-air green walkways, convert ground floors into public markets with local micro-businesses, and transform the mall from a “sealed box” into an extension of the surrounding street life.
- Multi-Use Spaces: Propose apartment towers with intergenerational, affordable housing; rooftop community gardens and recreation areas; and street-level spaces for social services, immigrant welcome centers, and neighborhood health clinics.
- Cultural Anchors: Convert the abandoned Greyhound station into a Chinatown History Museum and redesign Filbert Street as a dedicated cultural festival zone—strengthening historical memory and community connection.
Eli Storch, Chair of the Design Advocacy Group, remarked:
“Center City shouldn’t be a single-use zone. It should absorb the energy of Chinatown and the vitality of Reading Terminal Market. This vision shows that community needs and development value can coexist.”
Interactive Participation and Collaborative Dialogue
Following the presentation, attendees engaged in idea-sharing via sticky notes and group discussions, organized by neighborhood. City Councilmember Rue Landau joined the conversation to hear directly from residents.
In a focused panel moderated by Allison Lau, speakers Taib Smith, Eric Divera, Valerie Irwin, and Fred Pinguel explored how communities can lead development:
- Taib Smith criticized the dominance of outside capital:
- Eric Divera highlighted cultural cohesion:
- Valerie Irwin pointed to the revival of Reading Terminal Market:
“Prime urban land is being shaped by investors, not residents. We get cookie-cutter commercial strips full of yoga studios and ice cream chains—no room for small local businesses. Banks won’t back projects unless they favor national chains. The People’s Vision gives transit infrastructure back to the public—not just the powerful few.”
“At 9th Street Market, Italian and Southeast Asian vendors were neighbors but physically divided. Our mural and oral history projects helped bridge that gap. Small business stories can be the strongest social glue.”
“Preserving small business ecosystems is the foundation of community vitality.”
Interviews: “This Is Just the Beginning—We Will Keep Claiming Our Space”
In interviews with ChineseinUS, organizers outlined their next steps:
Vivian Chang, Executive Director of AAU, stated:
“Center City is the physical link between Chinatown and other neighborhoods, but right now it acts like a wall. We want to turn it into a bridge. That means everyone must have a voice—not just wealthy developers.”
Allison Lau added:
“During the arena fight, people kept asking, ‘If you don’t want an arena, what do you want?’ Today, we answered: We want green spaces where elders can walk. Safe routes for kids to get to school. Family businesses that can be passed down. These are simple needs—but we have to be the ones to plan them.”
Chang noted the broad engagement:
“Over 100 people came. Councilmember Rue Landau was here, along with staff from State Reps Ben Waxman and Nilval’s offices. That shows some are listening. But not everyone in power respects us yet. That’s why we need to keep speaking out—any plan that ignores the community will never be accepted.”
Both Chang and Lau concluded:
“This is just the beginning. We’ll gather more input and turn this vision into actionable proposals. And then? Then we hold decision-makers accountable. Planning isn’t just lines on a map—this is our home, and the ending must be written by us.”
Call to Action: A Future Written by the People
Organizers closed the event with a powerful message: this plan is more than a proposal for the Fashion District—it’s a direct challenge to Philadelphia’s traditional development model, one that too often prioritizes corporate profit over community wellbeing. They urged the City to support the plan through public investment and ensure marginalized groups are given real power in future decisions.
As Vivian Chang emphasized:
“We’re not offering a rigid blueprint—we’re rejecting the false choice between an arena and a wasteland. Other cities have shown that with public investment and community leadership, downtowns can be inclusive and vibrant spaces.”
The People’s Vision is not just a proposal—it’s a movement. And it’s just getting started.
