Street Nixes Chinatown Stadium

Street`s decision to back a ballpark in the Chinatown neighborhood had been criticized by neighbors and by lawmakers who said the location could add as much as $350 million to the bill for site preparation and other costs.

"We worked very, very hard but at the end of the day we were never able to reach any consensus," Street said at an afternoon press conference at City Hall.

"I concluded in my own mind that after hearing what I heard that ... I would have been doing something less than representing the citizens of this city if I was willing to give this a chance," Street said.

Street said he will recommend to City Council that both the Eagles and the Phillies stadiums be located in South Philadelphia, creating "a sports complex that`s very different from any other complex in the country."

The new Phillies stadium would be at the corner of Darien and Pattison avenues, across the street from the proposed site for the new Eagles arena. The plan would increase the number of parking spaces at the sports complex from more than 15,000 spaces to as many as 23,000, officials said.

"I think it`s a great relief and about time the mayor came to his senses," said Mary Yee, a committee co-chairman of the Stadium Out of Chinatown Coalition. "I think the traffic and parking issues are certainly less troublesome there. There wouldn`t be that impact on the quality of life since the residences are farther away there."

Street was joined at the news conference by officials with both teams.

"We think it will be an outstanding site for the vision we have for our stadium," said Joe Banner, executive vice president of the Eagles. "The access will be good and our opportunity to create the experience we`re looking for, so we are very pleased and excited to move forward with this site configuration."

David Montgomery, Phillies` president and chief executive, said the new plan "affords all of us who are down there, all four franchises, a very functional sports complex." The Philadelphia Flyers and Philadelphia 76ers also play in South Philadelphia.

Street had reportedly met with City Council President Anna Verna and other South Philadelphia leaders Sunday to discuss the alternatives to locating a Phillies stadium in Chinatown. Choosing a site for a new Eagles stadium has been less contentious, with the city and the Eagles agreeing all along to a site in South Philadelphia.

In July, negotiations over funding broke down over how the city and the teams would split the cost of stadium construction. With the deadlines approaching, the Eagles threatened to build their football stadium outside the city.

The latest funding plan calls for the Eagles to pay for the entire cost of stadium construction _ an estimated $320 million. The team would retain nearly all of the revenue generated by the new facility.

The state has already promised at least $85 million for each stadium.

If a stadium deal is not approved by Nov. 30, the city is obligated to buy the Eagles` new practice facility for $23 million and pay up to $80 million over the next two years to upgrade the 30-year-old Veterans Stadium, the building that currently houses both teams.

The Eagles hope to have a new stadium built in time for the 2003-2004 season, and the Phillies are hoping to have a new facility by 2004.

(Copyright 2000 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Author: AP