Center City locals oppose stadium at downtown site

Residents of the Broad and Spring Garden area met at a forum last night. Raising their voices in anger, residents of the Spring Garden neighborhood gathered downtown last night to discuss a proposal to build a baseball stadium in Center City at Broad and Spring Garden streets. And the roughly 300 community members present at the Highway Tabernacle Church at 17th and Spring Garden streets sent a strong message to area City Council member Darrell Clarke. They don't want a new neighbor. "I'm as likely to win the lottery as the site is to work at this location," said Patricia Freeland, a member of Stadium Off this Site. Last night's session was one of several community meetings Clarke is holding to discuss the issues surrounding the stadium. The Broad and Spring Garden site is backed heavily by both the Phillies and Mayor Ed Rendell, who says it will energize the area. Clarke has remained neutral on the issue so far, saying he wants more information before he comes to a decision. "I will do as many forums as I need," he said. But with a proposal expected from the Phillies in October, his time may be limited. The main item on the agenda was a presentation by SOS on potential traffic and parking problems. That was followed by a question-and-answer session between Clarke and his constituents. All those present were invited to fill out questionnaires on the stadium. Clarke said the information and the events of the meeting would be relayed to the Phillies, who did not participate in the forum. Last night was primarily a chance for residents to express their frustrations. Richard Orth, a transportation engineer who did the traffic analysis for the Phillies, spoke very briefly towards the meeting's end. During the traffic analysis, SOS member Ed Gruberg said that the stadium will attract 45,000 people and about 12,000 cars. According to Gruberg, the surrounding streets and parking cannot possibly accommodate the traffic. And he doubted the feasibility of the Phillies' plan, which calls for parking in Center City as well as commuter routes to the stadium. When he pointed out a proposed parking location at Eighth and Filbert streets, the crowd began to laugh. The audience frequently broke into raucous applause, with many holding up SOS signs, as several SOS members spoke to the group. Freeland disputed the city's argument that a Broad and Spring Garden stadium alone could rejuvenate Center City. "We can revitalize our own neighborhood," she said, as the room exploded with cheers and Clarke slowly wiped his forehead. The community frequently chorused the same request: give us some answers. Residents complained they didn't have information on traffic control, on neighborhood safety or on why other sites had been passed over. "A stadium would have drastic effects on our neighborhood," Freeland said, adding that "the Phillies are engaged in fantasies and wishful thinking." Three or four attendees -- organized by a group composed of property owners -- bravely gripped signs that read, "Ballpark Yes!" "It will bring jobs and employment," said Gene Wieczorek, the group's co-chairperson. But the stadium's opponents outweighed the supporters by at least 10 to one. And Clarke said he was receiving mostly negative mail on the issue. Another anti-stadium group present -- Stop Stadium Spending -- objected to using taxpayers money for the project. The group wants the money to go towards education and other community needs. "There shouldn't be welfare for fat cat billionaires," Chairperson Richard Ash said. Money for the stadium is coming from the team, the state government and the city. Other locations for the stadium include South Philadelphia -- near the Phillies' current home at Veterans Stadium -- and at 30th and Walnut streets. The latter site is strongly opposed by the University. One of Rendell's consultants, Patrick Mulligan -- the former director of operations for Oriole Park at Camden Yards in Baltimore -- attended the meeting. Mulligan said the presentation was misleading and that the panic was "blown out of proportion. "There was no mention of the subway system or the bus system," he said, adding that 22 percent of Camden Yards visitors use public transit.