Not advocating for the arena but it is important to note that this arena is not actually in Chinatown. DC’s was.
JHG722
I just got back from DC. Stayed in the Chinatown area. It is definitely not destroyed. It’s better and safer than ours.
mdervin
Right because a dead mall and an abandoned bus station is the best for Chinatown.
MumenriderPaulReed69
Na I’m okay with this. Destroy it so we can get a nice ass arena that I can travel easily to by train
MumenriderPaulReed69
This would also improve SEPTA
throwawayjoeyboots
Stop with the NIMBY fear mongering. It’s getting built.
Abc433123451
As a DCer the basketball stadium is one of the highlights of the area and keeps a lot of bars and restaurants alive.
gustriandos
Obviously some valid points in the article but I think the author is also conflating the impact of the arena and convention center with general trends in the American economy and housing policy. Small businesses are dying and rent prices have skyrocketed in every corner of basically every US city since he 80s, its not just because of new stadiums. There is not really any part of DC west of the anacostia that is remotely affordable.
>what was once a safe and clean neighborhood now has many vacant buildings, and the nearby Metro station is an area of drugs, liquor, noise, and petty crime.
This also reads like its from a NIMBY group in Georgetown. People complaining about metro or subway stations can always fuck right off.
That said, I am not sure an arena makes sense downtown. I love the idea of a walkable area around the arena but how may nights a year will it sit empty? And all day its empty too. Probably not the best use of space. Nuke that mall into dust and just build housing.
dat_waffle_boi
Honestly I really like the Wells Fargo center. Kinda surprising there’s talks of replacing it.
Fresh_Transition1586
Mayfair is the new china town.
mcgroarty99
Shut up, nobody cares
thomasthethothumb
I’m sorry, but the arena in the city is much better. Dc’s Chinatown has always been trash. Not sure why this bs article is getting publicized
victoro311
I lived in DC for quite sometime and this article is just kind of wrong all around. Capital One drove a bunch a foot traffic to a neighborhood that otherwise no one would go to. That neighborhood is probably going to go downhill fast and become less safe to boot. That’s not good for an area close to the heart of NW DC.
kilbo_loaf
Build it.
RomulousIV
Yup, cause Philly is D.C. yup, cause the areas of the city are equivalent. Yup, cause D.C. has a center city. Swear this argument gets dumber and dumber each day.
L_Ron_Stunna
Everybody is approaching this as if a new arena is inevitable and if its gonna be somewhere, why not there? But that is not the case. The real argument is why does a new stadium need to be built to begin with? The Wells Fargo is completely fine and honestly having all 3 major arenas within walking distance from eachother, with plenty of parking to be had and with a designated stop on the most accessible subway line in the city is the best any city could really ask for. Before defending East Market as a good spot for arena please answer why it needs to move in the first place. Ill give you a hint. It has nothing to do with helping local business.
16 Comments
Not advocating for the arena but it is important to note that this arena is not actually in Chinatown. DC’s was.
I just got back from DC. Stayed in the Chinatown area. It is definitely not destroyed. It’s better and safer than ours.
Right because a dead mall and an abandoned bus station is the best for Chinatown.
Na I’m okay with this. Destroy it so we can get a nice ass arena that I can travel easily to by train
This would also improve SEPTA
Stop with the NIMBY fear mongering. It’s getting built.
As a DCer the basketball stadium is one of the highlights of the area and keeps a lot of bars and restaurants alive.
Obviously some valid points in the article but I think the author is also conflating the impact of the arena and convention center with general trends in the American economy and housing policy. Small businesses are dying and rent prices have skyrocketed in every corner of basically every US city since he 80s, its not just because of new stadiums. There is not really any part of DC west of the anacostia that is remotely affordable.
>what was once a safe and clean neighborhood now has many vacant buildings, and the nearby Metro station is an area of drugs, liquor, noise, and petty crime.
This also reads like its from a NIMBY group in Georgetown. People complaining about metro or subway stations can always fuck right off.
That said, I am not sure an arena makes sense downtown. I love the idea of a walkable area around the arena but how may nights a year will it sit empty? And all day its empty too. Probably not the best use of space. Nuke that mall into dust and just build housing.
Honestly I really like the Wells Fargo center. Kinda surprising there’s talks of replacing it.
Mayfair is the new china town.
Shut up, nobody cares
I’m sorry, but the arena in the city is much better. Dc’s Chinatown has always been trash. Not sure why this bs article is getting publicized
I lived in DC for quite sometime and this article is just kind of wrong all around. Capital One drove a bunch a foot traffic to a neighborhood that otherwise no one would go to. That neighborhood is probably going to go downhill fast and become less safe to boot. That’s not good for an area close to the heart of NW DC.
Build it.
Yup, cause Philly is D.C. yup, cause the areas of the city are equivalent. Yup, cause D.C. has a center city. Swear this argument gets dumber and dumber each day.
Everybody is approaching this as if a new arena is inevitable and if its gonna be somewhere, why not there? But that is not the case. The real argument is why does a new stadium need to be built to begin with? The Wells Fargo is completely fine and honestly having all 3 major arenas within walking distance from eachother, with plenty of parking to be had and with a designated stop on the most accessible subway line in the city is the best any city could really ask for. Before defending East Market as a good spot for arena please answer why it needs to move in the first place. Ill give you a hint. It has nothing to do with helping local business.