North Philly Revolts in Face of Temple University Football Stadium Plans

Public concern boiled over last week at a town hall meeting intended to discuss the proposed development of a stadium to house Temple University's football team in North Philadelphia.

1 minute read

March 13, 2018, 2:00 PM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Temple Band

Richard Paul Kane / Shutterstock

"Protesters shut down a Temple University town hall meeting called to discuss plans for a controversial football stadium within 10 minutes of its start [last week], reports Julia Terruso.

According to a second article by Terruso, the "forum was the first public meeting Temple had held since announcing plans to build a 35,000-seat stadium on campus two years ago." That long lack of engagement with the community "might have doomed" the town hall meeting before it began," according to Terruso.

The stadium plan would spend $130 million to build the stadium; the university would also fund a special services district, run by a community board. Temple University owns the land on which the football stadium would be built.

Philadelphia Inquirer Architecture Critic Inga Saffron also provided follow up coverage of the heated town hall meeting, providing insight in the motivations of the "grandmotherly residents" who orchestrated the town hall meeting protest. "Part of what drives the opposition to the stadium, [Ruth] Birchett said, is the feeling that their North Philadelphia neighborhood is being ignored, not just by Temple, but by their elected officials," explains Saffron. Saffron has already publicly criticized the project's planning.  

Tuesday, March 6, 2018 in The Philadelphia Inquirer

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 30, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Close-up on Canadian flag with Canada Parliament building blurred in background.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?

As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

April 28, 2025 - Benjamin Schneider

Washington

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing

A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

May 1 - Streetsblog USA

Bluebird sitting on branch of green bush.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire

Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

May 1 - AP News

1984 Olympics

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles

LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.

May 1 - Newsweek

Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools

This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.

Planning for Universal Design

Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.