A Development Bonanza in Philadelphia

The Philadelphia 76ers are one of the real estate interests with designs on remaking the Penn's Landing site on the Delaware River in Philadelphia. But the team's vision for the waterfront reaches far beyond a single parcel.

2 minute read

September 1, 2020, 5:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Philadelphia

robert cicchetti / Shutterstock

Inga Saffron reports on the ambitions of a proposal by the Philadelphia 76ers to develop a new arena on the shores of the Delaware River. According to Saffron, those ambitions expand far beyond the walls of the arena: "What the billionaire owners of Philadelphia’s basketball franchise are really aiming at is something much bigger: development rights for a mile-long stretch of the Delaware waterfront."

The team is one of several real estate interests that have proposed a development plan to the Delaware River Waterfront Corp. (DRWC), in accordance with a 2010 master plan for the redevelopment of the formerly industrial waterfront in Philadelphia. Work has been underway since 2010, according to Saffron, but the 130-acre Penn's landing site eyed by the team is considered the "big prize" of the master plan. 

The news about the team's development proposal for the site seems to indicate that the DRWC is getting close to picking a developer for the project. In the meantime, Saffron provides plenty of details about the development proposed by the team, which, according to sources cited in the article, dwarfs everything proposed by other developers with their hats in the ring on the Penn's Landing redevelopment. 

"Rather than limit themselves to the two sites, they want the rights to every riverfront lot between Market and Lombard. Having that extra land would allow the Sixers to build six residential buildings, instead of four — plus a hotel, offices, and school," reports Saffron.

Sunday, August 30, 2020 in The Philadelphia Inquirer

Young Professional

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 and Environmental 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 and Environmental Planner

Get top-rated, practical training for planners

"Planetizen federal action tracker" logo superimposed over black and white image of US Capitol dome.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

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

7 hours ago - Zachary Whalen

Overlapping highways

The state-sanctioned urbicide of Austin

People don’t kill cities. Freeways do.

September 8, 2026 - Benjamin Schneider

The Hoover Dam blocking the Colorado River. The river's water level is noticeably low. The cliffs surrounding the blue water are brown and jagged.

US to reduce Colorado River water deliveries to Mexico

A new Colorado Treaty amendment reduces Mexico’s Colorado River water allocation by 250,000 acre feet.

September 11, 2026 - The Arizona Republic

A cluster of wind turbines beneath a stormy sky, above a forest where the leaves are beginning to change colors.

5 New England states march closer to 800 megawatt wind energy project

Securing federal approval for the project may be complicated under the Trump administration, which has historically been hostile towards domestic wind power.

3 hours ago - Inside Climate News

People boarding a bus on Maryland's Orange Route.

Baltimore to break ground on $50 million Transit Priority Project

The project will bring faster bus trips, safer streets and better bike connections to Baltimore.

4 hours ago - Mass Transit

A brick building with a circular sign with the Airbnb logo hanging off of it.

Airbnb launches $250 million 'last-dollar financing' housing accelerator, makes first investment in Austin

The company will put $6.4 million towards affordable housing development in Texas’ capital.

5 hours ago - Smart Cities Dive

FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?

After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.

Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold

The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.