The city of Philadelphia announced an "independent and comprehensive evaluation" of the Philadelphia 76ers' proposed $1.3 billion arena on Wednesday.

The arena, proposed to be built next to the city's Chinatown, has drawn opposition from Chinatown leaders and residents.

Mayor Jim Kearney said that while the proposal was exciting, the city must understand the impact it would potentially have on surrounding communities.

The city, along with public agency partners and third-party consultants, will complete a technical study assessing "building design, community impact and urban planning, economic impact and parking/traffic impact."

Neeta Patel, interim executive director of Asian Americans United, said that data on downtown arena projects "provide little to no benefit for cities while funneling profits to their rich developers."

The arena is currently scheduled to open in 2031 should the proposal be approved.