Calling on the Department of Licenses and Inspections to halt any potential demolition plans to the iconic Joe Frazier's Gym on North Broad Street; and calling on the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, and all other associated parties to identify alternative uses for Joe Frazier's Gym.

Calling on the Department of Licenses and Inspections to halt any potential demolition plans to the iconic Joe Frazier’s Gym on North Broad Street; and calling on the City of Philadelphia, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia, and all other associated parties to identify alternative uses for Joe Frazier’s Gym. WHEREAS, “Smokin’” Joe Frazier was Philadelphia’s heavyweight boxing icon who captured Olympic gold at the 1964 Tokyo Games, won the world heavyweight championship in 1970, and handed Muhammad Ali his first professional defeat in their legendary 1971 “Fight of the Century” match at Madison Square Garden; and WHEREAS, Frazier’s professional boxing career was kickstarted in 1965 with the financial backing of investors who called themselves the “Cloverlay Group”; and WHEREAS, In 1968 the Cloverlay Group purchased a then-77 year old warehouse on North Broad Street to convert into a gym for Frazier, where he would train for his most high profile fights, including bouts against Muhammad Ali and “Big” George Foreman. Prior to its conversion to Joe Frazier’s Gym, 2917 North Broad Street had been a millwork, a window-blind factory, a woodworking shop, a bowling alley, and even a dance hall; and WHEREAS, Following his retirement in 1975, Frazier purchased the gym from the Cloverlay Group and opened it to the public, training fighters such as Bert Cooper, Duane Bobick, Jesse “Hollywood” Hart, and his son Marvis Frazier; and WHEREAS, …