Council ActionMAYOR
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Official action detail
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Whereas, The City and PAID desire to obtain funds from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Office of the Budget, in an amount not to exceed Fifteen Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($15,350,000) for the undertaking of approved Capital Budget projects under Section 4(c) of the Housing and Redevelopment Assistance Law as amended; and
Whereas, Guidelines issued pursuant to the Housing and Redevelopment Assistance Law, as amended, define a blighted area to include portions of an urban community with economically undesirable land uses; and
Whereas, The City and PAID recognize that blighting influences exist due to economically undesirable land use throughout the City; and
Whereas, Five projects (Projects) are being proposed in order to eliminate the existing blighting influence by renovating facilities to house commercial, educational, cultural, and community service delivery facilities; and
Whereas, The City and PAID desire to advance the necessary development of the above-referenced Projects; and
Whereas, The Housing and Community Development Program authorizes PAID to file applications for grants; and
Whereas, The Commonwealth regulations require the City and/or its designated project recipients to assume the provision of the full matching share of the project costs above the aggregate amount of Fifteen Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($15,350,000); and
Whereas, The Commonwealth regulations require the City to obligate itself to reimburse the Commonwealth for expenditures found to be ineligible and not reimbursed by the project recipient; and
Whereas, The Commonwealth regulations require the City to enter into a Cooperation Agreement between PAID and the City to create the mechanism to reimburse the state for project expenses found to be ineligible and not reimbursed by the project recipient; and to reimburse the state when warranted for project expenses on projects not completed within the agreed upon term of the grants; and
Whereas, The Commonwealth regulations require City Council's approval prior to PAID's submission of an application; now, therefore,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
Section 1. The City of Philadelphia authorizes the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (PAID) to file applications for Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program Grants through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Office of the Budget, including all understandings and assurances contained therein, in an aggregate amount not to exceed Fifteen Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($15,350,000), to assist in the development of and improvements to the Franklin Institute, Holy Family University, Irish Memorial, Inc., Kimmel Center, and WHYY II, as individually described in various Capital Budget Project Itemization Acts, including 1997-47, 1999-35, and 2002-131 and as described in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein.
Section 2. The City of Philadelphia authorizes PAID to enter into grant agreements with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Office of the Budget to carry out the purposes of this Ordinance.
Section 3. The City and/or its designated project recipients will assume the provision of the full matching share of project costs above the aggregate amount of Fifteen Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($15,350,000).
Section 4. The City or the designated project recipient will reimburse the Commonwealth for the State's share of any expenditure awarded pursuant to this Ordinance that is found by the Office of the Budget to be ineligible.
Section 5. The City of Philadelphia and/or its designated project recipients also agree to guarantee that it shall fully complete the projects within the agreed upon term of the grant (including reasonable extensions requested by the City and/or its designated project recipients).
Section 6. The City Council of Philadelphia also authorizes the City to enter into an agreement with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (PAID) whereby the City and/or its designated project recipients, at the discretion of the City, will assume the provision of the full local share of the project costs above Fifteen Million Three Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($15,350,000); or to reimburse the Commonwealth for project expenditures for projects not completed within the agreed upon term of the grants.
EXHIBIT A
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
Franklin Institute II
The Franklin Institute project will begin in January 2004, and will include the construction of three new exhibits and a host of infrastructure, life-safety, and HVAC renovations to the 1934 building. Specific projects in Phase II include upgrades to public spaces, including the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial and the Mandell Traveling Exhibit Gallery, security upgrades, HVAC upgrades, and building and historical façade upgrades. Phase II will also create three new exhibits, including the
Communicate
exhibit (on communications technology), the
Timeless Technology
exhibit (simple physics and mechanics) and the renovation of
Changing Earth
exhibit on weather. These renovations will enable the Institute to update the historical landmark 1934 building so that it both retains its architectural integrity and is equipped to provide maximum visitor safety and comfort. The total project cost for Phase II is approximately $ 16.9 million.
RACP Grant: $7,000,000
Holy Family University
Holy Family University is constructing a new Education and Technology building on its Northeast Philadelphia campus. The approximately 45,000 square foot building will contain classrooms for the University's Education majors and will be equipped and furnished with all necessary technological advances and equipment used in higher education today. The project will include various infrastructure upgrades such as water and sewer expansion and additional parking. Additionally, this building will include office space for the entire Education faculty and department administrative personnel. The total project cost is approximately $14 million.
RACP Grant: $2,500,000
Irish Memorial:
To mark the sesquicentennial of The Great Hunger (An Gorta Mor), civic leaders, local and state government, private foundations and the community at large throughout the greater Philadelphia region have worked together to establish The Irish Memorial, at Front and Chestnut streets in Philadelphia. The centerpiece of this cultural and historical project will be a monumental bronze sculpture created by Glenna Goodacre, the artist who sculpted the Vietnam Women's Memorial in Washington, D.C. The finished work measures 30 feet long by 14 feet wide and 12 feet high. It depicts the cruel starvation which claimed over one million Irish lives between 1845 and 1850; the harrowing journey taken by more than a million more; and the indomitable spirit of those who arrived safely and resolved to face the challenges of life in a new world. The installation of the bronze marked the completion of Phase I of the project. Phase II, which is intended to be funded in part with the RACP grant, consists of the site development of the 1.75-acre park surrounding the sculpture. The majority of the site work includes the installation of blue stone walkways, granite walkways and plinth, and rubble stone walls. In addition, there will be eight granite information stations, and carved standing Ogham stones. As part of the historic district, The Irish Memorial will be a destination of national proportions to attract visitors to its site.
RACP Grant: $350,000
Kimmel Center
The Regional Performing Arts Center has been authorized to receive $4.5 million in RACP funding for the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the 450,000 square foot cultural center located at Broad and Spruce Streets. Funds will be applied to construction costs for the completion and enhancement of the Center. These will include the Verizon Hall millwork package to improve the aesthetic and acoustical environment, additional HVAC requirements in Verizon Hall, expanded restaurant and hospitality facilities, expanded retail space, completion of an interactive Education Center, acoustical enhancements for Verizon Hall and Perelman Theater, new backstage artist accommodations, additional patron amenities including lighting, signage, public galleries and information center, required box office enhancements, and improved fire detection and security systems. The total project cost is approximately $265 million.
RACP Grant: $4,500,000
WHYY II
The Learning Lab at WHYY, which will be built on the 7th-Street lot behind the station's existing Philadelphia headquarters, will cover roughly 10,000 square feet of space. Additionally a $4 million capital campaign is planned to raise an operating fund for the Lab. The mission of the Learning Lab at WHYY is to share the power of digital technology to foster a more connected and informed community in our broadcast area. Using WHYY's advanced technologies, Learning Lab programs will train community groups and K-12 students to produce their own videos; train corporate employees and K-12 teachers both via distance learning and face-to-face in the Lab; create electronic field trips and interactive musical performances for schools; exhibit digital art; and connect the region's citizens in ways never before possible. The total project cost is approximately $6 million.
RACP Grant: $1,000,000
End