WHEREAS,
City Hall is
a National Historic Landmark and is America's largest and most elaborate City Hall; and
WHEREAS,
In recent years, there has been $125 million in capital improvements to the exterior of the City Hall; and
WHEREAS, Several interior areas of the building have deteriorated to the degree that they are no longer useable; and
WHEREAS, Because City Hall no longer houses the criminal courts or various other administrative offices, the underutilized spaces could be renovated for commercial and/or cultural uses; and
WHEREAS, The estimated costs for a complete renovation of the interior could range in the millions of dollars and should not be the sole burden of the taxpayers of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, In 2000, the City Controller proposed several public and private strategies for the restoration of City Hall which included tapping federal historic renovation tax credits and private fund-raising; and
WHEREAS, Alternative uses for City Hall’s first floor have been proposed, and certain enhancements of City Hall’s courtyard and Dillworth Plaza areas have been suggested by City Planning; and
WHEREAS, The implementation of those proposed strategies and/or other innovative strategies could help transform Philadelphia's signature building into an enhanced tourist magnet and an improved City asset; and
WHEREAS, Recent upgrades in security have been made in an around City Hall, and the effect of such security measures should be considered in regards to any proposed “opening” of City Hall to the public; now therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That City Council’s Committee on Public Property and Public Works hold public hearings on the development and implementation of public and private strategies for the renovation and use of the underutilized areas of City Hall.
End