[BIKE] Update on K&T Trail - Tacony Warehouse Site

[John Boyle]

http://www.newsgleaner.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=12621179&BRD=2340&PAG=461&dept_id=488595&rfi=6   New homes planned to replace Army warehouse By: Edward J. Vassallo  08/05/2004   "It's great news," said Louis Iatarola, vice president of the Tacony Civic Association and member of the Rail Trail Committee, which works to redevelop the North Delaware waterfront.   The plan was Originally for the City of Philadelphia to purchase the property, but sources said the Army's asking price was too high. Instead, they opted for an auction, which initially worried U.S. Rep. Joseph Hoeffel (D-13), who secured $10 million in Federal funds to have the warehouse demolished. Hoeffel feared the new owner would develop the property in line with the larger plans to redevelopment the riverfront.   During a June press conference, Hoeffel argued: "We didn't just want to take down the warehouse we wanted it to become a part of the revitalization of the riverfront."   But a week before the auction Hoeffel endorsed the Army's plan. After meeting with an Army delegation led by Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Joseph W. Whitaker, he received assurances that the auction of the property would be conducted with safeguards to protect any redevelopment plans the city may have. He was also reassured by city officials who were "comfortable" with the plan.   "After a detailed presentation by the Army," Hoeffel said, "I am now satisfied that the auction was conducted in a way that fully protects the city's plans for the redevelopment of the property."   Even while endorsing the auction, Hoeffel expressed concerns that it held "the potential for the property to be developed by a developer who does not share the same vision of the as the city, local civic organizations, former U.S Rep. Robert Borski and I." Hoeffel believes handing over the property to a land speculator or subsidized-housing developer would "wound" the city's plans.   "I have advised the Army that the Pennsylvania congressional delegation and I expect the Army to ensure that the warehouse property is reused consistent with the city's plans," he said, "as I mandated in the bill that funded the demolition of the warehouse."   Hoeffel believes that the Army's plans and the city's zoning are "sufficiently strong" to protect this "important link" in the city's redevelopment plans. "This property is a critical piece of the North Delaware Redevelopment Plan," he said, "and will be a model for other public and private development to come on the riverfront."   According to Iatarola, the property was purchased for approximately $2 million and "from what he heard the developer hopes to have houses under construction within a year," he said.   "We are thrilled," he said. "It's been 10 years since I started with that Army Depot site and forming a committee to oversee the reuse. It's exciting. I think it is only natural for other things to follow."   Further development is expected on the nine acres south of the warehouse and at the former Dodge Steel site.  This residential site is to be linked up with a greenway and recreational parks as well as the Kensington and Tacony Rail-Trail, a 9.6 mile bicycle and pedestrian trail stretching along the waterfront, and with a new "River Road" for easier access to the waterfront.   "It's a very big first step to get that first development under way," Iatarola said. "Then things start happening like dominos. We are looking forward to it."          ©News Gleaner 2004