John Boyle
Fri, 18 Jun 2004 03:55:20 -0700
Riverfront plans run aground By: Edward Vassallo 06/17/2004
It was supposed to aid the redevelopment of the Delaware River waterfront.
Instead, an Army Corps of Engineers demolition project has shattered the city's development plans.
U.S. Rep Joseph Hoeffel (D-13) last week pledged to fight the Army's plan to auction off the former Tacony Army Warehouse property at 7101 Milnor Street.
The land was supposed to be turned over to the city as part of an ambitious plan to open the river to new housing and small retailers.
The auction is scheduled for July.
"Despite the progress this demolition signifies," said Hoeffel, who secured $10 million in federal funds to have the warehouse demolished. "I am very concerned."
Standing in front of the rubble where the warehouse once stood, Hoeffel explained that the Army has not been able to negotiate a successful transfer with the city. The Army is asking about $3 million for the property.
"The city thinks it's too much money and I think it's too much money," he said. "(The Army) may not want to negotiate but they will. They may not know it yet but they will."
While looking out at the bulldozers pushing around broken pieces of stone and brick, Hoeffel hoped the site would be developed as residential community linked to recreational parks, the Kensington and Tacony Rail-Trail and with a new "River Road" for easier access.
Earlier this year, Hoeffel secured $750,000 in government appropriations to transform the K and T railroad tracks into a 9.6 mile bicycle and pedestrian trail stretching along the waterfront.
"We didn't just want to take down the warehouse, we wanted it to become a part of the revitalization of the riverfront," Hoeffel said. "The Army Corps. of Engineers is not cooperating with this plan, but, by god, they will."
Even though the land is already zoned residential, Hoeffel worries what will happen if it falls into the hands of a private developer.
"It has to be done the right way," he said. "We don't know what a private developer will do. He would have the legal right to say no to the Rail-Trail coming through the property."
Although he opposes the auction, Hoeffel understands that the property will eventually be privately owned.
But, for now, he wants the city to have control so that "everyone will be working in concert. There needs to be cooperation."
"There is clearly room to find common ground between the Army and the city," he said. "One government agency to another should be able to work together."
If the property is sold at auction, Hoeffel vowed to work with the developer to incorporate it into the redevelopment project.
"It is possible that an excellent residential developer could acquire the property through the auction and develop the site as the city envisions, but there is no guarantee," he said.
For now, Hoeffel continues to fight the Army's plans with the help of U.S. Rep. John Murtha (D-12), a ranking member of the Appropriations Committee. Also on board are Congressmen Robert A. Brady (D-1) and Chaka Fattah (D-2).
Hoeffel credits Former U.S. Rep. Robert A. Borski Jr. as the "visionary" for this project and City Councilwoman Joan Krajewski and the Northeast Riverfront Task Force as the "catalysts."
"I look forward to seeing this through," he said, "and making the riverfront in Northeast Philadelphia one of the most vibrant economic, most sought after residential and most beautiful recreational areas in the city."
©News Gleaner 2004