Re: [UC] Late breaking news about the Campus Inn

[Glenn moyer]

Yes, the "scuttlebutt" provided was just a reiteration of the ridiculous Penn position we've heard repeatedly.   I'm not sure if you attended the zoning hearings, but the list and community need to be reminded of things uncovered about the 4oth and Pine sight.  The current director of Penn real estate did not tell the "whole truth" in her testimony at the zoning hearing. She revealed that Penn had received 4 additional proposals (from 10 solicitations)  for use of the site from "established contacts" which Penn privately solicited for bids.  She misled the zoning board about the internal solicitation process for real estate opportunities within the university.  She said that the U. first asked the "entire university" for bids for the site, but failed to reveal the number actually received. The actual internal process sends a request for bids to department heads whose departments wish to expand or relocate, and not as a public solicitation for bids published before the entire community.  (It was very misleading for the real estate chief to describe the internal process as a request sent to the entire U. community.) If you attended the one SHCA zoning committee meeting, when community pressure forced it to become a public meeting; you heard the Penn site manager, Mr Esaul Sanchez, reveal that he had seen "17 or 18 proposals" for use of the 40th and Pine site.  The additional proposals were undoubtedly internal university department proposals that the real estate powerbrokers rejected in favor of profit maximization.  These department chiefs obviously felt that they had viable and legal alternative uses for the site. Penn real estate has since refused to reveal or even admit that these proposals were advanced.  (Mr. Sanchez, the site manager, never testified after he let the truth slip out, revealing the massive interest for the site in the presence of our neighbors.) Neighbors, we need to demand that the sun shines on those secret hidden alternative proposals.  Otherwise, Penn needs to sell that building, if it sells it for one dollar only!!!!!  As long term member of the Penn community, I am ashamed that my U. put profit maximization ahead of the needs of the mission of advancing education and research.  Just like I am ashamed of the way in which the U. attempts to dominate and deceive the community while calling it community engagement. Sincerely, Glenn  -----Original Message----- From: mcget...@aol.com Sent: Jun 5, 2009 12:23 AM To: UnivCity@list.purple.com Subject: Re: [UC] Late breaking news about the Campus Inn A "wise" owner would nudge the building at 40th and Pine toward collapse, huh?  How about an antisocial and unethical owner!  Are you aware that what you are counseling is not only appalling, but illegal?  Toll Brothers attempted to destroy the historic Naval Home through neglect until the courts forced them to maintain it.  As for the economics of restoring the mansion and developing the site in a suitable fashion - well, Penn is poised to spend hundreds of millions on developing the Post Office site, so they can certainly afford to spend some money at 40th and Pine.  They don't need to worry about their return on investment, that's for sure.   Furthermore, you routinely present yourself as a journalist.  Do journalists deal in scuttlebutt?  If you know anything factual about the plans for the 43rd and Baltimore site, then perhaps you should do a service to your neighbors and be more explicit.  The fate of that property is extremely important to the neighborhood and I suspect that the owners indeed had very definite intentions when they paid $3.5 million for it.  Or do they spend that kind of money on a whim?    I think most people would find it unsettling that the contractor (James Campenella) who knocked down the buildings is a convicted felon (for bribing a tax assessor in 2007) and that the owner (Campenella's partner in previous real estate deals) has not paid any property taxes since its purchase in January, 2008. I know I get a little heartburn when I think of the economic woes of the city and fat cat developers from New York getting a free ride for a year and a half on a multi-million dollar property. You may recall that Campenella had so much influence with our Councilwoman Blackwell that she introduced a special bill into City Council which would have permitted him to develop a large homeless shelter across from West Catholic.  This bill would have locked the city into an unconscionably long lease and cost the taxpayers millions in inflated rent.  The extraordinary bill raised questions in the press, the neighbors reacted and the project was scrapped.  Now this guy is taking another whack at our neighborhood and I am very concerned.  So, if you know anything about the plans for 4224-26 Baltimore, then you should probably let the community in on it, so it is not caught flat-footed, as it was when the buildings were demolished.      We found the real 'Hotel California' and the 'Seinfeld' diner. What will you find? Explore WhereItsAt.com. ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "UnivCity." To unsubscribe or for archive information, see .