Target store for Center City?

City Councilman Frank DiCicco, D-1st, who's been working on the new city signage ordinance he says is designed to make it easier for retailers to locate on Market St. (and maybe resusciate the Gallery) tells me Target Corp. is still talking about locating a store in the former Strawbridge and Clothier flagship store on Market Street or the Girard Block at 11th and Market.

"Target is negotiating with them to be in the Strawbridge's building. They're also negotiating with the people who own the Girard building," DiCicco said. The Strawbridge site is controlled by Ron Rubin and his Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, which also owns the Gallery.

Target spokesman Kyle Thompson told me the company has "no plans to open a store in Center City in 2010." (Though "we do have a store opening in Malvern in July." ) He won't talk about future site negotiations. "We look at hundreds of sites a year. This community is something we've looked at and we're excited about it."