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Center City lot targeted for new Family Court site

A parking lot at 15th and Arch Streets is emerging as a leading site, with the mayor's backing, for the location of a new Family Court building, officials confirmed yesterday.

A parking lot at 15th and Arch Streets is emerging as a leading site, with the mayor's backing, for the location of a new Family Court building, officials confirmed yesterday.

"There is an aggressive push by everyone to hopefully develop this site into a garage and a new home for the court system," said Vince Fenerty, executive director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority, which owns the property.

In an interview last night, Fenerty said there were ongoing talks among the Parking Authority; West Conshohocken developer, Oliver Tyrone Pulver Corp.; the court system; and Mayor Street.

"We are very enthusiastic that an agreement can be concluded shortly," he said.

Street, who yesterday said he supported the site, first expressed interest in relocating Family Court two years ago, when it became apparent that the Youth Study Center on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway would be moved to make room for a new museum to house the Barnes Foundation.

With Family Court currently split between two buildings - at 1801 Vine St. and 34 S. 11th Street - the idea is to have it consolidated. Also, many people believe the current facilities are too old and too cramped to handle the thousands of cases.

Asked about the Parking Authority site, Gov. Rendell said it would be "fine and more than acceptable," citing its proximity to subways and buses. Plans also call for a Parking Authority-operated garage underneath the new building.

But Rendell is yet to be convinced of its economic feasibility. "We are looking to see how the construction and the operation of the site will be funded," he said.

Common Pleas Court President Judge Darnell Jones II could not be reached yesterday. He is on vacation.

Besides 15th and Arch, at least one other location is being pursued: 4601 Market St. in West Philadelphia.

That is the home of a 15-acre complex currently owned by a nonprofit organization named the Center for Human Advancement. The nonprofit's board members, who include State Sen. Vincent Hughes and developer Michael Karp, have proposed joining the Family Court and the Youth Study Center, and placing it on their site.

Detailed plans call for a restaurant, retail shops, and a tunnel that would connect the study center and the court.

The $93 million project - developed by Renaissance Properties and the TrammellCrow Co. - would include a fitness center for judges and staff, a private dining hall and parking.

Saying it would be tens of millions of dollars cheaper to build the new court in West Philadelphia than Center City, Hughes stressed that the project would continue revitalization efforts in the area. "We think this is the smartest move for the city and the state to be involved in," he said.

Street did not mention the West Philadelphia location yesterday.

Rendell said the West Philadelphia site also was acceptable, but added that it too has questions about the economic feasibility.

City Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell, whose district includes the Market Street site, said she was briefed on the proposal two weeks ago. She was unfamiliar with the Parking Authority site.

"I'm not for or against anything," she said. "It still comes down to community support."