Philadelphia Parking Authority, city courts seek to salvage Family Court project

In a move to rescue the $200 million Family Court project, the Philadelphia Parking Authority and the city judicial system filed motions Friday asking a federal bankruptcy court to release the property deed and architectural drawings to them.

The project - to build a courthouse at 15th and Arch Streets - was thrown into limbo last month when developer Donald Pulver filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for a company he had formed to build the courthouse.

The courts canceled the deal after The Inquirer reported that Pulver had a side deal with lawyer Jeffrey B. Rotwitt, who originally was hired by the courts to find the site for Family Court.

Although the Parking Authority owns the land and operates a parking lot on the site, it cannot build as long as Pulver holds the development rights, which the authority granted him years ago. He also says he owns the drawings for the project, done at a cost of about $6 million.

Pennsylvania Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille, who is overseeing the courthouse project, booted Pulver from the deal on May 26. That was a few days after he said he learned from The Inquirer that Rotwitt was also profiting as co-developer.

Rotwitt's law firm subsequently fired him, and the FBI started investigating how $12 million was spent on the project without a development agreement being signed.

Friday's filing came as the state Department of General Services was moving to take over the project.

In the filing, the city courts contended that Pulver's actions were holding the project hostage to "leverage a favorable resolution" for his company.

It said that on the same day Pulver's company filed for bankruptcy protection, the developer copyrighted the architectural drawings, blocking the state from using them.

The Parking Authority, meanwhile, filed a separate motion asking the bankruptcy court to free the deed of the 15th and Arch site.

"Neither motion has merit and we anticipate vigorously contesting both," Pulver said in a statement.

"We remain committed to getting the Family Court building built. It is unfortunate that the [city courts and the Parking Authority] seem more interested in casting aspersions and engaging in time-consuming litigation."

Lawyers and court advocates have long sought to have all Family Court operations under one roof. Currently, its cases - including divorces, abuse hearings, and juvenile trials - are held at 1801 Vine St. and 34 S. 11th St. Advocates say both sites are outmoded and inadequate.

James P. Creedon, secretary of the Department of General Services, sent a letter this week to Castille and others involved with the Family Court effort, saying the state wanted to use the architectural plans to restart the project.

The plans, drawn up by the firm EwingCole, are about 90 percent done, Creedon has said.

"We know we can use the plans if we get title to them," Creedon said in an interview last week. "It's good news for the taxpayers. Money was not wasted on the design." Creedon's letter cautioned that his department was still reviewing cost estimates to make sure the courthouse could be built for $200 million.