Title
Authorizing the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (“PAID”) to file an application with the Office of the Budget, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, under the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, in an aggregate amount not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) to assist in the development of Woodlands Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Revitalization Project; and authorizing the City to enter into an agreement with PAID in furtherance of grant requirements; all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
Whereas, The City and the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (“PAID”) desire to obtain funds from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of the Budget, in an amount not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) for the undertaking of approved Capital Budget projects under Section 4(c) of the Housing and Redevelopment Assistance Law as amended; and
Whereas, Guidelines issued pursuant to the Housing and Redevelopment Assistance Law, as amended, define a blighted area to include portions of an urban community with economically undesirable land uses; and
Whereas, The City and PAID recognize that blighting influences exist due to economically undesirable land use throughout the City; and
Whereas, One project (“Project”) is being proposed in order to eliminate the existing blighting influence by new construction and renovation of an arboretum; and
Whereas, The City and PAID desire to advance the necessary development of the above-referenced Project; and
Whereas, The Housing and Community Development Program authorizes PAID to file applications for grants; and
Whereas, The Commonwealth regulations require the City and/or its designated project recipients to assume the provision of the full matching share of the project costs above the aggregate amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000); and
Whereas, The Commonwealth regulations require the City to obligate itself to reimburse the Commonwealth for expenditures found to be ineligible and not reimbursed by the project recipient; and
Whereas, The Commonwealth regulations require the City to enter into a Cooperation Agreement between PAID and the City to create the mechanism to reimburse the state for project expenses found to be ineligible and not reimbursed by the project recipient; and to reimburse the state when warranted for project expenses on projects not completed within the agreed upon term of the grants; and
Whereas, The Commonwealth regulations require City Council’s approval prior to PAID’s submission of an application; now, therefore,
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
Section 1. The City of Philadelphia authorizes the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (“PAID”) to file applications for Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program Grants through the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of the Budget, including all understandings and assurances contained therein, in an aggregate amount not to exceed One Million Dollars ($1,000,000) to assist in the development the Woodlands Arboretum & Botanical Gardens Project, as described in Capital Budget Project Itemization Act 2002-131, and as described in Exhibit “A” attached hereto and incorporated herein.
Section 2. The City of Philadelphia authorizes PAID to enter into grant agreements with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of the Budget to carry out the purposes of this Ordinance.
Section 3. The City and/or its designated project recipients will assume the provision of the full matching share of project costs above the aggregate amount of One Million Dollars ($1,000,000).
Section 4. The City or the designated project recipient will reimburse the Commonwealth for the State’s share of any expenditure awarded pursuant to this Ordinance that is found by the Office of the Budget to be ineligible.
Section 5. The City of Philadelphia and/or its designated project recipients also agree to guarantee that it shall fully complete the projects within the agreed upon term of the grant (including reasonable extensions requested by the City and/or its designated project recipients).
Section 6. The City Council of Philadelphia also authorizes the City to enter into an agreement with the Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development (“PAID”) whereby the City and/or its designated project recipients, at the discretion of the City, will assume the provision of the full local share of the project costs above One Million Dollars ($1,000,000); or to reimburse the Commonwealth for project expenditures for projects not completed within the agreed upon term of the grants.
EXHIBIT “A”
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
Woodlands Arboretum & Botanical Gardens
The Woodlands, a National Historic Landmark District of 54 acres that includes the federal style William Hamilton mansion, its accompanying carriage house/stable, and an 1840’s continually active rural cemetery, will undertake capital project work on the entire property. Restoration of the exterior and first-floor interior of the 18th-centry mansion will be completed, including ADA access, heating and cooling, and a new sewer line. A new carriage house roof and exterior repairs to masonry and woodwork will also be undertaken. Cemetery work will involve historic landscape restoration, restoration of the Paul P. Cret entrance pavilions, repairs to the iron fencing, repaving roadways, and new cemetery enhancement. The mission of the Woodlands is to interpret its nationally significant cultural landscape, historic buildings, and cemetery and make them available to the public as vital educational, environmental and civic resources. The total project budget is approximately $2.6 million with the RACP contributing $1million.
RACP Grant $1,000,000
End