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 Five Million One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($5,150,000) to assist in the development of Germantown YWCA and Morris Arboretum; 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 Five Million One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($5,150,000) 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, Two projects (“Projects”) are being proposed in order to eliminate the existing blighting influence by renovation of an arboretum and a recreational and educational facility.
Whereas, The City and PAID desire to advance the necessary development of the above-referenced Projects; 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 Five Million One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($5,150,000); 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 Five Million One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($5,150,000) to assist in the development of new construction and renovations at the Germantown YWCA and Morris Arboretum, as individually described in Capital Budget Project Itemization Acts 2004-40 and 2002-131 respectively, 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 Five Million One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($5,150,000).
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 Five Million One Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars ($5,150,000) or to reimburse the Commonwealth for project expenditures for projects not completed within the agreed upon term of the grants.
EXHIBIT “A”
PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS
Germantown YWCA
Germantown YWCA will rehabilitate facilities located at 1244 East Chelten Avenue for the purpose of housing recreational and educational activities for the community. The total cost of the project is expected to exceed $1million.
RACP Grant $500,000
Morris Arboretum
The Morris Arboretum will construct a 23,000 square foot center for Horticulture, Education and Facility Support on approximately 67 acres. The Horticulture Center facility will provide needed workspace, meeting space, locker space and common space for members of the horticulture department and will include a luncheon room, kitchen and gathering area. The facility will also provide maintenance space and storage for all equipment that support the 167- acre public garden. The public area of this new facility will include a large meeting space (2,100 square ft.) that will allow the Arboretum to hold conferences and lectures for 200 people. The space will also provide for three separate classrooms, offices for education staff, and a new kitchen and reception area to support an expanded rental and food service program. It is anticipated that the project will break ground in the fall of 2008 and be completed in the spring of 2009. The total project cost is estimated at $9,494,462. Morris Arboretum is located at 100 Northwestern Avenue.
RACP Grant $4,650,000
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