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File #: 250807    Version: Name:
Type: Bill Status: IN COUNCIL - SECOND READING
File created: 9/25/2025 In control: Committee on Public Property and Public Works
On agenda: Final action:
Title: Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to acquire, on behalf of the City, fee simple title or a lesser interest, by purchase, dedication, donation, condemnation, agreement in lieu of condemnation or otherwise, for the purpose of making, enlarging, connecting, extending, operating, and maintaining public parks for recreational use, certain parcels of land, generally bounded and located between Vine Street, Fairmount Avenue, 8th Street and 12th Street, together with all improvements thereon and all associated easements and appurtenances; and to lease the property, or a portion thereof, to the Center City District; all under certain terms and conditions.
Sponsors: Councilmember Squilla
Indexes: EASEMENTS
Attachments: 1. Bill No. 25080700, 2. Bill No. 25080701, As Amended
Date Ver.Action ByActionResultTallyAction DetailsMeeting DetailsVideo
12/11/20251 CITY COUNCIL SUSPEND THE RULES OF THE COUNCIL   Action details Meeting details Not available
12/11/20251 CITY COUNCIL ORDERED PLACED ON THIS DAY`S FIRST READING CALENDAR   Action details Meeting details Not available
12/11/20251 CITY COUNCIL READ AND ORDERED PLACED ON NEXT WEEK'S SECOND READING CALENDAR   Action details Meeting details Not available
12/11/20251 Committee on Public Property and Public Works HEARING NOTICES SENT   Action details Meeting details Not available
12/11/20251 Committee on Public Property and Public Works HEARING HELD   Action details Meeting details Not available
12/11/20251 Committee on Public Property and Public Works AMENDED   Action details Meeting details Not available
12/11/20251 Committee on Public Property and Public Works REPORTED FAVORABLY, RULE SUSPENSION REQUESTED   Action details Meeting details Not available
12/1/20250 Committee on Public Property and Public Works     Not available Meeting details Not available
12/1/20250 Committee on Public Property and Public Works     Not available Meeting details Not available
12/1/20250 Committee on Public Property and Public Works     Not available Meeting details Not available
12/1/20250 Committee on Public Property and Public Works     Not available Meeting details Not available
9/25/20250 CITY COUNCIL Introduced and Referred   Action details Meeting details Not available
Title
Authorizing the Commissioner of Public Property to acquire, on behalf of the City, fee simple title or a lesser interest, by purchase, dedication, donation, condemnation, agreement in lieu of condemnation or otherwise, for the purpose of making, enlarging, connecting, extending, operating, and maintaining public parks for recreational use, certain parcels of land, generally bounded and located between Vine Street, Fairmount Avenue, 8th Street and 12th Street, together with all improvements thereon and all associated easements and appurtenances; and to lease the property, or a portion thereof, to the Center City District; all under certain terms and conditions.

Body
WHEREAS, the City is committed to fostering economic development, reuse of abandoned infrastructure, and creating green space;

WHEREAS, the Reading Viaduct is a combination of embankment sections, bridged steel structures and arched masonry bridges built in the 1890s. Rail service was discontinued on the Reading Viaduct in approximately 1984;

WHEREAS, the City would like to acquire fee simple title or a lesser interest, by purchase, dedication, donation, condemnation, agreement in lieu of condemnation or otherwise, certain parcels of land, generally bounded and located between Vine Street, Fairmount Avenue, 8th Street and 12th Street, consisting of portions of the area commonly known as the Reading Viaduct and certain adjacent land located along Spring Garden Street and in other areas adjacent to the Reading Viaduct, together with all improvements thereon and associated easements and appurtenances ("the Property") for purposes of expanding the recreational use of the area commonly referred to as the Rail Park; and

WHEREAS, Center City District will secure funding for the completion of remediation and certain improvements to the Property to enable it to be used for recreational purposes and to expand the geographical area of the Rail Park; and

WHEREAS, upon the City's acquisition of fee sim...

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