Posted Jan 31, 2017, 12:12 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Philadelphia
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Philadelphia Bar seeks $40M building to house legal aid organizations at 8th and Vine
Quote:
The Philadelphia Bar Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Philadelphia Bar Association, is seeking to turn a parking lot at 8th and Vine streets into what Chancellor Deborah Gross calls a “first of its kind” $40 million facility that would house more than 20 legal nonprofits.
“I think this is a gamechanger,” Gross said. “As someone who has been a trustee with the Bar Foundation for 12 years, my focus has been helping legal nonprofits. And in a city with the highest poverty rate, this could really put Philadelphia on the map.”
Though she did not want to discuss specifics about the rest of the proposal, including the Bar’s partners, Gross said the RFP calls for a hotel, housing and parking.
The proposed 120,000 square feet building should be eight to 10 stories when completed. Gross said the Bar plans to pay for what could be between a $40 million and $60 million project with a combination of tax credits, loans, fundraising and funds from class action lawsuits. She said the loan will be paid down over time via rent.
PRA spokeswoman Jamilia Davis said the agency has so far received two responses and is hoping to have the selection complete in the next 30 to 60 days. At that juncture, the PRA board and City Council must each sign off before the selection is formalized.
Davis said specific information about the two proposals would not be made public until the PRA selects a winning bidder.
The Bar has been eyeing the plot of land for five years, with the help of developer Pennrose Properties, which has handled the matter on a pro bono basis, and architectural firm Wallace Roberts & Todd.
Gross said the Bar has looked at other properties but wants to see how the RFP plays out before exploring them. She said the Association liked the fact that 800-830 Vine was a city-owned property in close proximity to the U.S. District Courthouse, worker’s compensation court and the Bar Association’s headquarters at 11th and Market streets.
With between 20 and 30 legal nonprofits under the same roof, she said the organizations will be able to benefit from numerous efficiencies such as single client intake and shared personnel, equipment, software, conference rooms, event space and day care.
Agencies that could be part of the facility include Community Legal Services and Support Center for Child Advocates. Gross said the Bar has also met with law school officials — University of Pennsylvania, Temple University and Drexel University — about having students frequent the facility to gain practical experience working with the legal aid organizations on client matters. She said the schools could even become tenants if they wish.
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http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelp...ilding-to.html
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