Purchase of postal territory moves forward

With land to the north, south and west locked up, the University is making significant strides toward its own version of manifest destiny -- to the east.

Last Friday, the trustees authorized the spending of $50.6 million toward the purchase of the United States Postal Service properties and building complex on 30th Street. University officials expect the property sale to be finalized later this summer.

Penn has eyeing the properties -- which are extremely desirable in an urban setting -- for nearly a decade.

The properties -- which the University hopes to acquire after the mail-processing plant currently on the space relocates -- include 14 acres to the south of Walnut Street and the Main Postal Service Building at the corner of 30th and Market. Many view the location as a space with boundless opportunity for expansion and growth.

"You'll walk out of 30th Street Station and there will be Penn," said former Executive Vice President John Fry, a key figure in the plans' development before leaving Penn to become president of Franklin and Marshall College.

Noting that the "heroic move" opens up the potential of a Penn waterfront, Fry labeled the lands as an "exciting new gateway to the campus."

"Penn has had a long-standing interest in the postal lands and has had many productive discussions with the U.S. Postal Service about our desire to purchase the site," University spokeswoman Phyllis Holtzman said. "We remain optimistic that we can finalize an agreement and are moving ahead with plans to do so.... We expect this agreement to be finalized by August."

Officials hope the trustees' approval is a significant step towards making the project a reality after almost a decade of negotiations.

The Postal Service is scheduled to relocate to a new mail processing facility next to Philadelphia International Airport in 2007 and if the sale is finalized as planned, the University will assume control of the space at that time.

"It is still a long process... before we get control over the property" Blaik said.

"We think that we have time on our side," Blaik added, noting that the University has yet to finalize plans for the new area's use.

Likely, however, is a new biomedical research complex and additional athletic field space. University officials also have plans to create facilities friendly to the entire University City community.

"We don't see that area [by the postal complex] as an exclusive Penn usage," Blaik said. "We really want to do what's right for the city."

Recognizing the city's stake in the property, spokeswoman for Mayor John Street's office Christine Ottow also offered a positive perspective on Penn's expansion into the postal service building.

"We'll be thrilled to work with the developer because it's an important building in an important location," Ottow said.

Also pleased with the likelihood of the University purchasing these lands, University City District Executive Director Eric Goldstein commended the potential for expansion.

"I think this sets up an opportunity to re-energize the area [of 30th and Market] as really a vibrant extension of University City and to really help make a positive connection between this area and downtown," he said.

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