Mormon Life says: Really hope this gets resolved soon and that a downtown Philadelphia Temple is realized.
The City of Philadelphia has offered to settle a dispute over land for a proposed Mormon temple near Logan Square.
For a price.
Developer Stephen Klein told City Council Wednesday that the Redevelopment Authority (RDA) wanted 25 percent of any proceeds from his sale of nearly two acres on Vine Street to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
His answer: "Totally unacceptable."
Klein had bought the property from the RDA in 1987 for $3.7 million. In the process, he agreed to develop the tract, between 17th and 18th Streets, within five years. But Klein's numerous attempts to build something came to naught. In 2008, the RDA declared him in default and last December took him to court to get its land back.
Klein was asked to testify Wednesday by a Council committee worried about the future of the Mormon project. He said the RDA either didn't want it to materialize "or they only want it to happen after exacting an unwarranted and unprecedented monetary payment."