Hearing on Disposition of Polish American Cultural Center Highlights Decades‑long Ownership Dispute

The Committee on Commerce and Economic Development held a public hearing on resolution 250881 about the disposition policy for the Polish American Cultural Center (PACC) property at 308–10 Walnut Street. The Philadelphia Redevelopment Authority (PRA) submitted written testimony, read into the record, that it has been adjudicated by Philadelphia courts to own the property and that the PRA seeks authority to address structural and safety issues. PRA testimony summarized decades of installment‑contract and bond history, cited a January 2021 Hill International inspection estimating approximately $1,800,000 to bring the property into code‑compliant, safe condition, and said PRA efforts to negotiate with PACC leadership were unsuccessful.

Jesse Lawrence, director of planning and development for the City of Philadelphia, read the administration’s written testimony and stated that the city supports the PRA’s statutory obligations and legal process. Lawrence noted the PRA is a Pennsylvania redevelopment authority and is legally independent of…