Since 2002, the produce-market association has been warning the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corp., the city agency from which it leases space, that its present facility, built in 1959, would not comply with tightening federal food-handling regulations.
At one point, produce-market operators became so frustrated that they considered a proposal from New Jersey to move to Camden.
Over the years, the produce market has been told by Pennsylvania and city officials to study three possible sites for a new terminal. The first was at the Navy Yard; the second the Pier 98 annex on Delaware Avenue. Finally, in 2005, Rendell and State Sen. Vincent J. Fumo (D., Phila.) announced plans for a $150 million terminal at a third site, at the Navy Yard's east end.
At that 2005 announcement ceremony, a gleeful Rendell and Fumo chided Michael Sklaroff, attorney for the produce market, for being skeptical that the Navy Yard site could be built affordably.
The Navy Yard site would require construction of a four-lane bridge over the big Greenwich railroad yard, strong enough for long lines of 18-wheelers arriving at the terminal, to keep trucks from clogging the main entrance to the former military base and adding to sports-complex traffic. The site is also fill land and would have required a costly foundation to support the terminal and truck-parking areas.
Rendell said today that cost estimates had exceeded $400 million, excluding the cost of the bridge, and that is the reason he canceled the project.
In recent months, the governor and Fumo kept backing the Navy Yard site, despite sustained opposition from State Rep. William F. Keller (D., Phila.), maritime businesses, and labor unions.
At a private May 4 meeting with produce officials, Fumo's staff said the project cost estimates were over budget, but gave no indication that the governor and senator would back down.
