Even better, Street's announcement of a 99-year lease with the Barnes coincides with the first look at the Art Museum's Ruth and Raymond G. Perelman Building, getting raves for its understated elegance. (Doors open Sept. 15.)
The Barnes lease has been a long time coming, mostly due to uncertainty over whether the detention center would move to temporary or permanent quarters.
That delay followed the years-long court battle over terms of the Barnes founder's will, finally resolved by Montgomery County Judge Stanley R. Ott's wise 2004 ruling. Ott decided that businessman Albert C. Barnes' collection could be moved in order to expose it to a wider audience. A key strength of the plan is the foundation's pledge to recreate Barnes' unique gallery settings at a more accessible location.
Museum officials now need to move aggressively with design and other planning. Three philanthropies leading fund-raising - the Pew Charitable Trusts, Annenberg Foundation and Lenfest Foundation - have provided a solid financial footing to do so.
The Friends of the Barnes group and others are trying to block the move from Merion. But there's no good reason for Ott to reconsider his decision. It's time to press on.
