Yesterday, politicians spoke, fireworks exploded, and a wrecking machine took a symbolic jab at the former Youth Study Center, which is to be torn down this winter for what is being called the "Barnes on the Parkway."
And opponents of the move protested. About a dozen people marched outside the property with placards and loudly taunted the Barnes' supporters about the "greatest theft of art since World War II."
Their bullhorn chants could be heard during the speeches. Although they vowed to continue fighting the move, foundation officials say the protesters have exhausted the last avenues of legal opposition.
"I think it's been 14 or 15 years since [art patron] Ray Perelman first came to me with this idea to move the Barnes," Gov. Rendell noted during his remarks. He announced yesterday that the state was raising its contribution to the project from $25 million to $30 million.
No final budget for the project has been given, but construction costs are expected to fall between $100 million and $150 million. The Barnes is paying $1 a year to lease the site from the city, which moved the juvenile jail earlier this month to a temporary location in East Falls. A permanent facility is planned for West Philadelphia.
Barnes officials said the current turmoil in the credit markets would have no impact on their plans. They are building the project with donations and do not plan to borrow.
The last big news about the project came almost a year ago, when Barnes officials announced they had selected New York architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien to design its new home. Though they are still tinkering with the design, Barnes officials said the new Parkway building would start construction next fall.
