"The commonwealth always looks at potential conflicts of interest, particularly when it comes to the taxpayers' money," Rendell said. "We will make sure there is no conflict of interest in this deal, even if it means slowing it up."
Rendell, joined by Chief Justice Ronald D. Castille and Mayor Nutter, appeared at City Hall to announce the funding for the 14-story, 29-courtroom building. Family Court handles some of the most sensitive cases in the justice system: juvenile crimes, divorces, child-neglect hearings.
Judges and advocates for women and children have fought for years to replace Family Court's current quarters, two crowded and outdated buildings, one at 1801 Vine St. and the other at 34 S. 11th St. Rendell pointed out that battered women sometimes hide from their abusers in stairways or bathrooms in the buildings because there is no separate and secure place for them to wait.
The lot at 15th and Arch, across from JFK Plaza, is owned by the Philadelphia Parking Authority; Pulver has the development rights under a deal that expires July 1. Since 2008, the courts have been paying fees to Pulver, architects, and Rotwitt.
Rotwitt's law firm, Obermayer, Rebmann, Maxwell & Hippel, has received more than $1 million from the courts so far as payment toward his total fee of $3.9 million. Rotwitt has received close to $500,000 in payments from Pulver, money that went to his private development company, Deilwydd Property Group FC L.L.C.
Plans are completed, and Pulver said he was nearly ready to start. But his deal appears about to collapse, due in part to revelations about Rotwitt's dual roles.
