The park service estimates that the entire cost of the deal, including direct payments to ARC and building refurbishments by the park service, will be more than $6 million, according to the documents.
Officials of the American Revolution Center have not described their immediate plans for the new property, but in recent interviews they said they had decided not to demolish the 1976-vintage building as originally indicated. Instead they intend to create a minimal but visible presence in the Philadelphia historic district.
The Valley Forge property was acquired for the center for $4.1 million in 2007 by philanthropist H.F. "Gerry" Lenfest, chairman of the center's board. But ARC saw its efforts to erect a museum complex at Valley Forge stalled for several years by opposition from local residents and conservationists, bureaucratic roadblocks, fund-raising issues, and other problems.
ARC officials regard the Philadelphia location as an opportunity for a fresh start with renewed fund-raising efforts, they said.
The old Independence Park visitor center, which occupies the Third and Chestnut location, now must be divided into two separate, stand-alone facilities - largely at the park service's expense - with separate utility and mechanical systems. Independence Park will retain that portion of the property where its parkwide cooling system is located.
Thus the estimated $6 million-plus cost of the total swap package.
"Land acquisition is something the park service does," said Phil Sheridan, spokesman for the park service's northeast regional office, which is overseeing the deal. "We had a chance to trade off the former visitor's center and some cash to protect 78 acres in Valley Forge."
