Barnes advocates still trying to stop move

The battle for the Barnes is not over yet. The controversy surrounding the move of the art collection from the Barnes Foundation in Lower Merion to a new exhibition space on the Ben Franklin Parkway will come before the Delaware River Port Authority today.

The battle for the Barnes is not over yet. The controversy surrounding the move of the art collection from the Barnes Foundation in Lower Merion to a new exhibition space on the Ben Franklin Parkway will come before the Delaware River Port Authority today.

Listen:
[audio: 090519pcbarnes.mp3]

Six years ago the DRPA pledged a half-million dollars toward the expected 150 million dollar project to move the celebrated collection of paintings from the suburbs to downtown.

Evelyn Yaari of the Friends of the Barnes says a complete economic study has never been done. She says the DRPA should consider the impact the move will have on both the Parkway and Lower Merion.

Yaari: If you do want to give this money, you need to objectively study it. And if you decide you don’t want to give this money, there are other things that will benefit the region far more than this will.

The DRPA will not comment until they hear the presentation. The Friends of the Barnes attempted to block the move in court, saying it is against the wishes of Albert Barnes’ will. They were not successful. The city has already broken ground at the new museum site.