Garage under Love Park could be key to its renovation

The city of Philadelphia wants to sell an underground parking garage at the foot of the Ben Franklin Parkway.

Part of the plan is to renovate what’s on top of the garage ― LOVE Park.

 

A request for qualifications has been put out to sell the 820-space garage. Mayor Michael Nutter says it’s an asset the city can do without.

“The garage itself is a total mess and is in desperate need of renovation, not an asset that we the city need to hold on to,” he said Thursday.

After the sale, the city could afford to remake JFK Plaza, or LOVE Park as it is better known, to make it greener. Construction worker Steven Wallace, who often eats lunch in the park, says replacing granite with more a more natural setting would be great.

“If they rip this out, make it grass — it’s all breaking people are tripping all over it — so if they put in grass, it would be better,” he said.

Getting rid of the stone also might make the park less tempting to skateboarders. The city has been trying to keep them out of LOVE Park for years.

Those interested on bidding for the property will have to submit proposals by mid-August.