Plans to acquire land for replacement Philly prison on hold

Philadelphia City Council has put on hold a bill to buy property for a proposed new prison.  

The move comes after the City Planning Commission and the likely next mayor oppose the project. 

Councilman Bobby Henon says he is not holding the bill to buy property near the current prison complex because of that opposition, but because he wants to fix some things in the legislation.

“Just want to answer any of the questions that the activists, stakeholders or other members had in mind,” he said.

Henon says the property is to build a replacement facility not an additional jail.

“I do plan on moving forward, the timing of that is uncertain at this time,” he said. ” I just want to make people understand that we are not building a new prison.”

Mayor Michael Nutter says the land is necessary for future proofing the prison system. 

The Democratic nominee for mayor Jim Kenney says he doesn’t want to build a new prison while the city schools are underfunded.