News Releases and Updates
Site Announced for Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple
The First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has announced the site for the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple. The specific location is 1739 Vine Street in downtown Philadelphia.
The site is adjacent to the Vine Street Expressway and neighboring Courts Building and situated diagonally across the street from Logan Square, a prominent Philadelphia landmark.
The Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple was announced by Church President Thomas S. Monson in October 2008. Currently, there are 130 operating temples in the world, with another 21 that have been announced or are under construction.
For more information on temples, see: http://newsroom.lds.org/ldsnewsroom/eng/background-information/temples
Deal Closes on Land for Philadelphia Mormon Temple
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has closed on the purchase of the desired piece of property for the Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple. The purchase was announced in the press on December 3, 2010. The property was then a parking lot owned by an affiliate of Klein Co., a Philadelphia real estate developer. Klein had purchased the land from the Redevelopment Authority with the stipulation that construction would proceed on the property. Klein failed to develop the property, defaulting on the contract agreement. This opened the way for the Church to purchase the property.
Land and zoning approvals come next in the process of getting the temple built. The target date for the temple to be completed is in 2013. The temple will serve the 30,000 church members between northern Delaware and South Jersey and from Harrisburg eastward.
Read more: Church of Latter-Day Saint buys land for $70M temple | Philadelphia Business Journal
City Approves Height Design for Philadelphia Mormon Temple
The planned Mormon temple for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and third high-rise temple, has been approved for height design, as of a recent Philly city council meeting.
According to a local radio news reporter, Mike Dunn,
The Philadelphia City Council’s Rules Committee approved altering height limitations on a parcel of land on Vine Street between 17th and 18th Streets, a change that will allow the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter Day Saints (Mormons) to move ahead with plans for a Philadelphia temple.
Ahmad Corbitt, a church official, Mormon leader, who addressed Council, says it will attract faithful Mormon members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints throughout the region:
Temples to Latter Day Saints are very sacred. So this provides a beautiful opportunity for us, in not only southeastern Pennsylvania but Delaware and South Jersey as well.
The temple will cost $70 million. Corbitt says they hope for groundbreaking this year, with completion by 2013.
Future Site of Philadelphia Pennsylvania Temple
Mormon Church Buys Property Near New Temple
The Mormon Church has closed on the purchase of a parcel of land near the proposed Philadelphia temple. The 2.1 acre site was purchased from Hudson Realty Capital, a New York investment firm. The Church has not fully decided how to use the site. According the area’s zoning, the property can be used for large buildings.
