Montco Preparing Court Fight to Prevent Barnes Relocation

July 6th, 2007
By Brad Segall
KYW

Montgomery County officials appear ready to play hardball with the Barnes Foundation in an effort to keep the multi-billion-dollar art collection in Lower Merion.

The county says it is still open to negotiations with the Barnes Foundation but is prepared to take the foundation to court to prevent a move to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.

Attorney Mark Schwartz, who represents the county, is prepared to file a lawsuit in the next few weeks asking a judge to reopen the case.

Schwartz says the Barnes' mission is all about the move, not about the wishes of Dr. Barnes:

"I’ll remain disappointed if the Barnes Foundation -- which has been labeled by some as the worst nonprofit board in the history of mankind -- I’ll be surprised and disappointed if they don’t take the commissioners up on their offer."

That offer was a $50-million sale and leaseback transaction at no cost to county taxpayers.

They say the judge who said it was okay for the Barnes to move didn’t know about more than $100 million the state has set aside to help fund the move at taxpayer expense.