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Archdiocese pulls out of deal to sell 213 acres in Delco

After two years of negotiations, the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia said Friday that it was pulling out of a deal to sell for commercial and residential development 213 acres in Delaware County.

After two years of negotiations, the Catholic Archdiocese of Philadelphia said Friday that it was pulling out of a deal to sell for commercial and residential development 213 acres in Delaware County.

In a statement, the archdiocese said the largely undeveloped Marple Township tract - the size of 163 football fields - would go back onto the market.

"Our intention is still to sell the property," spokesman Ken Gavin confirmed in an email.

The collapse of the deal with developer Bruce Goodman was an unexpected turn for one of the more coveted parcels in a county where development space is at a premium.

It also reflects a victory for hundreds of local residents, who opposed the plan to replace their makeshift walking trails and untouched woods behind Cardinal O'Hara High School with big-box stores and houses.

Organizing their efforts in a group called Save Marple GreenSpace, residents have stormed township meetings, rallying commissioners and county planners to block the deal.

In his original proposal for what was called Cardinal Crossing, Goodman envisioned a complex with stores and more than 300 homes.

Beating out multiple competitors, he offered $47 million for the land, and according to marketing materials for the property might have been required to put down a nonrefundable deposit as steep as $5 million.

But his plans repeatedly failed to secure the proper zoning from township commissioners.

Reached by phone Friday, Goodman declined to comment.

The archdiocese put the land up for sale after Archbishop Charles J. Chaput arrived in Philadelphia in 2011. At the time, the archdiocese said it faced significant fiscal challenges, including for its trust-and-loan fund, which was designed to collect deposits from parishes and either invest the money on their behalf or use it to make loans to other parishes.

cmccabe@philly.com

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