No move’s a good move

Regional Produce Terminal merchants finally made up their minds about whether to stay in Philadelphia or pack up and move to Camden.

And, much to the satisfaction of local officials, they decided to stay put.

After more than a year of courting the produce terminal, New Jersey’s offer to build a $90-million facility off the Morgan Boulevard exit of 676 was rejected last Friday.

Instead, merchants accepted a proposal to build a facility at a 51-acre auto transfer site currently occupied by the Pasha Group, on the corner of Columbus Boulevard and Oregon Avenue, confirmed Michael Sklaroff, the terminal’s attorney.

The site will be vacant by Wednesday. Like the Camden site, the Pasha property has a rail siding, which would make it freight-train accessible — a huge plus in importing and exporting produce, said terminal general manager Sonny DiCrecchio last month.

DiCrecchio did not return calls to comment on the merchants’ decision to remain in the city.

Gary Tuma, spokesperson for Sen. Vincent Fumo, said he could not discuss specifics of the Philadelphia proposal because negotiations are continuing.

"We’re working on specifics," Sklaroff said on Tuesday. "The governor has made a [$100-million] commitment; the mayor and Sen. Fumo have been very supportive. And we’re very optimist that we will have a successful relocation to the Columbus Boulevard site."

The attorney would not cite the cost of the new facility or give a timeframe for completion.