To build or not to build that is the latest question and dilemma in the decade-old saga of the former Philadelphia State Hospital.

The 153-acre state-owned site, commonly known as Byberry, has been idle since the last psychiatric patient was released from the hospital in June 1990. But the hospital's 30-plus buildings, containing airborne asbestos and other hazardous materials, remain in dilapidated condition and will take millions of dollars to remove.

During a Jan. 9 meeting of the Somerton Civic Association, Delaware County-based developer Paul Soult presented plans to build senior citizen homes covering 40 of the 153 acres.

The civic association voted to support the plan as part of a broader redevelopment proposal for the entire tract, but both Soult and state Rep. George Kenney (R-170th dist.) hastened to point out that the plan is a long way from reality.

IT'S JUST AN IDEA

The developer acknowledged that his current proposal is conceptual at best. Meanwhile, Kenney said, it doesn't account for the demolition of the existing buildings. Plus, the legislator said, the plan ignores an existing agreement of sale for the land between the state's Department of General Services and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation.

In past meetings, the SCA has voted to oppose the existing agreement and PIDC redevelopment proposal, which also involves two private developers and would require community approval before implementation.

That plan calls for the construction of two commercial office complexes covering 130 acres west of Roosevelt Boulevard and north of Southampton Road. In addition, a community recreation facility, including an ice rink and indoor soccer arena, would occupy 22 acres south of Southampton Road.

Soult's plan, which comes at a time when the existing agreement of sale is in jeopardy for a lack of community support, would take 40 acres for residential development. It assumes that PIDC would use 90 acres for office buildings and does not address the remaining 22 acres.

"Conceptually, I think (senior housing is) a great idea," Kenney said. "But this is only forty acres of one-hundred and fifty. What the state (wants to know) is, 'What are you doing with one-hundred and fifty acres?'"

The 40 acres included in Soult's proposal lie along Carter Road, north of Southampton Road and south of the Poquessing Creek. Soult's sketches include a 200-foot green space or "buffer zone" around the perimeter of the section, which would include an estimated 300 to 400 single-story twin and single homes.

All traffic would enter and exit the community via Southampton Road. No traffic would enter from or exit to Carter Road. The plans also call for a community center near the entrance to the community.

CENTER OF ATTENTION

The twin homes, with roughly 1,000 square feet of floor space, would be concentrated at the center of the community. Each twin would have a 50-by-25-foot lot. The singles, with about 1,200 square feet, would have 100-by-65-foot lots. Residents would have to be age 55 or older to live in the community.

Soult said that he based his proposal on a series of meetings with members of an ad hoc committee established by the civic association.

"We're willing to work with the community first and not (draw plans based) on our own development needs and desires," Soult said.

According to Mary Jane Hazell, the president of the SCA, the top concern of the residents remains traffic. Last year, the civic group resolved to demand a traffic study of the area before any development begins.

Soult said last week that he would not proceed with his project without a traffic study.

In the past, the civic association has also demanded that the state finish construction of the Woodhaven Road expressway from its current terminus at Evans Street west to Montgomery County. The extension would relieve much of the local traffic problem, specifically Byberry Road, Hazell said.

Despite the vote for the housing plan, not all area residents agreed with it. Frank Novak, who lives on Carter Road across from the proposed development, offered an opposing opinion.

"People don't realize that housing is more intrusive than industry," Novak said, theorizing that "industry" traffic is limited to certain times of the day while residential traffic comes and goes all the time.

Novak also pointed out that the now-defunct Byberry Reuse Committee --- a group of residents and legislators who met in the early years following the hospital closure --- was strongly opposed to any new housing. Meanwhile, Novak said, the SCA has gone on record opposing any new development until Woodhaven Road is completed.

CIVIC LEADER: IT'S UNSAFE

Hazell said that the civic association still supports the highway project but felt it needed to identify what it would accept on the Byberry site were redevelopment to occur. Hazell believes that the site is unsafe in its existing condition.

"If you say, 'Let it be,' I'll tell you, most of those (buildings) have no roofs on them. And that asbestos is airborne," she said. "(The residents) were told we can't keep saying 'no' (to redevelopment). And this group decided we can't keep saying 'no.'"

The SCA has also gone on record in favor of the demolition of all existing buildings while the redevelopment issues are resolved. Kenney, the state legislator, reported to the group last week that steady progress is being made in that respect on several of the buildings located south of Southampton Road.

Yet, he cautioned, the work is best done gradually so that the state and the community can agree on a suitable buyer and future use before the land is ready for redevelopment.

Following the meeting, Kenney offered to work with the civic association's ad hoc committee to identify suitable future uses for the property. Hazell said that the SCA hopes to coordinate its efforts with Kenney, City Councilman Brian O'Neill (R-10th dist.), and freshman state Sen. Mike Stack (D-5th dist.), who unseated longtime Sen. Hank Salvatore in November.

"The bottom line is, we all want the same thing," Kenney said. "We all want the neighborhood protected. We all want the best use, and we all want a cleanup of the site."

Kenney anticipates that the existing agreement of sale eventually will be nullified. Then, the path will be cleared for the state to begin accepting new proposals.

"In all reality, PIDC is not going to produce a plan that the community is going to accept," Kenney said. "PIDC's obligation is to present a development plan that the community can be supportive of. They have never done that."

Craig Schelter, executive vice president of PIDC, told the Times through a spokeswoman: "We have met all required, scheduled events per the agreement with the state."

He was unavailable last week for further comment.