(a) Scope.--This section applies only to cities of the first class.

(b) Legislative finding.--It is hereby determined and declared that:

(1) As a matter of legislative finding, the health, safety and general welfare of the people of this Commonwealth are directly dependent upon the continual encouragement, development, growth and expansion of business, industry, commerce and tourism.

(2) Unemployment, the spread of poverty and the heavy burden of public assistance and unemployment compensation can be avoided by the promotion, attraction, stimulation, development and expansion of business, industry, commerce and tourism in this Commonwealth through the development of mixed-use projects by parking authorities in cities of the first class.

(3) Due to the size, total population and population density of a city of the first class, it may be inefficient to devote property within a city of the first class solely to parking facilities and that development of mixed-use projects that include a parking component and a commercial, industrial, residential or retail component can be an important factor in the continual encouragement, development, attraction, stimulation, growth and expansion of business, industry, commerce and tourism within a city of the first class, the surrounding counties and this Commonwealth as a whole.

(c) Mixed-use projects.--Without limiting the powers set forth in section 5505 (relating to purposes and powers), an authority shall have the power to do all acts that, in the judgment of the board, are necessary, convenient or useful to the development or operation of one or more mixed-use projects, including, with the approval of a city of the first class, the power to plan, design, locate, acquire, hold, construct, finance, improve, maintain, operate, own, lease, either in the capacity of lessor or lessee, land, buildings, other structures and personal property necessary, convenient or useful to the development and operation of a mixed-use project. An authority shall have the power to finance mixed-use projects by borrowing money and making and issuing bonds and by making loans which may be evidenced by and secured as may be provided in loan agreements, mortgages, security agreements or any other contracts, instruments or agreements which may contain such provisions as the authority shall deem necessary, convenient or useful for the security or protection of the authority or its bondholders. An authority may pledge, mortgage, hypothecate or otherwise encumber all or any part of its property, real or personal, constituting all or part of a mixed-use project, including, but not limited to, the revenues or receipts of the authority from one or more mixed-use projects, for all or any of the obligations, including bonds, of the authority incurred in connection with the development or operation of a mixed-use project. An authority shall not have the power to engage in business, trade or commerce for a profit as an owner or lessee of a mixed-use project or otherwise. An authority shall have and may exercise the powers set forth in this section notwithstanding any other provision of law or any provisions of its articles of incorporation.

(d) Definition.--As used in this section, the term "mixed-use project" means any project that includes a public parking garage component and a commercial, industrial, residential or retail component. In addition to a public parking garage, which shall be a required component of all mixed-use projects, a mixed-use project may also include public parking lots. The commercial, industrial, residential or retail component of a mixed-use project must be located within, above, below or contiguous to the parking garage.

(Dec. 30, 2002, P.L.2001, No.230, eff. imd.; July 16, 2004, P.L.758, No.94, eff. imd.)

2004 Amendment. Act 94 reenacted and amended section 5508.2. See sections 20(2.1) and 21(2) of Act 94 in the appendix to this title for special provisions relating to Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission contracts and preservation of rights, obligations, duties and remedies.

2004 Unconstitutionality. Act 230 of 2002 was declared unconstitutional. City of Philadelphia v. Commonwealth, 838 A.2d 566 (Pa. 2003).