Last month, the Superior Court of Pennsylvania handed down an extremely well-reasoned opinion in J.J. DeLuca Company v. Toll Brothers. The matter explored the contours of the gist of the action doctrine and punitive damages law within the framework of an extremely ambitious development project. Toll Brothers (TB), a local behemoth clearly in need of no introduction, has been aggressively developing communities, even during these economically precarious times, stimulating the local economy and responding to the needs of sophisticated homebuyers throughout the region. One of these efforts has unquestionably altered the complexion of the area just south of Fitler Square in Philadelphia.
Naval Square, a grand-scale Philadelphia community, represents a highly complex undertaking. And for those history buffs amongst us, perhaps some very brief background is in order. According to TB’s website, the Philadelphia Naval Asylum first opened in 1834 and served as the first home of the U.S. Naval Academy and as the nation’s first retirement home for sailors and marines. One of the uses of the Naval Asylum was for the Philadelphia Naval School, an academy for midshipmen that was a precursor of the U.S. Naval Academy. The developer first acquired the subject property in 1988, many years before commencing formal development. Eventually, TB spearheaded major construction efforts at the approximately 20-acre site, expending tens of millions of dollars to create a picturesque gated community, with both single-family as well as condominium offerings. The stunning focal point, Biddle Hall, was formerly the surgeon general’s residence and designed by architect William Strickland. Well preserved, the structure represents a quintessential example of Greek Revival architecture in the United States.
