Statue of fmr. Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo to be returned to donor group under new agreement

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A cast iron statue of former Philadelphia Mayor Frank Rizzo will be returned to the group that originally donated it, following a ruling Wednesday by the Philadelphia Art Commission.

The ten-foot-tall statue, which had been in city storage since its removal in June 2020 amid racial justice protests, has been at the center of a dispute over ownership and future display.

The Commission's decision requires the city to return the statue to the Frank L. Rizzo Monument Committee within 90 days and provide $80,000 for repairs.

"They are going to return the statue to us and they are going to repair the damage to the statue," said George Bochetto of Bochetto and Lentz, the attorney representing the committee.

While the statue will be restored, its public visibility remains uncertain.

The statue was once prominently placed in front of the Municipal Services Building.

Bochetto said earlier this week, "We believe the new location will be every bit as commanding."

However, the Commission's ruling stipulates that the statue may only be displayed on private property and must be housed in a building or behind a structure that prevents it from being visible from public rights-of-way.

Whether this marks the end of the statue's saga remains to be seen.