US National Slavery Museum debated in 2 courts

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal judge will decide within days whether the U.S. National Slavery Museum's largest creditor can legally challenge deed restrictions on the museum's proposed home in Fredericksburg.

Pei Partnership Architects wants the court to lift the restrictions on the 38-acre property because it says they sharply limit the property's value for sale.

The museum proposed by former Gov. L. Douglas Wilder was to rise on the land off Interstate 95 but Wilder has struggled to attract donations so it can go forward.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch (http://bit.ly/Z5fz5o) reported Saturday that U.S. District Judge James R. Spencer heard testimony Friday and said he would rule on Pei's request within a week.

Pei designed the museum that was never built and is owed about $6 million.

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Information from: Richmond Times-Dispatch, http://www.timesdispatch.com