Lansdale Council to Consider 311 Arts Facade Restoration

Lansdale Borough Council Wednesday could take a step toward the renaissance of 311 W. Main, now referred to as 311 Arts, with approval of the building's facade restoration.
At a 311 Arts business and building plan reveal, Scott Malin, of Spiezle Architects, said Spiezle could restore the facade, if done as soon as possible.
"If we do, we have to do that real soon," he said Monday night. "We don't want the building to go through too many more winters."
Lansdale Borough Manager Timi Kirchner, in her closing remarks Monday night, said the first step to the revival of 311 Arts is the facade restoration, as it is "a critical step to save the building."
"It serves as a beacon of great things to come," she said.
The facade restoration is one of three steps outlined by Kirchner, and reviewed by a 311 Arts steering committee. Step two is to enter in a two-year contract with a fundraising firm to develop a capital campaign. Step three is to hire 311 Arts consultant Laura Burnham for a longer term.
"I am highly impressed with Laura Burnham," Kirchner said. "She is well connected in the area. I will recommend to council that we extend her contract to serve as the project manager as we move forward."
Burnham will be tasked with creating a fully functional board of directors for 311 Art, Kirchner said, as well as accounting, communicating and administering through the proposed capital campaign. Burnham would also have to apply for grants from major foundations and Pennsylvania agencies, Kirchner said. As manager of 311 Arts, Burnham would have to draft Requests for Proposals and contracts for the catering service and programs proposed for 311 Arts, Kirchner said. 
All these recommendations must be approved by a majority of council.
Burnham, in her remarks Monday, said the fundraising platform will build 311 Arts, which has the potential to bring new life to downtown Lansdale and establish itself as a larger economic downtown unlike that of Doylestown and Ambler.
Burnham said a recent survey of 311 Arts showed that more than 78 percent supported the restoration of the former arts center that lived most of its life as a Masonic Temple since its 1912 opening.
"The potential of 311 Arts is real," Burnham said. "It's viable. It's exciting. I've taken a leap of faith. This is well worth it."
Resident Steve Jones said he supports Burnham as a potential manager of 311 Arts.
"I want to say I applaud you for ... the recommendation on moving forward with Laura," Jones said.