Lansdale May Spend $71K on Fundraising Firm in 311 Arts Capital Campaign

In its push toward the start of revitalizing the former Masonic Temple-turned-mismanaged arts center at 311 W. Main St.—envisioned to be 311 Arts under guidance of Spiezle Architects—Lansdale Borough Council could decide the fundraising part of its progress later this month.

On Wednesday, the Administration and Finance Committee recommended the borough manager prepare and advertise a resolution for council to accept on Aug. 21 an estimated $71,000 contract with Schultz & Williams, a Philadelphia-based planning firm, for the capital campaign for 311 Arts.

"We knew there will be costs associated with 311 becoming what it will be at some point," said committee Chairman and Councilman Dan Dunigan.

Dunigan said Schultz & Williams are the capital campaign firm hired for the North Penn Commons Project.

The North Penn Commons project was formerly known as the Lansdale Collaboration Project. Recently, the North Penn Commons project has received $11.6 million in low-income housing credits over a 10-year period.

North Penn Commons is a partnership between North Penn YMCA in Lansdale, Manna on Main Street in Lansdale, Advanced Living Communities in Towamencin and The PEAK Senior Center in Towamencin. The project will expand the current YMCA onto the former Lans-Bowl property, while adding senior living space, a full senior center and the Lansdale food pantry and soup kitchen.

Dunigan said Schultz & Williams is "very well connected."

"As are most campaigns of this size, the expected duration is two years," Dunigan said. "However, in keeping with our incremental process, we are going to be working toward a one-year contract, with a one-year renewal. That contract will have a series of benchmarks that council can use in judging renewal."