Saturday, September 8, 2012
Councilman Mike Sobel, who heads the 311 W. Main Task Force, read a statement prior to Thursday's meeting on the state of the committee and its culmination
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Saturday, September 8, 2012
The following is a statement read by Lansdale Borough Councilman Mike Sobel at the start of Thursday's 311 W. Main Task Force meeting: To All Task Force Members: First of all, let me thank each and every one of you for your thoughts, enthusiasm, suggestions and expertise during this venture we have all undertaken. You were chosen to be here for a reason. None of you have disappointed myself or this community in your efforts and time volunteering. Many of these meetings have been long and arduous. We've had to endure shots and snipes taken at us from the press and social media. We've listened to a multitude of ideas from the gallery and from each other. We've heard from experts trying to guide us. We sat through numerous informative …
Friday, September 7, 2012
The 311 W. Main Task Force is nearing the end of its purpose - to recommend a purpose for the former arts center to Lansdale Borough Council. The committee will make a full recommendation that fulfills the requirements laid out in its ordinance
All good things must come to an end. As 311 W. Main Task Force Chairman allegorically put it Thursday night, the task force is now at Fourth and Goal at the one yard line, with the game on the line. Next month, the 311 W. Main Task Force's purpose and efforts will come to a close as it is poised to recommend to borough council an elaborate and in-depth direction for the former performing arts center in the heart of Lansdale. That direction, based on opinions of members, is to renovate the building all at once and develop it into a film and performing arts center. Chairman Mike Sobel had asked each task force member to summarize their opinions on what should be recommended, based on draft findings in the business plan from consultant AMS …
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
"Your municipality owns the building - that's the bottom line," Councilwoman Mary Fuller said. "I'd love to see a white knight ride in and buy it and do something with it, but that's unrealistic."
The development of 311 W. Main St. in Lansdale was another big topic last week at the borough's town hall session. Councilwoman Mary Fuller, who runs the town hall session with Lansdale Business Association president Doug DiPasquale, said the building, and even the Madison Lot project, are all open for ideas. "We need the input," she said. "What do people want with the building? It didn't work in its current condition. How far does the community go with it?" Residents Nancy Frei and John Darab referenced Mayor Andy Szekely's recent blog on Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch regarding the future of the former arts center. In it, Szekely wrote that the idea of "if you build it, they will come" is Hollywood fantasy: an organization must be in …
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Former Shiloh Lodge Worshipful Master Joe McQuillin provided a recent town hall session with a bit of backstory on the sale of the former Masonic Temple to Lansdale Borough
Former Shiloh Lodge F. & A.M. No. 588 Worshipful Master Joe McQuillin, owner of McQuillin Studio in Lansdale, provided a backstory on 311 W. Main Street at the Lansdale town hall session last month – a tale of miscommunication, poor decisions, broken promises and a transaction worth $450,000. McQuillin said he was at a recent North Penn Rotary Club meeting speaking with new Shiloh Lodge member Jack Chun, an architect who designed the Montgomery County Cultural Center in Norristown, the North Penn Rotary Bandshell at White's Road Park and the former Lansdale Performing Arts Center. Their discussion was on the topic of the old Shiloh Lodge Masonic Temple aka the former Lansdale Center of the Performing Arts aka 311 W. Main Street. McQuillin …
Bad Kitty
10:22 pm on Thursday, February 16, 2012
Pride in community. Some have it - most don't. We need incentives to attract new boutique businesses. And stop dis-respecting the businesses that DO exist.....when was the last time you patronized a business in Lansdale? more ›