Sunday, November 6, 2011
The borough sent out seven Requests for Proposals to consultants ahead of the first meeting of the 311 W. Main Task Force. A proposed budget of $50K will pay for services.
Seven arts and entertainment consultants have been sent Requests for Proposals to guide the 311 W. Main Street Task Force in its goal toward refurbishing the former performing arts center in Lansdale. The RFPs were sent out ahead of the inaugural meeting of the task force. “I ask forgiveness on that,” said borough manager Timi Kirchner to the task force last week. “We did it essentially so the task force could hit the ground running.” Proposals are due Nov. 14, at which time a selection committee will choose three to present their proposals to the task force. The committee will then select one at its meeting in December, and give its recommendation to council so it can hire the consultant next month. “We sent this proposal out to seven …
Friday, November 4, 2011
Residents, task force members offer their dreams and goals for the future downtown community center
There is a vision for 311 W. Main Street in Lansdale, and residents and task force members made those dreams known Tuesday night. The Task Force Visions Task force member Doug Pett said the center should be a local destination for the performing arts community and the community at-large. “It’s going to generate business back in Lansdale. The whole idea of why I am interested in it is it’s going to revitalize the borough,” he said. “All the important things happening throughout the borough are phenomenal. I think this is one more thing that’s going to add to the welcome and the ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ of Lansdale.” Task force member Lindsay Schweriner would like to see a fixed auditorium and a flexible space in the center. The aesthetics of an …
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
Part two of three stories on the inaugural meeting of the 311 W. Main Street Task Force
The 311 W. Main Street Task Force got a reprisal Tuesday night from Scott Malin, senior associate of Spiezle Architects, on the code violations inside the building at 311 W. Main St., and possible conceptual ideas for what the property could become in the future. “Our codes department went into the building, and essentially determined there are code issues in the building,” said borough manager Timi Kirchner. “Two questions were asked: Can and should the building be opened to the public? Are there any significant issues with regard to life and safety?” Kirchner said a report by engineers Remington, Vernick and Beach determined there were 39 code violations found in the building: 14 dealing with accessibility; 10 with fire-rated …
Part one of three stories looking at the inaugural meeting of the 311 W. Main Street Task Force
Advisors Assemble! The 311 West Main Street Task Force convened for its inaugural meeting Tuesday night, where they elected a chairman and vice-chairman and reviewed the structural integrity and conceptual plans for the former performing arts center. Councilman Mike Sobel was elected chairman of the task force by unanimous vote. He was nominated by councilwoman Mary Fuller and seconded by Robert Willi. Charles Booz, owner of Chantilly Floral, was unanimously named vice chairman, nominated by Fuller and seconded by council president Matt West. Task force member Amy Rims nominated James “Royale” Collins. However, Collins said he would be willing to work with anyone. “I’d like to take a crack at it,” said Booz. The Board Each member …
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
The task force will review presentations heard in August, and vote on a Request for Proposal for an arts and entertainment consultant
Here is the agenda set for tonight's premiere 311 W. Main Street Task Force: 1. Meeting called to order - Ms. Kirchner (Interim Chairwoman) 2. Introduction and background of Task Force Members - Ms. Kirchner 3. Review of the 311 West Main Task Force Ordinance - Ms. Kirchner 4. Election of Officers - Ms. Kirchner 5. Statement from newly elected Chairperson 6. Discussion of Task Force Budget - Ms. Kirchner 7. Discussion of arts and entertainment consultant Request for Proposal (RFP) - Ms. Kirchner 8. Review of Remington, Vernick & Beach code violations presentation, re: property at 311 West Main Street (previously shown at Borough Council's Special Meeting August 2, 2011) - Ms. Kirchner 9. Presentation by Scott Malin of Speizle Architects (…
The first meeting of the group assigned to look at the future of the former Lansdale performing arts center
The seven-member 311 W. Main Street Task Force inaugurally meets tonight at 7 p.m. at Lansdale Borough Hall, where it will begin discussing the future of the former Lansdale performing arts center. Montgomeryville-Lansdale Patch was the first to bring you an exclusive interview with one of the members, Amy Rims, of Lansdale, before news was broken to the community on formation of the task force. Who Is On the Task Force? Seven community members – four from the arts and entertainment field and three from the North Penn area – make up the task force. They are: Richard Kardon was apponted a member, but he is no longer on the task force. He was replaced by Schweriner. Kardon is president and general manager of Point Entertainment in Narberth. …
Leif Skoogfors
7:13 am on Saturday, November 5, 2011
311 Can't be everything for everyone. It requires sharp focus and intensive research to fit the community. A local theatre or musical venue may not be able to draw the quality shows that would bring folks here. Lansdale, in my four years here, builds big expectations for renewal, but falls short. Perhaps interesting a community college or state university into making it an extension is possible. … more ›