Thursday, March 28, 2013
Borough Manager Timi Kirchner and a handful of residents discussed the municipal complex renovations and 311 W. Main renovations at the recent Lansdale town hall session.
Now that Lansdale Borough Council has given direction to Spiezle Architects to draft two sketch plan options for the renovation of the municipal complex, Borough Manager Timi Kirchner told the town hall meeting attendees Tuesday night that the process will be "very deliberate" in comparing costs for its demolition, renovation and preservation. Kirchner said that within the two options council can see the comparable costs and benefits of doing the project one way or another. Preservation would be focused on mainly the three facades of borough hall, not includig the front entrance facade. However, those walls of borough hall have been deemed in deteriorating condition, victim of the banes of the weather that has resulted in cracked …
Friday, March 1, 2013
Residents, council members, the borough manager and the mayor all expressed their opinions and facts about the future of Lansdale Borough Hall.
While a motion to enter into a contract with Spiezle Architects on the development of two alternative designs for the future municipal complex at Vine and Broad streets was delayed at the Feb. 20 Lansdale Council meeting, residents packed the meeting room to hear concerns and express opinions on the historic building. There was also another debate, this one limited to councilmembers and Mayor Andy Szekely: Should a Request for Proposal go out for the design of the complex and not be awarded to Spiezle, who won the bid for the initial Facilities and Grounds Study? Resident Bill Henning was the mastermind behind a petition on Change.org to stop the destruction of Lansdale Borough Hall. The petition features signatures of many residents and …
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Lansdale Borough Solicitor Mark Hosterman suggested the delay because final details need to be worked out on both contracts
Four major votes set on the agenda tonight in Lansdale Borough will be delayed due to ironing out details on respective contracts. Borough Solicitor Mark Hosterman Wednesday afternoon advised council remove four items from its agenda for its Wednesday evening work session: A major agenda item, which has caused a stir of controversy and a push for petitions from residents, was on whether or not for Spiezle Architects to be contracted to proceed on drafting alternative options for the municipal complex. It did not mean a vote on the demolition of borough hall. According to Borough Manager Timi Kirchner, the delay "is due to the fact that we have final details to work out in each of these contracts and that we want council to have ample time …
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
An opinion piece on why and how Lansdale Borough Council should keep a part of Lansdale's past — and why 311 W. Main should be completed first
When I was a boy, growing up in Towamencin, I was surrounded by amateur carpenters who do impeccable work. My father, uncles and Pop-Pop Di Domizio would take their etched- or permanent marker-monogrammed tools and construct a new deck, back patio, addition, mantel, bookshelves — you get the picture. I can’t speak for the other members of my family, but at least for myself, I also grew up in a home where six projects were going on at one time. I love my parents’ finished basement; I don’t love how they can’t use the other half of the attic. The plywood only covers the joists so far. It wasn’t until I was nearing my wedding when their back porch finally got enclosed. I don’t live in that home anymore. I do live in Towamencin, but in an …
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
At the informal Lansdale Town Hall Session Tuesday night, residents and officials discussed a plethora of items — among them the potential renovations of 1 Vine Street and vacation of Railroad Avenue
What was once the home of the Dewey Decimal System is now home to the criminal justice system. What was once the post is now host to votes. Lansdale Police Department and Lansdale Borough Hall have history to them: The former was the Lansdale Library in the 1950s and the latter was the original Lansdale Post Office in the 1930s. Now, both buildings are the center of a facilities update in the borough. Both were deemed in poor condition, with countless mechical, structural and aesthetical problems, insufficient and tight spaces, and poorly-designed layouts. Council can choose to build onto them or demolish them in favor of new state-of-the-art buildings — or do nothing. The municipal complex renovations were the talk of Lansdale's Town Hall…
Wednesday, January 2, 2013
The HVAC company in Souderton purchased the property in October. The demolition is needed for better truck traffic to its feed mill
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Wednesday, January 2
Moyer Indoor/Outdoor is set to demolish the Reliance Inn, which was recently purchased by the HVAC and pool maintenance company. According to Theresa Hegel of PhillyBurbs.com, the former restaurant and inn at East Reliance Road and South Fourth Street will be demolished by the beginning of February. Moyer Indoor/Outdoor purchased the property for $290,000 in October, according to Montgomery County records. The reason for demolition: Better truck traffic to Moyer Indoor/Outdoor’s feed mill, according to the article. The three-story building was built in 1882. When Moyer Indoor/Outdoor owner David Moyer was asked by Hegel about preserving the building, Moyer said his company has been around longer, even before Souderton was incorporated. …
Friday, July 6, 2012
Lansdale Borough Department of Community Development has received construction drawings and building permit applications
Readers have been seeing some activity going on at the former Super Foodtown site in The Pavilion Shopping Center at Whites Road and South Broad Street in Lansdale. That activity is in preparation for a Dollar Tree store. According to Director of Community Development John Ernst, the borough codes department has received construction drawings and building permit applications for the store. Ernst said Dollar Tree will be taking over part - not all - of the vacant Super Foodtown. Dollar Tree will also be acquiring some space from Pets Plus. Ernst said Dollar Tree has received a demolition permit for the work currently being done at the site. A call has been made to Dollar Tree representative Timothy Reid for comment. Stay tuned for more …
Friday, May 11, 2012
Geppert Bros. Demolition in Colmar is knocking down the former Boscov's site in preparation for construction of Wegmans
Goodbye, Boscov's. Hello, Wegmans. The Colmar division of Geppert Brothers Demolition is busy destroying, pulling down and ripping out the upper and lower levels of the former Boscov's store at Montgomery Mall in Montgomeryville. A Wegmans will be built in its place, with a projected opening in 2013. In November 2011, Simon Property Group signed an agreement with Wegmans to construct a freestanding grocery store next to the mall. "It will be freestanding and will not be connected to the mall," said Jo Natale, Wegmans director of media relations, in November 2011. Wegmans opens three stores every year. In 2012, Wegmans committed to opening a market in King of Prussia and two markets in Maryland. Macy's, Salsas and Dick's Sporting Goods all …
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Time wasn't kind to the Tremont, according to Lansdale Historical Society President Dick Shearer
It's been 15 years gone, and longtime residents still lament its demise and demolition. In its place is a Rite-Aid - an eyesore to many where the ghosts of power business lunches and mom and dad anniversary dinners exist. According to a "Back in Time" feature by Dick Shearer of the Lansdale Historical Society, the Tremont was the go-to restaurant when it was owned by Marcel Winniger. Yet, perhaps the Tremont was destined for failure, for demolition; its destiny may be that it would be talked about for decades, a story for grandmom and mom and dad to reminisce about with the good ol' days of Lansdale. Shearer said the Tremont had a troubled past that haunted it to the very end. The Hotel Tremont was built in 1890 by Isaac Heebner, son of …
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
If approved, construction could begin as early as autumn
Looking to continue their development efforts in Lansdale, W.B. Homes has asked the borough planning commission to consider rezoning the 400 block of North Line Street so they can build a group of twins and townhomes. The property is home to the old Fenstermacher Roofing building -- which is now occupied by several smaller businesses -- and a single family home on the corner of North Line Street and Fourth Street. It is located next to the Zion Korean American Presbyterian Church, formerly Line Street School. It is currently zoned as "Residential-A", but would require a rezone to "Residential-B" prior to being developed. "The purpose behind the rezone will allow us to put a little more density on the site than Residential-A would, and …
go away mike hunt
3:21 am on Thursday, February 21, 2013
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