Montgomery Twp. Eyeing $9.6M Community Center

Kimmel Bogrette Architecture + Site presented Monday night proposed plans for a community and recreation center at Stump and Horsham roads. Township Manager Larry Gregan outlined the potential financial plan to pay for it all

Montgomery Township Supervisors have a vision for a regional community and recreation center at Stump and Horsham roads, presented a public meeting Monday by contracted firm Kimmel-Bogrette Architecture + Site. The vision is this: a 39,000-square-foot, two-story facility with a gymnasium with two full basketball courts, two flex-space community rooms with a kitchen, a child watch area, a weight/cardio room, a youth lounge, a cafe, two exercise rooms, a suspended walking/jogging track, three multipurpose studio spaces and a senior citizen activity room. Things the vision doesn't include: a pool, library space and a skate park. The township plans to fund the proposed project for 21 years without any need for a tax increase.  "On Nov. 8, we …

• Photos (6)

Estimated $1 Million for Jenkins Avenue Sewer Work

Additional sanitary and storm sewer work is proposed for the project. The Lansdale Public Works Committee is expected to make a recommendation soon on proceeding with engineering work on the project

A preliminary proposal from borough engineer Remington, Vernick and Beach estimates a price tag of more than $1 million to repair sanitary and storm sewers along Jenkins Avenue, between Chestnut and Line streets. "We asked (borough engineer) Remington, Vernick and Beach to go back and look at a broader proposal for a number of items we felt important to work on, specifically some additional sanitary and storm sewer work in there," said Public Works Committee Chairman Denton Burnell at council's Wednesday work session. "It does come with a very hefty price tag." The Jenkins Avenue issue became a stinky one for one resident at Jenkins Avenue and Chestnut Street last year. He came to the public works committee to notify the borough that he …

• Photos (1)

Five Things to Know Today: July 18

Lansdale Library holds an astronomy show using a StarLab portable planetarium courtesy of Merck at 10:30 a.m. in the Lynn Janoff Community Room

1. Lansdale Library holds an astronomy show using a StarLab portable planetarium courtesy of Merck at 10:30 a.m. in the Lynn Janoff Community Room. 2. PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce hosts a Family Fun Night at Arnold’s Family Fun Center from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. 3. WXPN welcomes ska supergroup The English Beat at 8 p.m. at Sellersville Theater. Tickets are $33. 4. Montgomery County Community College’s Workforce Development and Continuing Education Division hosts an instructor job fair and open house in the Science Center lobby at the central campus location in Blue Bell from noon to 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. 5. PennDOT begins a $12.3 million pavement improvement project tonight to resurface and repave 21 state roads in …

• Photos (1)

Lansdale Collaborative Project Raises Concerns

Residents near the former Lans-Bowl fear increased traffic will jeopardize the safety of their community, a told to Lansdale Public Safety Committee Wednesday night

The Lansdale Borough Public Safety Committee was met with residents' concerns about the impact of the North Penn YMCA project on the community at its Wednesday meeting. The $28-million Lansdale Collaborative Project will house the North Penn YMCA, The Peak Center, Manna on Main Street and Advanced Living Communities under one roof in the former Lans Bowl property. Residents primarily of Forest, Church, and Highland avenues expressed their many concerns regarding the additional traffic that the YMCA project will generate in an area where cars already “blow through stop signs,” as one resident stated in the meeting. “There will be an access road placed only eight feet from my fence,” resident John Walz stated.  “According to the plans, cars …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (3)

Trees Could Begin Being Planted Friday

One of four species is unavailable because the trees died after they were tagged for Lansdale Borough

Three of the four species of trees set to be planted on Main Street and Madison Avenue in Lansdale are in the contractor’s possession and ready to go into the ground. However, one species is unavailable, as those tagged trees have died. At the public works committee meeting Wednesday, utilities director Jake Ziegler updated the committee on the streetscape street trees situation. He said the contractor was ready to plant the trees Thursday. “As far as I know, the trees for the area on Main Street and Madison Avenue are physically located in the town right now,” he said. “There’s a big possibility that the contractor can start as early as (Thursday) on the installation of the trees.” “So (The Reporter) got it right,” said councilman Jack …

• Photos (1)

Pickertown Road Closing Monday

PennDOT contractors working on Route 202 Parkway in Bucks and Montgomery counties

Pickertown Road will close on Monday for about nine months, as PennDOT contractors work to finish the Route 202 Parkway. Pickertown Road will be closed and detoured between Stump and Upper State roads in Warrington Township for construction of a bridge over the Parkway, according to PennDOT. A detour will take motorists over Stump Road, Route 152 and Uper State Road, according to PennDOT. In addition, Bucks County motorists will encounter periodic lane closures Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the following locations: Lane closures will also occur on Upper Stte Road for widening the intersections of County Line Road, Route 152 and Bristol Road. Lane closures will be on Upper State Road for widening at the intersections of …

• Photos (1)

Route 309 Connector Roadwork Constructing Inconvenience for Motorists

Wambold Road and Sumneytown Pike in Towamencin will be reconfigured as part of PennDOT project.

If it seems like forever since they began working on Wambold Road, there is an end in sight—although it won’t be any time too soon. Since Wambold Road is a major connector road for local residents as well as employees going to and from work, the extensive time associated with this project has become a major headache and inconvenience to everyone who routinely uses this road.  According to Gene Blaum from PennDot, work is continuing on sections of Wambold Road, and the entire job “is being done in various phases, and they are working several days per week.”  On the days that I visited the work site, there appeared to be no construction workers on the job.  At the present time, motorists are able to travel between Sumneytown Pike and …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (2)

Line Street Repaving Part of Intergovernmental Agreement

Hatfield Township and Montgomery Township will shell out $35,000 each on project.

Line Street from Cowpath Road to Route 309 will soon be a smoother ride. Montgomery Township Board of Supervisors recently approved an intergovernmental reimbursement agreement with Hatfield Township for a repaving project on Line Street. Both municipalities will share the cost of the project. The price tag for the repaving: $70,000. Township manager Larry Gregan said Line Street is on the municipal line. “The most cost-effective way is for us to handle the construction and the other to contribute a 50-percent share,” he said. “Our share would be $35,000 for that work.” Supervisor Joe Walsh asked if it was common to have an agreement like this when it comes to roadwork. Public Works Director Kevin Costello said costs are split wherever …

News and notes from Thursday night's North Penn School Board Meeting

The following items were approved by the board

On Thursday night, the North Penn School Board met at the North Penn Educational Services Center.  Here are a few of the more noteworthy items that were approved by the board.

• Photos (1)

Father's Day

A stuck-inside craft project for kids

Snowed in? Decorate the trees with ice!

These snowy weeks have made it tough to keep my kids occupied.  I do not like the TV on constantly.  I would much prefer doing a craft with the kids.  Here is a fun craft the kids can get really into: ice cube decorations. All you need is an ice cube tray or even a small bowl.  Fill up a bowl ¾ with water and have your kids add food dye to the water.  Place a one-foot-long piece of string into the bowl and set it in the freezer.  A few hours later the kids will have decorations they can hang on a tree.  The pieces melt over time and the snow below will have a tie-dyed effect.  My kids will construct these before they go to bed , so they have something to look forward to in the morning.  On these frozen days, you can even leave them outside…

• Photos (2)