Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Construction and renovations are ongoing, at present, at 1601 N. Broad St. in Hatfield Township to transform the former Salvation Army building into a new learning center.
The old Salavation Army location at 1601 N. Broad St. in Hatfield Township is being renovated and transformed into a new location for a learning center. "It is currently being renovated to be a tutoring center," said Hatfield Township zoning director Ken Amey. "Permits have been issued." The owner of the property is Ashram LLC, who purchased the property in January 2013, according to Montgomery County land records. Ashram LLC also owns Kumon Learning Center at Suite 14 at 1801 N. Broad Street at Pennwood Plaza. Ashram LLC was contacted via the public listing for its address, which was Kumon Learning Center. A message left at the number has not been returned. Amey said Kumon Learning Center "may be moving to the new location" and confirmed…
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 …
Thursday, March 7, 2013
The West Main Street bar and restaurant is undergoing renovations as it hits its one year in business—just in time for St. Patrick's Day.
Lansdale Tavern, at 839 W. Main St., Lansdale, raises the glasses Friday and toasts its one-year anniversary. The bar and restaurant—formerly Huey's and, before that, My Friend's Place—is, at present, undergoing renovations, but remains open for business. A brand-new hardwood floor graces the bar area and dining room; the green carpet is no more. New gray tile adorns the floor behind the bar. Gone are the booths in the bar area, soon to be replaced with high-top tables. New wainscoating accents the bar area and dining room. The bathrooms will be getting a makeover too, complete with new floor tiles and new fixtures. The major renovations will take place Sunday night into Monday, in anticipation of St. Patrick's Day entertainment. "We want…
Monday, January 21, 2013
Lansdale Borough Council last week saw four concept diagrams for improvements to its municipal complex —borough hall and the police station — following a facilities report last summer that revealed both buildings are in poor condition
Major repairs and upgrades are needed for Lansdale Borough Hall and Lansdale Police headquarters, and Lansdale Council must soon make a decision — Should they stay or should they go? A facilities study last summer by Spiezle Architects revealed that Lansdale Borough Hall and the police station are two of four borough-owned properties in very poor condition. The others being the third floor of 421 W. Main Street and the parks maintenance building. Lansdale Borough Hall and the police station were last renovated 24 years ago and 50 years ago, respectively. The former was a post office and the latter was a library. With the buildings now part of a 7-year capital improvement list, council must decide on one of four renovation alternatives …
Monday, September 10, 2012
The 311 W. Main St. Task Force discussed their opinions on phasing or not phasing the future renovations of the former arts center in the heart of the downtown. Hired arts consultant AMS Planning recommends phasing the project in its draft business plan
A majority of the 11-member 311 W. Main Task Force expressed opinions at its last meeting to not phase the renovation of the former arts center and rather rehabilitate the entire building at once. Those opinions, however, go against the draft business plan recommendation of the consultant on the project, AMS Planning & Research, a Connecticut firm hired at around $48,000 to guide the task force toward advising council on what to do with the building. The opinions also go against that of architect firm Spiezle Group, which has been brought on as the architectural consultant on the project. "Just because the opinions — and I stress opinions — of the task force members disagree with certain aspects of the AMS Group's recommendations does not …
Friday, May 11, 2012
A group of volunteers are in the midst of raising funds for a renovation to Chestnut Street Playground in Souderton Borough
The slide is rickety and sort of sketchy, and its metal gets hot in the sun. Youth in the area still love to use the platform of the slide as a pretend fort. You can ride the springy duck or horse, but chances are, they are broken. Lunch at one of the tables is nice, if you don't mind the graffiti. And relaxing in the gazebo can be placid - and you can get some nice sun from a busted out section from the wooden roof. The Chestnut Street Playground, also known as the Wile Avenue Playground, at Wile Avenue and West Chestnut Street in Souderton is considered a hidden treasure in the borough. Located across the street from Emmanuel Lutheran Church and Souderton Mennonite Church, it is a popular gathering place for Souderton youth and the …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
AMS Planning and Research said it is not contracted to recommend to the 311 W. Main Task Force how and where to raise funds to cover the cost of renovations
Show me the money. Not yet. The 311 W. Main Task Force found out Tuesday night that arts consultant AMS Planning and Research is not contracted to recommend how and where the borough can raise funds to cover the cost of renovations for the potential arts center in Lansdale. Following a lengthy presentation on the results of AMS Planning and Research's interviews with community leaders and a market analysis, task force member Bob Willi asked why nothing was in the presentation about raising money. "The code violaitons we have in the building right now and the money we need to get it up and started, I didn't see anything in this report about that," Willi said. Lynette Turner, of AMS Planning and Research, said the presentation feedback …
Monday, February 13, 2012
The 311 W. Main Task Force is relying on an arts and entertainment consultant to guide them toward fundraising to cover the $3.4 million cost of fixing the former arts center
The words “money” or “funding” won’t show up on the 311 W. Main Task Force agenda until an arts and entertainment consultant is hired to steer them in the right direction. “We want to seek professional help from a professional group that does this,” said chairman Mike Sobel at the Feb. 7 meeting. “We want to do it once, do it right and get it done right. Failure is not an option.” Lansdale Parks and Recreation Director Carl Saldutti said the borough would be interviewing three consultants this week. It would be the second round of interviews, as respondents from the first Request for Proposals didn’t live up to what the task force was looking for in a consultant. He said eight proposals were submitted, and task force members ranked each …
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 …
Anne
1:37 pm on Monday, March 11, 2013
Congrats LT--much continued success in the future! Best burgers around! See you soon. more ›