Glenside-Weldon Elementary School
Easton Rd Glenside, PA
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THE ISSUE IN A NUTSHELL : The
school district in 2013 announced plans to close and demolish the
Glenside Weldon school building which has asbestos, outdated systems
and would be expensive to renovate. A demographic /enrollment
report commissioned by the school shows an influx of possibly as
many as 1250 students over the next 10 years. The school is
not permitted to get rid of property that it may, in the future,
need. Residents asked to have as much of the
historic aspect of the property preserved ( it has markers on site
that carry the years 1906 and 1926 - so besides the beautiful
facade there is a great deal of history that comes with this school
. Residents offered suggestions to the board about maintaining or
preserving the original it - but there had been mention that they
would look into that, a meeting was cancelled because of
inclement weather and at the January 2014 meeting, this was
not taken any further. Age, asbestos, cost,
layout, safety, etc. were among the many factors cited that made
preservation of the school as it has been impractical.
A powerpoint presentation was offered in June of 2013: (click
here for the
June 2013 powerpoint
info
) when the demolition was
approved . The $2million for demolition was moved from the
general fund and accounted for in the 2013-1014 budget A hearing was
conducted in September 2013 . In November 2013 the enrollment
presentation was made. In January 2014, a motion
to close the property permanently as a school effective January 15,
2014 was passed by the board .
The estimated $250,000 a year to maintain the building until it was
needed was considered prohibitive and the board
said they had sought tenants to lease the building, but met no
success.
ANTICIPATED ACTIONS TIMELINE
Jan 14
, 2014 school board passed a resolution to close the
school -effective January 15, 2014.
Here is an anticipated
timeline: not set in stone
January
2014 ( end of the month ) consider a motion to advertise
the demolition and submit demolition
permit February 2014
the bidding process will get underway
March
2014 receive bids and
consider taking action to award demolition contracts
April
2014 do the demolition
October 1 - 24th construct the new fields
October 31
project is expected to be done
ALTERNATIVES
&
Prices :
The cost of demolition was anticipated to be $2
million
Modifications to the building to add on to it and to renovate
instead of razing it
were estimated to possibly go as high as $29.4 million
Modifications that will additionally be needed 10 years
from the first modifications are estimated at $ 44.9 million in
2024
New school if built in 2014
is estimated to be $26.2 million
New school expansions
n 2024 are estimated at $36.6 million
Maintaining the old school until it is needed was estimated
at $250,000 a year - prohibitive
Renters / tenants have not
materialized, though sought
GROUPS, WEBSITES and LINKS
Glenside-Weldon
Friends on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/SaveGlensideWeldonSchool
June
2013 powerpoint info
or :
http://www.abington.k12.pa.us/board/archives/June%2025%202013/GLENSIDE-WELDON%20TIMELINE%20-%20JUNE%202013.pdf
PRIOR ACTION OR INFORMATION
Sept 18
7:30
pm A public hearing was held
Wednesday, Sept. 18 at the
School Administration Building
7:30 p.m.
The demolition of the school, expected to
cost about $2 million
involves removal of
asbestos & other hazards.
Residents near
the school will be informed by mail of the hearing.
Prospective timeline :
Sept. - Oct. 2013
preparation of plans and specs for demolition and site
design, and award contracts for asbestos consultant and
fuel tank consultant.
Nov. - Jan. review plans and specs & submit
to Montgomery County
Conservation District;
preliminary review with the township planning and code enforcement
department.
Jan. 14
The board will consider a motion to close Glenside-Weldon
Elementary School
Jan -Feb If the motion to close passes there
will be a motion to advertise the demolition
then a permit
for the demolition and bids will be sought
Mar - Apr-
receipt of bids and awarding & execution of contracts .
Apr - Construction would begin late April
Oct 1- Oct. 24
2014: Construction of Fields
Coct 31 :
Final project completion expected
____________
Our codebook is in 2 parts
Part 1
Township's
Codebook except for zoning
Part 2
Zoning Portion of Township Codebook
or go to
http://www.abingtonpa.gov/info/newcodebook.htm
_________________________
ifas
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contact us about any information you believe to be
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