We Saved Stoneleigh, Now What?

This opinion piece ran in today's Main Line Times. I am reprinting it here so that more people can hear what I have to say:

We “Saved” Stoneleigh – Now What?

Drive around our township and you will still see many “Save Stoneleigh” signs. Residents placed these signs on their lawns to show their support for the idea that it was unacceptable for the school district to use their powers of eminent domain to take land at the Stoneleigh estate and use it for a new school and/or playing fields.

Now, some of the Save Stoneleigh lawn signs have a “Saved” sticker pasted on them. The reason that Stoneleigh was “saved” is that the school board has identified, and begun the process of purchasing, a property at 1860 Montgmery Ave. in Villanova for development into a new middle school. Since that site is not large enough to accommodate all of the playing fields needed, the school board has agreed to purchase 2 additional parcels – directly adjacent to Stoneleigh - at a cost of almost $13 million.

As a homeowner, Realtor, taxpayer, new member of the planning commission, and father of two children who have been through our wonderful school district, I have a lot of questions regarding what is going on with the school district and their decision makers. And, I believe that EVERYONE who lives in, and cares for, our township should be asking the same questions:

Question 1: Is the construction of a new school necessary?

Question 2: If it is, where should it be built?

Question 3: If it is not, what are the other options?

I do not know the answers to these questions. But I have strong feelings about what these answers might mean for the future of our town and its wonderful public school system. If you look at what is currently being discussed, recommended, planned and paid for by the school district, these questions (at least #’s 1 and 2) have been asked and answered: A new school is needed and will be built at 1860 Montgomery Ave..

Let’s forget question #3 for now and assume for a moment that more classrooms are needed for our public school students, and that creating those classrooms by adding on to our existing schools is not practical. The school district certainly believes this to be the case and is making their current plans (and spending a great deal of money) based on this assumption.

So, accepting this conclusion, why would they plan to build a school in the strictly low density, residential, far northwest corner of our township when a vast majority of the students who will use it are located in the much more densely populated areas of the southeast and southwest parts of Lower Merion? Why would they choose a site that has no sidewalk or public transportation access; located on a street that is already over-taxed with traffic? Why would they choose a site of a size and with a topography that will not only have no room to accommodate the fields necessary to support the school, but will also require zoning relief and expensive site work to complete construction?

That is a lot of questions, and there are a lot more. But the answer that has been given by the school board is: “It is the only site available, and we need to do this NOW”.

But, there is another site, located in the perfect spot where a large part of the student population resides, with existing structures that were designed as classrooms and surrounded by more than enough ground to have all of the playing fields needed. Oh, and these existing school buildings are a fabulous historic resource in our township that may be sacrificed if not used for our school students. This site is, of course, Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary located at the corners of City Ave., Lancaster Ave. and Wynnewood Road.

The attorney for the School District has publicly stated that putting the school at the St. Charles site is “not an option”. He says that they talked with the Seminary quite some time ago and that the timing of the availability of the property is not compatible with the District’s needs.

I do not know if this is still true. I do know that the Seminary owners cannot afford to continue to occupy the site and are anxious to procure a buyer. It is believed that there is a “handshake” deal with Main Line Health (MLH) to purchase the property from the Seminary.

Lankenau Hospital (owned by MLH) is right across Lancaster Ave., and needs more space. However, MLH doesn’t need, or want, all of the 75 acres or the historic buildings on the site, and saving those historic resources could pose future problems for the development of the property.

Is there a possible solution? Why not share it with the school district? This is a really good idea, and I’m not the only one who thinks so. Look at the Lower Merion Comprehensive Plan; look at the recommendations of the Montgomery County Planning Commission. They all specifically identify the Seminary as the ideal spot for a school.

It seems to me that MLH would be interested in discussing such a plan. I have also been told that the Seminary would like this meeting to take place as well. The township should be more than willing to help broker a deal that would help MLH obtain the zoning relief it needs to develop the Seminary site and, at the same time, see a new township school site developed in an area well suited for that use – all while preserving valuable historical resources. Sounds like a win-win.

So, what about the school district? It seems like the school board and the superintendent are reluctant to veer from their 1860 Montgomery Ave. path. Dr. Copeland doesn’t like the Borromeo site and seems unwilling to even discuss current possibilities.

As township residents, we pay for the schools and their administration. I think it is reasonable to ask Mr. Copeland, and the school board, to revisit an idea that would be beneficial in so many ways to everyone in the township and to change their current course involving an ill-conceived school location and the expensive and complicated purchase of off-site playing fields.