As enrollment rises, Lower Merion School District looks to buy new school site

Lower Merion School District is in need of additional space for the growing number of students enrolled in the wealthy suburban school system and is already considering two properties despite challenges.

The Center for Islamic Education, located along the 1800 block of Montgomery Avenue in Villanova, and Ashbridge Memorial Park, a nearly 30 acre property on the 1300 block of Montgomery Avenue in Rosemont, were floated by the district superintendent during a meeting with Lower Merion Township officials, according to Main Line Media News.

Yet both sites would require substantial changes to accommodate a school, including the removal of existing structures that are already fall under historic guidelines or are currently being considered for a preservation designation.

The Islamic center, for instance, includes a 100-year-old Beaux Arts mansion known as the Clairemont that was constructed for Morris Clothier, of Strawbridge & Clothier. It is currently listed on the Lower Merion Conservancy's preservation watch list.

Ashbridge includes a house and several farm buildings that date back to the 18th century that are already designated historic properties. For years the township has entertained the possibility of restoring these buildings although "appropriate use" is a stipulation for any developer.

The Ashbridge idea was quickly shot down by Rosemont Commissioner Phil Rosenzweig, who referred to the park as a "sacred place" and criticized Supt. Robert Copeland's familiarity with the community for making the suggestion, the Main Line Media News reported.

“In no uncertain terms the school district should not be shopping the township’s parkland when they are looking to solve whatever problems they believe they have,” Rosenzweig said. “And I understand that Superintendent Copeland is relatively new to Lower Merion and to his job. I respectfully suggest that he go back and do some studying in terms of what occurred when one of his predecessors, Supt. [Jamie] Savedoff, made the egregious error at a public meeting that Ashbridge Park would be a lovely place to park buses. There were thousands of people in Rosemont/Villanova who were prepared to lay their bodies down across Ashbridge Park to protect it.”

Aside from the in-limbo historic status of the Islamic Center's mansion, there are other issues with that site, Copeland said.

It is located on the far edge of the township, creating a potential distance concern for parents ferrying kids to school, the parcel has steep slopes and the surrounding fields do not meet many of the standards required for team play.

The Main Line Media News says Copeland's comments were the first time the township had officially learned of the district's interest in the two sites.

Neither one may be the solution for the ballooning school district, and in the mean time, a special meeting will take place on Monday to address the expanding enrollment and facility needs.

Source: Philadelphia Business Journal