Ambler Council Votes 7-2 to Acquire Mattison Avenue Elementary

Ambler Borough will soon own Mattison Avenue Elementary. 
Months after Wissahickon School District voted to close the 70-year-old structure, Ambler Council Tuesday voted 7-2 to acquire the building for a future community center and municipal complex. 
Councilwoman Fran Tomlinson and Councilman Tom Kenney voted against the acquisition. 
The price tag for the purchase and renovation of the school is estimated at $3.6 million, but council would approve $2.35 million. The difference would be made up with an estimated $850,000 appraisal for the current borough hall, application of a $1.5 million Department of Community and Economic Development grant, and a proposed $2.5 million loan, per The Ambler Gazette. Mortgage and additional costs would total $12,000 monthly, which is expected to be covered by the $140,000 annual business privilege tax.
Kenney felt council did not have final actual costs to buy the building.
"There are still a lot of unknowns in the numbers, in my opinion," Kenney said. "If it comes up over budget, we have to come back and find a place to get money. I think it's a wonderful opportunity for everybody in the borough, but it has to be cost effective."
In fact, a majority of the finance and planning committee recommended not to acquire the school. Kenney emphasized the issue should not be looked at as garage versus school.
Council had eight days left on a 90-day exclusivity agreement with the Wissahickon School District to acquire the building. The district had only met once since the topic had arisen, according to solicitor Joseph Bresnan. He said the district's solicitor had no specific authority to extend the agreement.
"We're out of time," said Councilwoman Pat Strus.
The packed meeting room Tuesday was split about 50/50 with residents for the purchase and those who preferred a more expensive parking garage on Lindenwold Avenue.
The school acquisition is estimated around $2.5 million, but the garage is estimated at $1 million more. 
With Tuesday's vote, the parking garage is now delayed indefinitely. 
The parking garage would have added 100 more spaces to downtown Ambler, that is after its 18 month to two year construction timeline.
The acquisition of the school means Ambler would gain up to 60 more spaces. 
"There would be 25 available immediately, and 10 on street, so 35 spots immediately, with the potential to go to 60," said Borough Manager Mary Aversa. That potential relies on the destruction of an existing playground on the school site to make room for more parking spaces.
Furthermore, the point was made Tuesday that the borough owns the lot where the garage is proposed in the future; at the time, it did not own the lot where Mattison Avenue was located. 
One resident asked that if the borough declines the purchase, would Ambler council have control over what goes into the school? 
"I heard a rumor of a Korean church interested in the space and a woman's shelter," she said. "Do we have no say on whether the school district decides to sell?"
Aversa said zoning would control the use of that site. The property is zoned institutional, and anything other than what's permitted in an institutional zoning district would need to get approval from the zoning hearing board. 
Aversa confirmed that Laurel House was interested in the location.
Another agency interested in the location: the North Penn and Indian Valley Boys and Girls Club. 
CEO Bob Creamer was in attendance Tuesday and said he drafted a letter to the borough and council about beginning talks with administration on the possibility of a branch of the club opening inside Mattison Avenue Elementary.
Resident Grace Samanns, of Walnut Lane, said she was 50/50 on the issue.
"It's all about property values," she said. "If we have a parking garage and business thrive, our property values go up. If something goes in Mattison Avenue that is undesirable, it would make our property value not go up. It's a tough decision."
Samanns said the businesses are extremely important to Ambler.
"They have invested tons of money in the downtown. That fact is we need them," Samanns said.  
Paul Resnick, of E. Mt. Plesant Avenue, believed Ambler Borough did not have all the financials it needed to make a decision and suggested council does more homework on the purchase.
"Twenty years ago, when you purchased this property from the post office, you had the same discussions. Now, you are saying this building has outdone its usefulness and you want to purchase the school," he said. "We have no idea what the age of the school is. Let's make sure we are not buying something that in 20 years, we turn around and say it's not worth it and we need to move again."  
Tomlinson said the borough had not evaluated any other properties other than Mattison Avenue for a future community center and municipal complex.
Councilman Sal Pasceri said it would be a "tough sell" for the current borough hall at $850,000.
Numerous residents and councilmembers were in favor of the Boys and Girls Club using the property.
"I think we should pursue talks with the Boys and Girls Club," said Councilman Paul Dooley prior to his "yes" vote to acquire the building. "If we vote no, the building is out of our hands."
"I'm voting yes," said Councilman Ed Curtis, "because it's a good move for Ambler Borough."
Other votes for acquisition of the building came from councilmembers Strus, Claudio Zaccone, Pasceri, council President Tony Isabella and Peter Amento.