No Objections to 311 W. Main $500K Grant Application

Grant submitted, fingers crossed.

At a special meeting last Wednesday at Lansdale Borough Hall, council announced the filing of a matching grant application for $500,000 under the Keystone Communities Program by the Department of Community and Economic Development.

The application procedures required the borough hold a special meeting to seek comment from the public and council in support of the grant application. All attendees to the meeting had to be documented as well, per requirements.

A similar process was done April 10 for the same grant program through the Lansdale Parking Authority for improvements to Madison Parking Lot.

"The grant application is being prepared by Spiezle Architects to seek $500,000 for public infrastructure improvements in the nature of building facade improvements, streetscape amenities in front of or behind 311 W. Main, as well as potential interior renovations to the facility," said solicitor Mark Hosterman.

Hosterman said the DCED requires a 1:1 match for the grant.

"If the borough is fortunate enough to get $500,000, the borough will also have to put up $500,000 of its own money," Hosterman said.

Hosterman said the three criteria—facade improvements, streetscape amenities and interior improvements—are ones that borough grant writers have their eyes on right now.

"I don’t think it should be limited to that," Hosterman added.

Borough Manager Timi Kirchner said the findings of the 311 W. Main Task Force were essentially speaking to those three criteria.

Mayor Andy Szekely asked if the DCED is requesting operational plans for 311 W. Main in the grant application.

Hosterman said there was no such requirement; the grant is for construction.

"It's not operations, it's not programs. It's physical improvements," he said.

Councilwoman Mary Fuller voiced her support of the grant application on the record.

"I will go on record saying, obviously I think it's a great thing to do. I'm behind it 100 percent for the borough to seek a $500,000 grant," she said.

Chairman Mike Sobel also voiced his support, per his role as former chairman of the disbanded 311 W. Main Task Force.  

"Let's go after the money," he said.