Phoenixville School Board Approves Sale Of K-Center

PHOENIXVILLE —The Phoenixville Area School Board on Monday night voted 5-3 in favor of selling the closed Kindergarten Center for $4.6 million to Toll Brothers to construct a townhouse development.

The Toll Brothers plan calls for constructing townhouses and could generate $5.6 million in tax revenues over the next 10 years, according to statistics presented at a prior presentation to the school board.

The sale will go to Chester County Court for final approval, officials said.

The one-story vacant school at 100 School Lane was built in 1958 on a 7.4 acre lot. It closed in 2017 when the district opened an Early Learning Center on Pothouse Road.

The community has been divided on whether to sell to a developer or maintain open space.

The borough has offered to pay $1.8 million for the property for a park and STEM learning center.

Board members Scott Overland, David Golberg and Dr. Ayisha Sereni voted against the sale, opting to spend additional time looking at other options.

Golberg asked to table the decision until next month’s public meeting when all board members are present.

Overland and Sereni suggested additional time to obtain other prospects for the land.

Susan Turner, board president, and members Jerome Weiss, Caitlyn Carminito, Betsy Ruch and Michelle Schamis voted in favor of the sale.

Board member Victoria Walker was not present.

Weiss said the issue has been studied since 2017 when the building closed.

“We’ve been delaying this vote four times,” Weiss said.

The decision was reached after more than 20 residents spoke out against selling the land to a developer.

The Phoenixville Green Team presented a petition signed by 833 people asking for additional time to study the issue.

Only one resident, Jeff Smith, said the townhouse development will help with a housing shortage.

“We have a massive housing shortage,” said Smith.

The Green Team fears if the property is sold to a developer it will create traffic, noise and pollution.

Lisa Longa, a former board member and resident, said that the decision should be tabled for 90 days for a more accurate analysis.

Rachel Rapine, who lives near the former center, said the residents do not know much about the plan, noting she did not know about the sale until she recently received a flier about it.