Upper Gwynedd board OKs $920,000 to purchase church

A nearly $1 million purchase of a former church is now one step closer in Upper Gwynedd.

Township officials voted unanimously on Monday night to authorize just over $900,000 to buy a former church next to a park on West Point Pike.

“I’d like to make a motion to approve an amendment to the capital reserve fund, authorizing the purchase of 1908 West Point Pike,” said commissioners’ President Katherine Carter.

In July, the board first announced plans to acquire 1908 West Point Pike, which is located directly adjacent to the township’s West Point Park near the corner of West Point Pike and Park Road. At that time, board members said a former church located there had recently gone on the market, was targeted in a township parks plan adopted last year as a possible acquisition, and could be used to add parking, tables and trees to the park, while providing indoor recreation space for parks programs.

The next month, the board voted to extend the due diligence period and fielded questions from residents about where the funds would come from, saying the township’s reserve funds total roughly $12 million to $13 million, with an additional $5 million available in the township’s capital reserves.

During the commissioners meeting on Oct. 13, Carter kicked off talks by making a motion directing staff to use funds from the township’s capital reserve, spelling out a total acquisition cost of $900,000 plus an additional $20,000 “to cover closing costs or related expenses.” That motion prompted a series of questions from resident Fred Hencken and answers from Township Manager Sandra Brookley Zadell, asking for specifics on where the property had been listed for sale, the original purchase price, if any issues were found during inspections, and what the contingency amount could cover.

“I don’t think we’re using ‘contingency’ in the real estate world term; mainly, if we settle on the property in October, I need a little money in case a tree falls on the building, and we need to fix it, or something like that, after we buy it,” Zadell said.\

Bond borrowing soon?

Hencken then asked if the township had an updated list of long-term capital projects, such as infrastructure repairs needed across the township, and how to pay for those. The manager said the last estimate was roughly $25 million, and “it may go up,” but options to fund those projects.

“We have a very, very, very low debt ratio, so I would expect that at some point in the upcoming years you’re going to see us go out for a bond issue, for a couple of big projects we have coming along,” Zadell said.

Staff and the board can and do also seek grant funds to cover projects and infrastructure repairs when possible, and could defer projects or spread out the costs over several years if bids come back high or funding isn’t available to cover projects on the to-do list.               

“It’s a planning tool, not what is definitely going to happen. But as we go through the 2026 budget process, you will see changes to the capital plan, and the board only authorizes projects that we can pay for,” she said.

History lessons coming soon

Hencken then asked about the surrounding West Point Village neighborhood and if the board had any plans for historic preservation or commemorations there. Commissioner Liz McNaney replied that the township is planning to host a “Stroll down memory lane” open house and presentation on the history of West Point Park and that neighborhood, starting at 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 16 at the township administration building.

“We will be doing ‘I remember West Point Park.’ And it goes back to 1867, until 1987-89, when it closed. We’ll have photos, and a keynote speaker, and that will all be discussed as the history of West Point — there’ll be a lot of history discussed that evening,” she said.

That night will feature an open house showing historic photos of the community, followed by a speaker starting at 7 p.m., and a similar presentation will be made at the administration building during the township’s Fall Festival on Oct. 18, McNaney said.

Resident Mark Connelly added that he thought the roughly $900,000 expense “seems to me like a reasonable proposal” when compared to the prices of residential homes on properties of comparable size in the township, and said he’s looking forward to seeing township parks and recreation staff put the building to use with classes and programs.

“Thinking (about) how much more we would be able to do with this space, versus what we’re able to do now if it’s limited to this room, I definitely, for the ability to expand parks and rec, am in favor,” Connelly said.  The commissioners then unanimously approved the motion authorizing the capital funds be used for the property acquisition.

Upper Gwynedd’s commissioners next meet at 7 p.m. on  Nov. 10 at the township administration building, 1 Parkside Place.  For more information, visit www.UpperGwynedd.org.

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