Jonathan Altshul began his chapter as Cheltenham Township’s newest manager on Tuesday, September 8.
A New Haven, Connecticut native, Altshul has been serving various municipalities in the Delaware Valley since 2010. He was officially appointed Cheltenham’s manager on July 15 and said the eight-week interim has given him an opportunity to actively observe.
“I’ve been religiously watching the committee meetings ever since I was appointed. I think we have a very committed and passionate population,” he told Glenside Local. “Our residents are energized which is a great thing to see as a township manager. You want people to pay attention to what’s going on. It’s great to be part of a community that cares.”
Among the township’s ongoing challenges has been its aging facilities. Rowland Community Center shut down in 2022 due to maintenance concerns with the building and the La Mott Community Center—fully closed since October 2021 due to failing infrastructure and heating issues—was released for bids in July.
For Altshul, the first step in making those projects a reality is funding, and there have been signs of hope. The La Mott Community Center Restoration Rehabilitation Project has received a total of $5.2 million in grants, including a $3,828,500 grant received in March 2024.
“We can’t move forward until there’s funding in place. For Rowland, that’s what we’re working on,” he said, noting that the center received a $1 million check in November 2024. “We also received $400,000 for Curtis Arboretum, $350,000 for Glenside Pool, and another $400,000 for Rowland. We’re slowly cobbling together the money so that we’ll be able to tackle Rowland after La Mott is underway.”
Community Project Funding, courtesy of Congresswoman Madeleine Dean, provided an additional $500,000 for Rowland earlier this year.
In the summer of 2025, township officials announced a La Mott reopening planned for spring/summer 2027. A ceremonial groundbreaking for the project will take place this Saturday as part of the Camp William Penn Day celebrations.
Addressing the needs of aging infrastructure has to be balanced with controlling tax rates, Altshul said.
“I think we’re balancing two really challenging variables. There’s no way to do both. It’s a balancing act and no miracle solution,” he said. “We want to support our business community as best we can. They’re an important part of our tax base, but these aren’t things that get solved overnight. They involve a lot of stakeholders and residents working together to make sure that the township can rise up to meet the challenges of the next generation.”
The past few years have also seen several key positions vacated, including the township’s Director of Planning & Zoning, Director of Human Resources, Community Development Coordinator, Code Enforcement Official, among others.
Altshul, who will receive an annual salary of $225,000, plans to address those challenges as well.
“Everybody here is extraordinarily competent. If you support your staff and give them the resources to succeed, they’re going to do a great job. That’s what I’m here to do,” he said. “In the last two days we started advertising the Director of Community Development, so that’s a critical piece. We also have an ad out for a human resource manager. Those are the two key management jobs that I’m looking to fill. Once those are in place, there are a few front-line positions we’ll be looking at.”
Those issues in mind, the township’s newest leader sees reasons for optimism.
“Cheltenham has weathered storms and will continue to do so. One thing that really jumps out at me is how dynamic and resilient the people are,” he said. “We’ll step up and get through any challenges and come out stronger as a community. I look forward to helping steward that process over the coming years.”
For all the latest news, follow us on Facebook or sign up for Glenside Local’s “Daily Buzz” newsletter here.
Photo: LinkedIn