On Wednesday, November 15, the Cheltenham Township Board of Commissioners outlined the background of a settlement agreement for 8116 Church Road, the former Old York Road Skating Club in Elkins Park.
A long-winded discussion among Township officials, Abington-based York Road Realty Co., the facility’s owner, and residents preempted the meeting. The firm received multiple Township hearings from June 13, 2022 through March 13, 2023, at which time the hearings were closed.
More recently, the board approved York Road Realty’s amended application which allows the developer to move forward with plans to construct a four-story multi-use self-storage facility with retail spaces on the first floor and an indoor/outdoor recreational area with four pickleball courts. Details of the agreement begin on page 59 in the board’s November 15 agenda.
“The agreement is based on our attempt to come up with a way to make the land useable. It’s a troubled spot, to say the least,” Ward 3 commissioner Brad Pransky told Glenside Local. “It’s a bump on a hill that overlooks a train track.
“The agreement that is trying to be reached is something that works for everyone. It’s not perfect, but it’s not bad. I think that’ll come out at tonight’s meeting. The board has to look at in context of the Township and not just a few people. I think in the long haul, this will be the best solution,” he said.
Earlier this week, Ward 6 commissioner Mitch Zygmund-Felt emailed Glenside Local the following:
There are some accommodations made by all parties that may surprise the community. The owner, Mr. Pulley, received sufficient concessions that he may be able to surrender the ‘excessive’ debt he secured on the property when he develops or flips it. In exchange, the Township will have secured some needed accommodations that will fix a longstanding issue (the bridge/walkway) and introduce a recreational component that may be a precursor to what had been potentially proposed as a ‘recreational campus’. … All parties get something and that’s the outcome we strive for in development proposals that generate a mix of opposition and yes, even support.
“This matter initially came to the board as an application for zoning. At the time, the township was opposed to the project. During a series of proceedings, modifications were made to the plan that resolved the township’s opposition. The Zoning Hearing Board ended up denying the relief, which led to a court appeal,” Cheltenham Township’s solicitor said. “The property owner has signaled agreement to these terms.”
Commissioner Zygmund-Felt pointed out during the meeting the difficulties associated with redeveloping the property to date.
“It’s important to note that this property five years ago had a proposal for another self-storage facility. Multiple commissioners met with the developer to try to sort through it. It was withdrawn. Others came later and were also withdrawn. It’s a very difficult to develop property. We’ve been able to make it more taxable with amenities that benefit the community,” he said.
The property has been up for sale since 2021 and has been vacant for more than seven years. In December 2022, York Road Realty Co., L.P. proposed the site’s demolition.
A revised plan included four indoor pickle-ball courts on the first floor:
A revised request for zoning relief was heard by the Cheltenham Township Zoning Hearing Board on Monday, November 13. Commissioners previously voted “No Action” on the current plan at the February 2023 Building and Zoning Committee Meeting.
Daniel George, a Cheltenham resident, posted the following documents to Facebook on Wednesday afternoon:
For a brief history of the club and the facility, you can click here.
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Photo: Crexi.com