WHYY published a lengthy article today which breaks down Cheltenham Township’s ongoing “multimillion dollar problem” regarding the costs and strategies to repair aging facilities.
The article features three of the Township’s most active residents—Bill England, Rhonda Isser, and Edie Cerebi—as well as the 206-page facilities study and the four proposals Township officials are considering.
“We have, unfortunately, a siloed situation where these two elected bodies are very focused on what their responsibilities are, but we need to see it’s time to overcome silos,” England, a former school board member, said. “It’s time for the township and the school board to find a way to work together and develop a facilities plan that is going to include shared administrative offices.
“One of the things that has been expressed by many is the fact that we want to live in a sustainable, walkable community. By removing neighborhood assets and centrally locating them, it takes away from the ability to be a walkable community,” he said.
Isser, who revamped the Cheltenham Infrastructure Solutions Facebook page over the summer, said much of the concern is about “losing that flavor and that character that we’ve all come to appreciate.”
Cerebi, who is the president of the Cheltenham Chamber of Citizens, said a large portion of the respondents from a fall survey are against razing historic buildings and consolidating facilities.
“They overwhelmingly indicated that pools, libraries and community centers should remain in the communities that they serve,” she said.
Township staff and commissioners, who will eventually vote on a concept plan, weighed in as well.
“From broken boilers that shutter its community centers in winter months to failing mechanical equipment in its 50-plus-year-old pools that threatened and delayed opening in 2023, to the many roofs, mechanicals, structural and other improvements required in all of its buildings to keep them operating,” Cheltenham Township Board of Commissioner President Dan Norris told WHYY in a written statement.
“They are digesting the cost estimates, operational factors and potential economic impacts, as well as comments received from the public feedback,” Lauren Walter, Cheltenham’s public information officer, sad in a written statement. “Once a concept is selected, the public will be further engaged in the design and programming phase for the facilities.”
The article goes on to discuss each of the Township’s options as well as provide more opinions and concerns from area residents. For the full story, you can click here.
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Image: Cheltenham Chamber of Citizens