St. Basil Academy, a formerly private, Ukrainian Catholic, all-girls high school in Jenkintown, will soon see the beginning of a demolition process.

According to a letter sent to nearby residents by Abington Township Fire Marshall Chris Platz, the building at 710 Fox Chase Road is set to receive blasting work on or after April 14.

Toll Brothers Inc., which owns the property, has hired Rock Work Inc. “to provide drilling and blasting services to facilitate trench and bulk rock excavations,” the letter said. It also notes that the blasting will be “seismically monitored to confirm the blast induced ground vibration levels are within regulatory limits, and therefore, not capable of having an adverse effect on any neighboring structures.”

A horn will serve as a warning to those near the blast. Residents within 300 feet of the area were able to request a free inspection by calling 1-800-233-5181.

Abington Township commissioner Drew Rothman said in a post that Toll Brothers will not be publicizing details of the new development until the building has been demolished.

The now-defunct Academy announced on October 8, 2020 that its doors would close at the end of the 2020-2021 school year. The last class graduated on June 3, 2021, though the school’s Facebook page is still active.

The letter:

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