February 22, 2006 Issue                                               

©2005 The Chestnut Hill Local

College will build on Sugarloaf, but preserve green space
by Kristin Pazulski

CHESTNUT HILL COLLEGE is planning to expand its campus with the purchase of the 32-acre Sugarloaf property, located across Germantown Avenue from the current campus. The purchase solves the college’s problem of expansion to provide for increased enrollment on a campus that restricts building because of steep inclines and a flood plain.

The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation has decided to sell the Sugarloaf property, 9230 Germantown Ave., to Chestnut Hill College. The 35-acre property runs parallel to Germantown Avenue from Bells Mill Road to the Wissahickon Creek. The purchase is expected to be finalized this summer.

The college has been looking to expand its campus due to a recent, gradual increase in enrollment after it made the historic decision in 2003 to accept male undergraduate students into the previously all-female campus community.

The college’s fall 2006 undergraduate enrollment was 675 students; its goal is to eventually reach 1,500 undergraduates. The purchase of this extra land will help the school handle the students it has now and expect to enroll in the future.

Kathleen Spigelmyer, public relations director for Chestnut Hill College, said the college is “really pressed” for space to expand and the “Sugarloaf property is the perfect solution.”

The existing campus is 45 acres, however, the college is only able to build on a small percentage of this acreage because much of the campus is situated on a steep slope or located in a substantial flood plain that comprises most of the grounds.

A 150-student residence hall being constructed now should be open to students this fall, but, it still is not sufficient for the college’s enrollment and housing goals. Spigelmyer said they want to be able to have housing for any student who wishes to live on the campus.

College President Carol Jean Vale, SSJ, Ph.D., said they plan on using the two buildings currently located on the Sugarloaf property as soon as the purchase is closed. The buildings are going to be used as a “swing place,” both residential and academic, as other parts of the campus are renovated.

Vale said that new buildings will be constructed on the Sugarloaf property, however, the preservation of the property’s green space will be a priority. The college plans to improve the landscaping on the outer perimeter along the avenue, and leave the wooded areas that are adjacent to Fairmont Park, which borders the property on the west, as it is now.

Construction will occur on a “pocket” of land that is surrounded by woods and green space. Vale said the college is able to start building as soon as the sale is closed and zoning variances are received, but she could not say whether or not building will begin immediately. Vale also said any building done will fit with Chestnut Hill architecture.

When the Sugarloaf property is in use by students, there will be shuttle service provided, though the two properties are within walking distance. The property is accessible to pedestrians via a walkway across the Creek next to the Germantown Avenue bridge.

The Sugarloaf property was put on the market at $15 million last June after Temple University announced in December 2004 it was returning the property to Greenfield after using the grounds and buildings for 36 years.

The terms of the sale between the Foundation and Chestnut Hill College have not been revealed.

Vale said the college has a task force of community members that are “assisting us in the raising of funds for the property.” They began meeting in December 2005 when it looked like the college was a strong candidate for the sale.

The Greenfield Foundation was offered about eight bids for the property, but Chestnut Hill College was the only non-developer who was looking to purchase the property, according to Jonathan Stavin of C.B. Richard Ellis, representing the Greenfield Foundation in the sale.

The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation serves “the broad purpose of supporting Philadelphia civic and community life, including education, the arts and social services,” said President of the Foundation Priscilla Luce.

“We felt the college had a wonderful plan to use the property for the campus expansion … and we wanted to support their educational mission and purpose,” Luce said, and added that their promise to maintain the green space factored positively into the decision.