©2006 The Chestnut Hill Local

College promises to reserve Sugarloaf green space
by Kristin Pazulski

The small one way road (above) was dubbed “Tobacco Road” by Chestnut Hill College’s smoking student population in the 1930s and 40s. Chestnut Hill College has not yet purchased the 32-acre Sugarloaf property that will almost double the college’s campus size.

Chestnut Hill College was surprised to learn from community members at the Garden Festival two weeks ago that many believe the school has already purchased the Sugarloaf property. Sister Carol Jean Vale SSJ, the college’s president, wants to clarify that the college has not yet bought the Sugarloaf property, but has signed an agreement of sale with the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation.

The agreement of sale provides Chestnut Hill College with a “period of due diligence” — a certain amount of time given to observe the property from all angles before making a final decision. During this time, the school is also raising the money needed to purchase the property.

At the Garden Festival on May 7, community members bombarded the college’s representatives with questions about the property. Many thought the college had already bought it. Though Sister Vale could not reveal the deadline of the “due diligence” period, she said a decision was expected by the end of the summer and that she had “every reason to believe” the college would buy the 32-acre property.

Lorraine Aurely, vice president of institutional advancement, said the college faces fundraising challenges because of the timeframe and the donor pool. As a historically women’s college – it went co-ed in 2003 – it is often difficult to get large donations.

“We don’t have the same opportunities as larger, wealthier, co-ed institutions,” Aurely said. She said many of the alumnae went into service-oriented careers, such as teachers, librarians and social workers, which normally don’t make a lot of money.

Aurely said as of May 16 the college has raised just under half of the total purchase price for the property. Vale said they aren’t allowed to reveal the price under the agreement, but last June the property was put on the market for $15 million.

The college has also agreed to ensuring Sugarloaf’s green space is protected. The college has requested a grant from the state that will go towards the purchase of Sugarloaf and guarantees one-third to one-half of the property will not be paved or built upon. The college pledged to protect the most desirable areas to the community – including the area on the corner of Germantown Avenue and Bells Mill Road.

Vale said the easements protect the green space regardless of changes in the college leadership and the property owner. The college is expecting to hear from the state by the end of May.

The Albert M. Greenfield Foundation chose the college to purchase Sugarloaf in February over eight other bidders, mainly developers. The acquisition of this property, if purchased as expected, will nearly double the college’s current campus to accommodate its growing enrollment since it went co-ed in 2003.

The college 2006 undergraduate enrollment was 675 students, 157 of which graduated at the Saturday, May 13 commencement. The college hopes to eventually reach 1,500 undergraduate students, but will definitely need to expand their facilities as the college is already strapped for student housing on-campus.

Vale said the college plans on utilizing the present buildings on the property, as well as building new ones, as for academics and residential. The college completed a 155-bed dormitory on its current campus for the upcoming school year and has planned for another to be built, possibly breaking ground fall 2007, according to Aurely.