August 10, 2006 Issue
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Classified Chestnut Hill Local Online Editor Don't Miss an Issue, Tell us what you see or ©2006 Chestnut Hill Local Winner of One |
Chestnut Hill College purchases Sugarloaf
Hundreds of couples have stepped into a future filled with promises of love, “’til death do us part,” among the spring-green foliage of the Sugarloaf Estate. But, as of Wednesday, Aug. 2, the Sugarloaf estate will serve as the stepping stone for thousands of students, taking their own stride into an educated future with Chestnut Hill College. The College signed the final papers in front of an audience of about 400, making official its purchase of the 32-acre Sugarloaf Estate from the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation for $11 million. The college invited community members, students, staff and benefactors into the air-conditioned respite of Sorgenti Arena for a ceremonial signing and blessing of the now-expanded college campus. Last Wednesday’s signing and blessing ceremony, which was supposed to take place on the Sugarloaf Estate, now referred to as SugarLoaf Hill by the college to fit its slogan of “joining of two hills,” was moved inside to Sorgenti Arena on the college’s current campus because of the overwhelming heat. Purchase of the land, situated diagonally across Germantown Avenue from the original campus, will nearly double the size of the college’s grounds, which is necessary because of the growing student body.
A large portion of the college’s original 45-acre campus, located in the northwest corner of Chestnut Hill between the Morris Arboretum and Fairmount Park, cannot be developed because it contains a steep slope and is situated on a substantial floodplain. The institution has already utilized all but one five-acre parcel of land on the campus, with the recent addition of two new 150-student dormitories. One is set to open this fall and the other’s groundbreaking is anticipated for spring 2007. Chestnut Hill College has been in need of additional space since its decision to accept a co-ed undergraduate student body in 2003, after 78 years as an all-female institution. In the first co-ed year, according to spokesperson Kathleen Spigelmyer, the college admitted about 80 males to the undergraduate program — 50 more than predicted. As of last fall, enrollment had increased by 80 percent since its last year as an all-female college, according to the college. And the male to female ratio has evened out to about 50/50 over the past three years, Spigelmyer said , with total enrollment for 2006-2007 exceeding 2,000 students in continuing education, graduate and undergraduate programs. The current housing facilities just about accomodates the students wishing to live on campus, though in the past the college has had to house overflow students at the Chestnut Hill Tower apartments. Chestnut Hill College is still expanding its student population, hoping to eventually reach an undergraduate enrollment of 1,500 (last school year’s undergrad class numbered 675), and will need more housing and academic space. Sugarloaf is the answer to this need. Many of the attendees of Wednesday’s celebration spoke about how vital this land was to the future plans of the college. The purchase of Sugarloaf is a “once in a lifetime opportunity,” said Ronald Zemnick, chair of the Physical Plant Committee for the Chestnut Hill College Board of Directors. He explained that the purchase not only doubles the size of the college’s physical campus, but also expands its horizons and the future for students, staff, administration and all involved in the institution. The president of the Albert M. Greenfield Foundation, Priscilla Luce, sat next to College President Carol Jean Vale, SSJ, to sign the papers finalizing the $11 million sale at the ceremony. In her address, Luce said she was “pleased to play a supporting role” in such a historic moment for the college. She explained how the foundation’s board, comprised solely of Albert M. Greenfield’s family, was delighted to see the property going to the college, as it fits in with their goal of institutional learning and preservation of the environment. Of the eight bidders on the Sugarloaf Estate after it was placed on the market last June, Chestnut Hill College was the only educational institution. Until February 2005, the property had been used by Temple University as a conference center. “The marriage between the Greenfield Foundation and Chestnut Hill College was a marriage made in heaven,” Luce said, illustrating how she saw Albert and his wife Elizabeth looking down from their places in heaven in approval of the juncture. Though there is a great need for additional dorm and academic space, the college plans to hold back development for at least a year. The present buildings on SugarLoaf Hill, Spigelmyer said, will be used as “swing space,” housing academic departments and other uses while buildings on the original campus are renovated. The college has promised to preserve one-third to one-half of Sugarloaf’s green space through a conservation easement, and plans to develop within a “pocket” of land on the property, leaving the outskirts of the 32 acres green. The outskirts include the land along Bells Mills Road and Germantown Avenue, as well as the woodland that is part of the Wissahickon Valley watershed. Only about a year ago, when Sugarloaf was placed on the market, did the college begin planning to raise the funds to purchase the property. $8 million was raised by college administrators and the task force — thanks to numerous benefactors. An additional $3 million of the cost was covered by an interim financing plan between the college and Beneficial Savings Bank. “We may have purchased a hill, but we have climbed a mountain,” said Vale, referring to the school’s fund-raising efforts. I want to assure you that God is still creating something out of nothing,” Vale’s speech to attendees at the ceremony received a standing ovation. Vale, who has been president of Chestnut Hill College since 1992, was highlighted in the speeches of staff, alumnae and students over and over again at Wednesday’s ceremony for her dedication and persistence in the dream of buying Sugarloaf. Zemnick said Vale proved that “all you need is vision and determination” to fulfill a dream, even if there are no funds raised yet, he added with a chuckle. The college said it will continue to seek funding for the remaining $3 million, and will also be looking for contributions to fund the future development of the property. Contact staff writer Kristin Pazulski at 215-248-8819, or kristin@chestnuthilllocal.com |
