Save Glenmede!

Is Glenmede a Landmark?

2006-11-14T20:10:00.000-08:00

I contacted Jeff Cohen, of the Growth & Structure of Cities department to find out what we can do to get Glenmede registered as a landmark and thereby delay or prevent the sale of the estate. This is his response. My original e-mail appears below it.

Hi Inna,

I didn't know this. Perhaps best to start internally with folks at the College, make sure they know how you feel, and ask them if they might explain their plans to you directly. A good person to talk to might be Christopher Gluesing in Facilities, cc'd here.

As far as the preservation of the place, I'm almost positive that the LMHARB (Lower Merion Historical Architectural Review Board) will have given it its highest designation as historic, but thetownship has limited powers over historic buildings. Mike Weilbacher at the Lower Merion Conservancy might be able to help you check, and give you a sense of how far that protection goes.

Beyond that, there are possibilities of nominating it to the National Register, if it isn't already, which invokes rather limited state and federal protections, and also can stipulate what kinds of changes can or cannot be made, but generally only if they involve federal money, which probably wouldn't be the case with a private developer.

Persuasion is probably a more powerful tool here than legal constraint,but it sounds like things are pretty far advanced if realtors are already coming through.

As for the weighing of folks' connection to the place vs. $11M, that's aserious sum that could buy a lot of educational mission, which is why the College exists. It's really a question of BMC's priorities with itsassets vs its needs, but I'm sure that feelings in the community of students and alums ought to be heard by those considering such decisions. If there's a need for more direct info, perhaps start with a request for that. Then, if merited, perhaps a letter or meeting to register your concerns with those involved with such decisions might be in order as a next step.

Best,
Jeff
cc: Chris G

Dear Jeff,

As residents of Glenmede Main House, we are in need of your advice. As wehave recently discovered, the college intends to sell Glenmede for a sumof $11,000,000 by next summer. The Main House will be put up on the marketsometime around February. Apparently realtors have been touring the House (while we were around) and there may already be offers on the table.

We have strong emotional ties to this place and we don't want to be thelast class to ever inhabit it, nor do we wish to see it converted to aluxury condo development. What can we do, insofar as registering Glenmede as a landmark? I know that you have ties to the preservation community in the Philadelphia area. We are grateful for any help you canprovide.

Sincerely,
Inna

Bryn Mawr Responds

2006-11-14T20:24:00.000-08:00

From Jerry Berenson, Chief Administrative Officer at Bryn Mawr College:

Inna,

I understand from Chris Gluesing in Facilities Services that you have some questions about the possible sale of Glenmede. I have been dealing with this and so thought I would respond. We did talk about the possible sale to the Resident's Council and SGA, because we do want students to be informed about the College's plans.

The cost of maintaining Glenmede is more than $150,000 annually and the property is worth a lot of money - its been appraised at $11 million. The buildings also need to be upgraded periodically for building code and safety reasons and that costs a lot - we spent close to $3 million on the property less than ten yeas ago. It might not be cost effective to keep the property when only 19 undergraduates and about ten graduate students live there. We brought this issue to the Board of Trustees at the October meeting. The Board decided that we should get more information about the value of the property before they decide whether or not to sell it. So there has been no decision to sell the property yet. We will discuss this again at the February meeting. I will be glad to bring your concern and the concern of other students to the Board members when they discuss the property. We have shown the building to real estate professionals (but not possible buyers since its not on the market) in order to determine its estimated value and possible ways of marketing the property. Let me know if you have any other questions.

Jerry

Welcome!

2006-11-14T19:39:00.000-08:00

Dear Friends of Glenmede,

Welcome to our blog! This is your source for all things Glenmede from updates on the Save Glenmede campaign (well, perhaps it's a little early to call it that) to events happening in the dorm, because let's face it, Glenmede is a pretty happenin' place. We feel that Bryn Mawr needs to realize and appreciate the fact that though our community is small (15 undergraduates and 10 graduate students), it is not removed from the life of the college. Glenmede, in fact, serves many students besides its residents. It is a beautiful, intimate and vibrant place where people come to socialize, party, and get away for a bit from the main campus.

We will post regularly and often. When we put up correspondence with Bryn Mawr staff, you will find our comments interspersed throughout the entries. For the sake of clarity, our comments will appear in blue font, as opposed to the standard black. We value and encourage your comments and suggestions as well!

Enjoy,
Glenmede Main House Residents

From the Latest Issue of the Bi-College News

2006-11-14T20:02:00.000-08:00

Excerpted from Corrections:

Bryn Mawr’s Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid Jenny Ricard notified The Bi-College News that an article in the issue from Nov., 7, 2006 titled “BMC Housing Options Reviewed” included some false information.

The College is not considering buying any apartments—it would just rent apartments and then re-rent them to students through the housing process.The possibility of selling Glenmede and the renting of apartments are actually not related. At this time, the college does not have any plans to buy any apartment buildings with the proceeds of a possible Glenmede sale.

The task force did not recommend building a dorm. It recommended evaluating a medium-term option of reconfiguring dorms, but found that it was not feasible after further study. Based on that result, the task force is reconvening to do a feasibility study to understand both the financial and physical aspects of building a new dormitory.

The article in question is not yet available on the Bi-Co News website www.biconews.com.