SCHUYLKILL TOWNSHIP
HISTORICAL COMMISSION
MEETING DATE: February 18, 2008

COMMISSION MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE:
Sandy Momyer, Joanne Brown,  Doug White, Khalil Hihi, Dianne Cram, Pam Applegate-Frasch.
OTHER ATTENDEES:  Lee Ledbetter, Ed Wimble, John Gregory

Sandy opened the meeting at 7:04

APPROVAL OF MINUTES:

  • Minutes sent out too late for adequate review.  Approval deferred until next month.
  • Misspelling of name:  Huey (not Ewing) from Correspondence and Announcements

CORRESPONDENCE & ANNOUNCEMENTS                     

  • Several HC meetings have fallen on holidays.  Sandy will check with Mary to see if dates can/should be changed in such event.

NEW MEMBER RECRUITMENT
  In attendance:

  • Ed Wimble
    • Has been a resident of Schuylkill township since 1990
    • Lived in Phoenixville 1980-1990
    • Wants to raise awareness of local history in the community
    • Feels we should have our own historical plaques
    • Informed commission that Pasquale side house was once the home of Thaddeus Lowe
  • John Gregory
    • Has been a residence of Schuylkill Township for 3-4 years
    • Lawyer by trade
    • Interested in history and preserving historic homes.
    • Lives at Pickering Heights Farm.

  Not in attendance:  Nick O'Donnell and David Kiefer

REPORTS:

  • Board of Supervisors :
    • Asked that HC prioritize updated resources list. 
    • HC was asked to be more favorable to businesses (re:  Bridge St demolition).
      • Sandy provided Historic Preservation Standards.  Our mission is to preserve history first and foremost.
    • Trolley trail connecting township to river was discussed.  Would go past the middle school, along route 29 past YMCA, past Schuylkill School, along old "Toonerville" Trolley line. 
      • Working on funding for engineering studies.
      • HC will need to do research on history of landmarks along the trail.
  • Planning Commission:
    • Nothing new to report
  • EAC:
    • Concerns regarding Brackman driveway.
    • Supporting agreement between school and BOS but concerns about timelines.
    • Pond and wetlands discussed.
    • Feasibility of trail (from BOS meeting) discussed.
  • Open Space Commission:
    • No update

CURRENT PROJECTS

  • Anderson Cemetery - wall repair
    • Need to obtain update from Mary.
  • Ticket Booth/Valley Park Pavilion
    • Per Norm Vutz, the ticket booth was called the "Valley Park Pavilion".
      •  Need to verify this info
      • Use "Valley Park Pavilion" name in grant requests.
      • Khalil indicated that the tarp is loose. He will call Mary.
  • Royal Bank - Mr. Sugarman is still working on this case.  It has gone to State Supreme Court level.
  • Sedgley Property (Reeves)
    • Mr. Pohlig in attendance with new (current) plans
    • Received input from Bob Wise and PHMC
    • Property lines have been moved based on input above
      • Eliminated lot between carriage house and manor home
      • Will market two lots together for a time.
      • If cannot find a buyer for both, will offer separately.
      • Could also offer carriage house as "out building"
      • No plans to renovate buildings - will sell as is
      • Plan to demolish tenant house - claims structural problems
        • Doug disagrees as he knows current tenant.
        • Pohlig indicated he will allow 3 buildings on the market as a cluster for a while.
  • Lot size of manor house:  81,222 sq ft (2 acres)
  • Lot size for carriage house 36,600 + sq ft
  • Current plans:  51 lots
  • Dianne indicated that we only saw the manor house when we toured and would like to see carriage and tenant houses.
    • Pohlig will work with Reeves and tenants to get us a tour.
    • Post meeting note:  Doug arranged tours of both properties for HC.
  • Pohlig going to Planning Commission on Wed.
  • Schuylkill School
    • BOS approved milestones regarding work on school. 
    • Agreement states that if milestones are not met, Township will provide unconditional demolition permit.
    • Barbara Cohen feels that milestones can be met.
    • Sandy reminded all that building is deteriorating every day.
    • Trail Grant will include school.
    • Friends of Schuylkill School also has a small budget and will contribute.
    • Buildings and Grounds made some changes to milestones plan and it will need to come back to BOS - this is an issue b/c plan was to be signed by march.
    • Agreement states that we have until July 2009 to have plan and estimated costs and to identify funding sources.
    • Doug questioned whether moving the building was a possibility.
    • Benign neglect letter was withdrawn in hopes a deal could be made.

SCHUYLKILL PROPERTIES:..

  • West Bridge Street
    • Sandy brought plans for the new building.
    • We have photo documentation
    • Sandy to write a letter to BOS requesting deed descent.

HISTORIC PROJECTS:.

  • GIS
    • Joanne obtained negatives for 1981 survey pictures.  Difficult to read.
    • Plan is to keep everything on the first list based on date built

OLD BUSINESS:

  • Russ Yerkes
    • Looked at Creek Rd property (old Pickering Hunt).  Does not show signs of neglect in his opinion.
    • Has not looked at other properties on our list:
      • S. Whitehorse Rd (next to Twin Bays)
      • Country Club and Route 23
  • Historic Ordinance
    • Mary scheduled meeting for 25-Feb with Sandy, Russ Yerkes, Dianne and Mary to look at ordinance and decide how to revise.  Will bring draft back to HC for review.
  • Founders Day at Moore Hall
    • Letter sent to Walters family requesting use.
    • Sandy will follow up with phone call if does not hear back in a week.
  • Newsletter/Website
    • Need photo of Reeves mansion for article to be posted on web site.  Pohlig kindly offered his photos.  Khalil also has photos.

NEW BUSINESS

  • 877 E. Phillips Drive
    • Applying for rehab loan.
    • 1965 house.  Sandy and Khalil both drove past to view property.
    • No historical impact to community
    • Mary sent letter stating we had no input.
  • Joanne indicated there is a property on Christian Conference Center that may be a benign neglect.
  • Not on Agenda:  Plans for 1429 State Rd
    • Representatives in attendance
    • Plan to demolish both buildings and build 2 single family residences.
    • Structures built between 1925- 1940
    • Sandy indicated that Zoning officer did look at buildings and found them structurally sound.  Roof in good condition. 
      • Representative wanted to know how they got in.
      • Sandy indicated they surveyed from outside.
    • Representative from Phoenix Communities (owner of property) indicated they have "no interest" in the buildings.
    • Sandy requested adaptive re-use be considered.
      • Rep indicated that location and parking do not allow for adaptive reuse (?) and it would be an economic burden to rehabilitate.
    • Both structures are on 1 lot.
    • Khalil indicated that we will need photographs and will call representative to arrange time.
    • Sandy will provide copy of ordinance for them to follow.
  • Khalil never obtained photos of Route 23 house to be demolished (was put off by owner).  Dianne will contact owners.
  • Anderson Farm may come up for subdivision.  Could not work out anything with Open Space Commission.  Plan to sell acreage and not structure.

Meeting adjourned at 8:55.
Next meeting will be 17-March-2008
    Meeting to begin at 7:00

Submitted by:
Pamela Applegate-Frasch