Timeline of Events:
March 2017: Board directs administration to obtain an appraisal of the Kindergarten Center in preparation for sale
July 2017: First appraisal of Kindergarten Center received.
Summer and Fall 2017: A few parties express an interest in the Kindergarten Center. Board asks administration to develop an (RFP) request for proposal for the disposal of the Kindergarten Center.
July 2018: Board placed the following in the superintendent’s goals for the year:
•Bring Board to final decision regarding disposition or use of the following District owned buildings: Kindergarten Center, East Pikeland ES, Hallowell House, Pot House Rd house (proposed for Life Skills) by May 2019
August 2018: During the public hearing on the purchase of the Hares Hill property, administration recommends selling the Kindergarten Center and East Pikeland properties after the purchase of a property which will accommodate a new school.
2019:
•Sale of Kindergarten Center on hold while the purchase of the Hares Hill property is completed.
•Hares Hill property purchased by school district, November 2019.
•Board directs administration to begin process to sell the Kindergarten Center.
•East Pikeland School has a lease agreement and is currently cash flow positive.
Spring 2020: Request for proposal (RFP) issued for a realty group to sell the Kindergarten Center.
June 2020: One response received from the request for proposal. The committee discusses the response and determines that it is too expensive and that another request for proposal should be prepared.
August 2020: The Phoenixville Area School District actively engaged in selling the Kindergarten Center property.
October 2020: A bid of over 3 million is received from a builder. It is determined not to pursue a realtor and the Board asks administration to continue its advertising for the sale of the Kindergarten Center property. The Board authorizes a
new appraisal of the Kindergarten Center property.
April 2021: A second bid is received from another developer to purchase the Kindergarten Center.
June 2021: The sale of the Kindergarten Center is placed on the Building and Grounds Committee agenda as a possible Board voting item. There are currently 2 developers interested (offers in hand) in the property and two more developers in the wings.
August 11, 2021: B&G meeting a letter of increased interest from a developer offering $3.7 million was presented.
August 23, 2021: Board Workshop: Another increased offer for $3.9 million was presented, and the Board pulls the voting item from the agenda and directs Administration to negotiate with these two entities. Both developers plan to build town homes on the property.
September 2021: The Borough came to the District expressing interest in purchasing the K Center for $1.8 million IF they could obtain grant funding within a three year period. They would not make any deposit or payments during the three years. If they did not receive adequate funding at the end of three years, the property would revert to the District, at no penalty to the Borough.
October 2021: The Board delayed its vote to sell the Kindergarten Center to allow time for the Borough to provide more information and to schedule two Town Hall Meetings on the sale of the Kindergarten Center Property
October 19, 2021: First Conversation with the public on the sale - Board members and administration in attendance
November 4, 2021: Second conversation with the public on the sale – Board members and administration in attendance
Click here to view the sale of the Kindergarten Center presentation shared with the Board at this meeting.
November 10, 2021: Jean Krack (Borough manager) attends Buildings & Grounds Committee as an invited guest speaker to answer questions about the Borough’s proposal
November 2021: The District again delayed its vote on selling the K Center property to a developer to allow the Borough time to improve its $1.8 million offer and provide the District some assurances it sought.
•The District asked the Borough to negotiate the purchase price
•The District asked the Borough to give assurances that the zoning would not be changed during the three years
•The District asked for commitments/restrictions the Borough would be willing to make for the future use of the land.
December 8, 2021: The District sent a formal negotiations letter to the Borough offering to meet with them at their convenience and requesting a written response by January 20, 2022. The Borough did not request a negotiation meeting in December or January.
January 18, 2022: The Borough responded to the District in writing. In their response,
•They increased the period to obtain grants from three to four years (3 funding cycles or 12/31/26) and were not looking to “sweeten” the deal or make any deposit payments
•They stated their intent to “continue educational/institutional uses on the property” but added the following legal disclaimer:
Legal Disclaimer: Please be aware that this letter is a non-binding statement of the Borough's present intentions and explanations and the above shall not constitute a binding agreement, and the Borough shall not incur any liability based on the foregoing. The Borough shall have no legal obligations until an Agreement of Sale is fully executed by both the Borough and the District.
March 14, 2022: Board voted to table the sale until all 9 Board Members were present or a motion was made to bring the sale forward for a vote.
March 28, 2022: Board voted to sell the Kindergarten Center property to Toll Brothers
April 12, 2022: Third appraisal of Kindergarten Center is received.
May 9, 2022: Agreement of Sale of the Kindergarten Center is fully executed.
May 10, 2022: Toll Brothers submitted $100,000 to the escrow account.