Opportunity
The Property represents an assemblage of three (3) parcels owned by three separate individuals consisting of approximately 10 acres in the heart of Ambler, Montgomery County, PA.
The Property was formerly owned by the Keasbey and Mattison Company that originally manufactured pharmaceuticals from the late 1800’s until their ill-fated decision to switch to manufacturing asbestos insulation and building products in the early 20th century. With the elimination of the asbestos industry in the early 1970’s the former asbestos manufacturing buildings have fallen into decline and currently attract crime and pose a real danger for residents of the community.
Adjacent to the manufacturing site is the Ambler Boiler House, a now defunct power generating facility operated by Keasbey and Mattison. This is the largest building in the Borough of Ambler and has elegant exterior attributes. Although in a severe state of decay, the building has retained its structural integrity and represents an ideal opportunity to preserve an architectural masterpiece.
Resolution
Strategic knowing the Borough of Ambler had very recently re-zoned the Property from residential to office-commercial approached the Mayor and Borough Council to propose that they re-zone the Property back to residential since this was the highest and best use and the only type development that was financially viable at this location.
Through a series of “Town Hall” type meetings including a presentation in the recently restored old Ambler Movie Theater – Strategic and its development partners successfully convinced Borough Council to consider a re-zoning.
Strategic then prepared and presented a new Transit Oriented Development Overlay that would allow for a 300 unit development that could take full advantage of its close proximity to the Ambler (SEPTA R-5) train station within a few hundred yards of the proposed development. Strategic successfully introduced the new ordinance which has now been adopted and we are proceeding towards final land development approval.
Concurrent with all the aforementioned land development activities; Strategic has devoted significant financial and human resources to solving the environmental challenges that we knew undoubtedly existed on a former asbestos manufacturing site. Strategic is working closely with both EPA and DEP developing a remediation plan to allow for ACT2 Liability Protection. Our remediation plan will eliminate both a visual eyesore as well as a potential public health risk from the community.
Benefit
The Crossings at Ambler recently secured the support of the Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance for the plan to transform a blighted Brown Field into a vibrant transit oriented residential community that will likely be home 500 new residents representing young aspiring professional to older folks looking to downsize into a maintenance free lifestyle.
The Property which currently attracts crime and poses a real danger to area residents will become a focal point in this rapidly growing older borough and through the creation of a new residential community on a Brown Field with decaying old buildings, Strategic will once again preserve the scarce remaining green space of this community.