Image courtesy of AIM Institute
A number of local agencies will benefit from state funding.
State Rep. Mary Jo Daley, of District 148 in portions of Montgomery County, today announced that the state is providing $2.25 million in funding for three redevelopment projects in the 148th Legislative District.
The awards, provided by the state’s Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, will fund the following projects:
AIM Institute for Learning and Research Redevelopment Expansion, awarded to AIM Academy, Conshohocken, $250,000
The two-story addition will be in the parking lot behind the lower/upper school wing and will include new classroom spaces, offices and collaboration spaces. To reduce the impervious coverage on the campus, the parking lot will be replaced by a green courtyard between the existing building and the new addition. The courtyard will provide outdoor learning spaces for students. Green roofs will be included on the new addition. Additional improvements include renovations to the existing training and board rooms, cafeteria and kitchen, fourth floor renovations and lighting replacement, as well as energy efficient windows.
One Belmont Parking Garage, awarded to KGSB Investor LLC of Conshohocken, $1 million
To provide public parking for the high-density, mixed-use development at One Belmont, KGSB Investor LLC plans to construct a six-level precast parking garage with 686 spaces and 10 car charging stations. The parking garage will be serviced by two elevators and have three points of ingress/egress. The parking garage’s multiple access points will connect Belmont Avenue, City Avenue and St. Asaph's Road, offering direct and accessible entry/exit into the surrounding community.
Ardmore Community Center and PALM Senior Center Replacement Renovation Phase II, awarded to Lower Merion Township Department of Parks and Recreation, $1 million
Ardmore Avenue Community Center will be a newly constructed environmentally sensitive building with more square footage to include flexible programming space, a full-size gymnasium and community use space. The improvements to the surrounding reconfigured park will include onsite parking, reconfigured and more user-friendly hard courts for basketball, tennis/pickleball, and volleyball, as well as an accessible playground and picnic area adjacent to the existing community swimming pool. The PALM Senior Center will have environmentally sensitive renovations and additions to increase the square footage and provide more open, welcoming and flexible program spaces. The front addition will bring natural light into the building while creating an inviting front facade for public recognition. The rear addition, which is adjacent to the parking area and essentially the main entrance, will also bring in natural light, enhance circulation and provide a common area for community engagement.
“From transportation infrastructure projects to investments in education, state government funding is essential for local development, as it provides the key resources that our community needs to strengthen our quality of life and deliver valuable initiatives,” said Daley. “By investing in these projects, we are lifting up many people in our communities. Congratulations to the award recipients; your hard work reflects highly on our region.”
Recipients of the grants were also grateful for the opportunity they present.
"AIM is honored to receive additional funding through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to support our mission to create collaborative community spaces designed to nurture future learners and leaders," said AIM Co-Founder Pat Roberts. "This important grant will be put to immediate use as AIM completes construction of its 17,000-square-foot Global Innovation Hub addition. When the doors to this new learning space open on Nov. 11, we look forward to unveiling dynamic new spaces, including advanced science labs, a Socratic seminar room, and our Corporate Commons – where local businesses can collaborate directly with AIM's innovative learners, tackling real-world challenges and preparing them for future success."
Local developers were also thankful.
“Keystone is grateful for the support of Governor Josh Shapiro, Senator Vincent Hughes, Senator Amanda Cappelletti, state Representative Mary Jo Daley, and local leaders in securing the RACP grant for the One Belmont site – at the original GSB building – to anchor the redevelopment of the City Avenue corridor,” said Keystone Development + Investment President and COO Rich Gottlieb. “Their commitment is vital to advancing economic development in Bala Cynwyd and across the state.”
So too were local municipalities, some of which will be focused on the upcoming projects.
“These improvement projects will be transformational for the facilities, participants and the entire community,” said Lower Merion Township Parks and Recreation Director Donna L. Heller. “The support from all of our elected official have made these generational projects possible.”
The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is a Pennsylvania grant program for the design, acquisition, and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. RACP projects have a regional impact and generate substantial increases or maintain current levels of employment, tax revenues, or other measures of economic activity. RACP projects are state-funded projects that cannot obtain primary funding under other state programs.
