LOWER MERION — Lower Merion Commissioners this past week approved awarding Joseph J. Danielle, LLC, a contract for $80,646 for rear slope stabilization at the Belmont Hills Community Center in Belmont Hills.
According to township officials, the “slope is abutting a residential property and has eroded over time, undermining accessory structures on the adjoining property. The designed improvements reinforce the toe of slope with a concrete barrier, reduces the severity of the slope by regrading the eroded area, and restabilizes the disturbed area with erosion control matting and seed for hardy vegetative ground cover.”
The vote to approve the contract was part of the commissioner’s consent agenda at its recent meeting.
During a committee meeting earlier in May when the contract was discussed, Brandon Ford, assistant township manager, outlined the need for the work.
“This slope is located in the rear parking area abutting a residential property and has eroded over time,” Ford said. “Staff, including the township engineer, has met with that abutting property owner, and they have agreed to the improvements that are included in this contract.”
Commissioner Scott Zelov described the issue as a long-standing problem.
“My recollection is that this is not a new problem,” Zelov said. “It sounds like this is a solution to a problem that’s been a difficult one to address.”
Ford said the funding for the project is coming through the township’s capital improvement program and is under the projected budget.
“We budgeted $115,000, so with the bids coming in at a little over $80,000, we are about 30 percent under budget,” Ford said.
A commissioner representing Belmont Hills said he supports the work.
“The slope in question is just down from an existing residence, so without taking care of this sooner than later, it could erode further, jeopardizing potentially their property in the community center itself, so I obviously see full support of making this happen,” Commissioner Jeremiah Woodring said. Woodring’s ward includes the site of the community center.
The community center, 50 Ashland Avenue in Belmont Hills, was obtained by the township in 1977 for use as a community center.
The three-story building was constructed in 1913 as the St. Andrew’s Episcopal Mission. At the time, it was associated with the St. Asaph’s Church in Bala Cynwyd. It was one of the largest buildings in the growing working-class neighborhood of West Manayunk, as Belmont Hills was called at the time.
In 1935, the Girls Friendly Society used a room in the building as a branch of the Bala Cynwyd Library. The West Manayunk Free Library later moved to its new location in 1941 and is now known as the Belmont Hills Library.
