County planning commission disscusses Montgomery Hospital, Norristown projects

By Dan Clark dclark@21st-centurymedia.com

Bice stated Einstein Medical Center has teamed up with Elon Group of Fort Washington to take care of asbestos and eventually demolish what used to be the Montgomery Hospital. Elon will then be putting in 100 senior housing units in its place sometime down the road.

Norristown Pastor John West, who also sits on the board of the planning commission, stated that he and others around him are concerned with the environmental impact of demolishing the building.

The community where Im at is very much concerned about the sale and about the demolition and about the process of the demolition. I believe there was a hearing and there were a number of people who spoke out against the approach being used for the demolition. There is (sic) also some concerns about trauma to the soil, West said.

Bice stated he didnt have to be worried about the demolition process.

I was at the first public meeting when I heard them say no explosives would be involved, and I did hear there is a second public meeting scheduled just for the residents of that area, she said.

West explained there are also a number of concerns that the developer buying the land doesnt have the funds to build the 100 senior living apartments and Norristown will just end up with a vacant lot.

Bice said Einstein and the Elon Group have an agreement of sale in place, but no monetary action has taken place and the agreement of sale is not contingent on finding funding.

The transactional issues are not issues the planning commission weighs in on. The transaction issues are things Norristown needs to figure out. The planning commission would deal with the zoning issues that will come when Elon begins to develop the land.

Bice announced the work being done from Markley Street to Elm Street is expected to be completed by 2016. Continued...

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County planning commission disscusses Montgomery Hospital, Norristown projects