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Chester County Press

Kennett Square Borough finds ‘great opportunity’ in pursuit of a new borough hall

11/03/2020 01:10PM ● By Steven Hoffman

Kennett Square Borough Council took a big step toward identifying the new borough hall on Monday night, unanimously authorizing a letter of intent to pursue  the purchase of the building and property at 600 S. Broad Street. Genesis Healthcare owns the property.

Saying that borough officials were excited about the prospect of purchasing a new home in a prime location—directly across from the high school—would be an understatement.

“This is a huge opportunity,” said council member Doug Doerfler.

Council president Brenda Mercomes talked about how gorgeous the inside of the building is.

Mayor Matt Fetick said that, 15 years from now, people will look back and say that the acquisition was the right opportunity at the right time.

Council member Ethan Cramer talked about the opportunity to transform a building that has played an important part in the town’s history into a community hub. In addition to being a home of Genesis Healthcare and Clarks Shoes, the property was once the site of the Good Roads Company, which was owned by the Pennock family.

It will take a large commitment from the borough to purchase the property. While an agreement to complete the sale must still be worked out, the purchase price announced at the council meeting is $7.2 million.

The borough was able to recently refinance some of its debt, resulting in significant cost savings. Additionally, interest rates are very low right now so it’s a good time to move forward on a purchase like this. 

The borough wants to start work on an agreement of sale as soon as possible. The closing would take place no later than 120 days from the time of the agreement.

Borough council recently held three executive sessions to discuss the land purchase in preparation for the Nov. 2 vote.

Kennett Square’s borough hall is currently located in an historic building at 120 Marshall Street. The building is too small for this purpose and has never fully met the borough's needs. Public meetings are usually held in other locations.

Cramer noted that the borough's existing administrative offices and police department would need significant improvements and upgrades in the near future.

Fetick also pointed out that the borough wouldn’t be able to buy land and build a new administration building for what the borough is paying for 600 S. Broad Street.

In addition to having sufficient space for the borough's administrative offices and the police department, the building at 600 S. Broad Street is large enough to possibly provide a permanent home for Kennett Area Community Service (KACS), a nonprofit organization that operates a food cupboard and provides a variety of services to individuals and families in need.

Lynne Seligman, the board president of KACS, asked the borough officials to consider allowing KACS to utilize an annex building on the property. This would allow KACS to remain in Kennett Square. Many of the people who utilize the services at KACS live in or near the borough.

KACS is currently headquartered on Cedar Street in town, but that location is too small to meet the needs of the local community. A damaging flood earlier this year also hindered the organization's efforts greatly.

Leah Reynolds, the executive director of KACS, said that the coronavirus pandemic has impacted a lot of families in the community, and there have been more than 16,000 visits to the food cupboard so far in 2020.

“The need is intense,” Reynolds said, adding that it is critical for the organization to remain in the borough and not have to leave to seek out a new home.

Carrie Freeman, the CEO of the United Way of Southern Chester County, talked about the value of the work that KACS has done on behalf of people in need in the community during the coronavirus pandemic. 

“The people in need would have truly been lost without KACS,” Freeman said.

Borough resident John Thomas spoke favorably of the possible purchase of one of Kennett Square's more historic buildings, and said that it would be a good thing for the borough to own and utilize the property at 600 S. Broad Street.

“I think it's historic,” Thomas said. “It's a great, great property. It's a very important building.”

Several council members thanked Thomas, and credited him with first suggesting that the borough pursue the purchase of the property.