New Hope opts to buy old church for $2 million

The borough would move its municipal building and police department to the site at 111 New St. if the Diocese of Philadelphia approves the sale.

By: Linda Seida
   NEW HOPE — Tiny Borough Hall and the cell-less New Hope Police Department will have all the room they need if the $2 million purchase of an old closed church building is approved by the Diocese of Philadelphia.
   The Borough Council gave unanimous approval Feb. 27 to the purchase of the former St. Martin of Tours Church at 111 New St. The plan is to move the Police Department and the borough’s administrative offices into the old church.
   The agreement of sale is contingent on approval from the archdiocese and the parish. Borough Manager John Burke said the borough expects to make settlement by the end of June.
   The deal includes a 3.1-acre parcel, which is part of a larger 5.7- acre parcel. The parish will retain 2.6 acres, which includes the cemetery.
   The sale will include a one-story masonry church with a partial basement, a 2½-story masonry rectory and a two-car garage. The church and basement are 5,860 square feet. The rectory is 3,347 square feet. The garage is 592 square feet.
   Borough Hall is less than 2,000 square feet. As an example of how the administrative offices are bursting out of the small area, Mr. Burke said his office is overflowing with files.
   They sit everywhere, "anything I can get my hands on," he said.
   There are three file cabinets in the office, but only one is his.
   "The other two are for other individuals," he said. "There is no room in their work areas."
   The Police Department has about 2,800 square feet. There is no cell, only a 6-foot by 6-foot cage. The building also lacks a sallie port, which would allow officers to take offenders into the building more securely through a back door and straight to the cage or a cell if one were available.
   At this time, officers must escort offenders into the building past the department’s administrative employees.
   In addition to administrative needs, the new site also would provide a handicapped-accessible space for public meetings and community events.
   Renovation is being considered and could cost approximately $1.65 million, according to Mr. Burke.
   The council has chosen George J. Donovan and Associates of Bedminster, Pa., to conduct an analysis of municipal space requirements. The firm will work with the Facilities Committee, which consists of three council members, Mr. Burke and Police Chief Rick Pasqualini.
   The borough is scheduled to pay the diocese $300,000 this week, and the balance of $1.7 million at settlement.
   The $2 million purchase will be financed by general obligation bonds issued for a 25-year term. Debt service is expected to be $146,000 annually.
   The borough plans to pay for this with an estimated $60,000 a year in parking revenue that would come from a portion of the 89 parking spaces at the church lot.
   The owner of a property assessed at the borough average of $47,400 would see his municipal taxes increase by about $72 a year.
   Also helping to pay for the purchase would be the sale of the current Borough Hall at 41 N. Main St.
   About six years ago, St. Martin’s parish established its church on another tract of land located on West Bridge Street at Riverstone Circle.