February 25, 2025 Meeting Minutes
Merion Civic Association Board Meeting
February 25, 2025, 7:30pm
Directors in Attendance:
Eileen Bruckman, Bruce Eisenberg, Scott Feuer, Brian Gordon, Les Greenberg, Susan Guthrie, Li Halpern, Renee Hill, Carol Lavoritano, Karla Moras, Kevin Murphy, Craig Oliner, John Zerges
Neighbors: Betsy Goldmuntz, Diane Hotmer, Robert Paul, Tom West
· Co-Presidents Eileen Bruckman and Scott Feuer welcomed attendees and called the meeting to order at 7:38 pm.
They introduced Joe Kender, Senior Vice President of University Relations, St. Joseph’s University. Regarding the university, Mr. Kender provided a thorough update. Mr. Kender has 11 nonconsecutive years’ experience at St. Joe’s.
The presentation was divided into “strategy”, “construction”, and “question and answer”.
Strategy:
Like many postsecondary educational institutions, St. Joe’s has faced student recruitment challenges due to rapidly changing technology, the falloff in college age high school grads, and competition with other schools, especially in the college rich Philadelphia metro. To achieve recruitment goals, St. Joe’s has strategized.
· Strategy #1: New programs and adjustments.
o At its core, St. Joe’s is a liberal arts university. Required liberal arts courses provide the basis of its curriculum.
o St. Joe’s has developed new academic programs that meet student interests and society’s needs. Recently added courses of study include occupational therapy, physical therapy, and pharmacy, all proffered after merger with University of the Sciences. After acquiring Pennsylvania College of Health Sciences, St. Joe’s now affords a popular nursing degree program, both at its Lancaster, PA campus and at Hawk Hill.
o St. Joe’s now manages what was the Barnes Museum, both building and grounds. Much of the university’s art is now displayed on location at Maguire Art Museum. As a result of the Barnes’ acquisition, St. Joe’s has expanded its art curriculum. Mr. Kender encouraged the community to visit the museum and experience the collection.
o Undergraduate students from University City’s former University of the Sciences campus have relocated to Hawk Hill, fostering enhanced learning and socializing, both in and out of the classroom.
· Strategy #2: Capital improvements.
o St. Joe’s has invested heavily in its main campus’ physical plant to meet student expectations and needs.
o There are a number of recently renovated buildings, including the fitness and recreation center and dining hall.
o The recently opened passageway under City Ave. has unified the Overbrook Farms/Wynnefield and Merion sides of the campus.
o There is ongoing construction of Sister Thea Bowman Hall, a 565 bed residence hall at the southeast corner of Cardinal and City Avenue.
· Strategy #3: Financial stability.
o St. Joe’s has successfully reduced administrative costs and increased fundraising.
· Outcomes of the strategy:
o St. Joe’s has achieved a high student retention rate.
o Teaching is heavily emphasized and is of high quality. Most faculty teach three courses each semester.
o With the addition of University of the Sciences, St. Joe’s has increased its research endeavors.
o The university is ranked #5 in U.S. News and World Report’s Regional Universities North category.
o Ten and 20 years after graduation, St. Joe’s students’ earnings** is in the top 2% of colleges nationwide.
o Enrollment has increased in the past few years but remains below its 2012 peak.
Currently, there are about 8,000 students, of whom ~ 6,000 are undergrads and ~ 2,000 are in graduate studies.
Of the ~ 6,000 undergrads, ~ 4,500 are at studying at Hawk Hill and ~ 1,500 are at the Lancaster campus.
About ~ 300 grad students remain in University City. That campus is about a third occupied.
Of the ~ 4,500 undergrads at the main campus, ~ 2,200 live in university run residence halls, ~ 2,210 live off-campus, and ~ 90 commute from and live at home.
On-campus residence hall living peaked at ~ 2,800. It is now ~ 2,200.
St. Joe’s goal is to increase enrollment slowly, carefully, and modestly.
Construction:
· Mr. Kender provided a comprehensive overview of St. Joe’s master plan*, replete with a graphic illustration.
· Phase I is nearly complete.
· Phase II timeline is uncertain but there are no plans for an immediate or short term start.
· Mr. Kender several times thanked the community for its patience and understanding as construction has proceeded.
Q and A:
· The plan is to grow student numbers thoughtfully and slowly to 2012 levels. Among other factors, enrollment is limited by bed count and facility capacity.
· Former University of the Sciences undergrads have moved to Hawk Hill.
· The University City campus retains 300 grad students and research personnel.
· St. Joe’s is relatively unaffected (compared to University of Pennsylvania for example) by the federal government’s cutbacks on research funding. Despite limited exposure, grant funding is expected to decline.
· St. Joe’s campus has geographically expanded with its acquisition of the “Cardinal” property and management of what was the Barnes Museum.
· Most of master plan phase I is complete, including renovations and new construction.
· The timing of master plan phase II is unknown but it is not expected to be immediate.
· Ultimately, there will be three structured parking garages which will allow a “park and walk” campus and removal of much surface parking.
· Mr. Kender assured that St. Joe’s meticulously complies all laws, regulations and ordinances in its campus development.
· In the past, Civic Association members have had use of St. Joe’s athletic facilities. That program is currently not operational but a restart is under consideration.
· St. Joe’s is working to improve local, student-focused retail options.
Treasurer’s Report - Kevin Murphy
· January 2025 MCA board meeting minutes were approved.
· Director Kevin Murphy presented MCA’s finances. Total assets are approximately $62,000. A portion has been allotted for the possibility of a flower box funding shortfall. Eileen Bruckman reported that annual dues’ collections to date are $8,100 and continue to arrive. The goal is $9,000. The budget was approved.
Commissioner’s Report - Todd Sinai
· There was no commissioner’s report as Todd Sinai was unable to attend the meeting.
Federation of Civics - Karla Moras
· Director Karla Moras provided a recap of the most recent, well attended assembly. Seminary Neighbors Association leadership presented Main Line Health’s current St. Charles’ project plans. The talk was informative. Concerns included excessive density, MLH having insufficiently reduced density, unresolved traffic issues, worry that campus visitors may park in neighboring streets, and that large impervious surfaces may promote inundation of the low-lying Indian Creek neighborhood.
St. Charles Seminary
· Second Vice President Susan Guthrie stated that she did not attend the Federation meeting but there have been no announced St. Charles’ Seminary plan updates.
· Director Craig Oliner offered three bits of news:
The township’s traffic engineer recently provided Main Line Health with a traffic evaluation. MLH is planning to convene with Commissioners Todd Sinai and Sean Whalen, the planning group, and two other commissioners to review the study. Following that meeting, the analysis will be made public.
MLH leadership reports that they have a letter of intent with a senior living operator who is now pursuing due diligence. The organization is excited about potential community benefit. MLH is hopeful that all goes well as they have interacted with 15 other prospective operators, all of whom have eschewed the opportunity due to the high cost of adaptively reusing historic buildings.
There are ongoing tweaks to the master plan, including possible relocation of the villas to better align with the senior living facility.
School Board-Melanie Schafmeister
· There was no LMSD School Board update as Director Melanie Schafmeister was not in attendance.
Fire and Safety-Kevin Murphy
· Kevin Murphy related that 50 people attended a recent Lower Merion Community Watch training session. Active patrols are expected to resume shortly.
Streets/potholes-Renee Hill
· Some potholes have been filled, but the snow will bring more
· Questions on bricks on Merion Rd-Eileen to follow up with Todd Sinai
Station and Grounds-Scott Feuer
· Scott Feuer announced that donations continue to arrive for Merion Station’s new flower boxes. To date, almost $20,000 has been raised. MCA has committed up to $5,000 to cover any shortfall in fundraising. Material and supplies have being procured. It is expected that a mock-up flower box will be finished by next month, March 2025. If there is approval, construction of all 21 boxes will proceed soon thereafter. Scott thanked a number of people for their participation, including Karla Moras for distributing flyers.
· Eileen Bruckman enthusiastically reminded that this year’s Children’s Safety Event, Cars and Trucks and Things that GO!, is Sunday, April 27th from 1 to 3 pm. Flag Day festivities are scheduled for Thursday, June 12th.
New Business
· Craig Oliner commended Susan Guthrie, Seminary Neighbors Association, Shortridge Civic Association, and Merion Civic Association for their efforts working with MLH to develop a St. Charles Seminary plan that in its current iteration is much improved from the original.
Craig pointed to some of the group’s accomplishments – a significant reduction in project density, E. Wynnewood Rd. auto access restrictions, relocation of the hotel to a more optimal location along Lancaster Ave., setback of the apartment and condo structures off Lancaster Ave. to provide a buffer and preserve the viewshed, elimination of the construction of new surface parking lots (parking will occur at the base of new construction buildings), an increase in and more contiguous open space, and a shorter construction schedule. See document “St. Charles Project Changes as of June 2024”.
Craig observed that as a community, we’ve said little about what we’d like to see developed, whether that be a playground, a wooded buffer between campus and Periwinkle Lane homes, LEED certified buildings, etc.
Craig stated that he would love to see the campus available to the public, even if only once or twice a week. It is four years until construction is complete, so opening the campus now would allow the community to experience the beauty and serenity of buildings and grounds.
However, MLH has resisted in part due to security concerns.
Discussion revealed that no one, other than Craig, wanted to see the campus open. Reasons varied but several attendees felt that if MLH agreed to our wish, they would be less likely to grant our primary goal – additional reduction in density. Others thought it inappropriate for MCA to ask MLH to provide security and assume liability.
· The next MCA board meeting is Wednesday, March 27th at 7:30 pm at Merion Tribute House. The speaker is Bryan Fenstermaker of the City Avenue District.
· The meeting adjourned.
* St. Joe’s master plan, including completed, under construction, future, and potential future projects, can be found at https://www.sju.edu/leadership-vision/campus-master-plan and https://www.sju.edu/sites/default/files/slider/SJU-Campus-Master-Plan.pdf
** For details re St. Joe’s student earnings, net present value, and other metrics, see https://cew.georgetown.edu/cew-reports/roi2022/