June 23, 2009
Dear Colleagues,
I am writing to update you once again on our ongoing efforts to utilize fully the James J. Maguire '58 Campus. First, let me reiterate our commitment to the planned improvements on the Maguire Campus. The Campus Commons, educational space and athletic fields are very important sites for our future.
While we have been disappointed that the Township approval process has been delayed, and by some of the comments in the media by a few neighbors, the level of University activity on the Maguire Campus continues to increase. During the 2008-09 academic year, the University utilized much-needed additional classroom space in Cynwyd Hall. The Campus Commons was the site of several University-wide “town hall” meetings, and on April 30, an enthusiastic audience gathered there for a special convocation as we presented honorary degrees of Doctor of Public Service to former Saint Joseph’s pitcher and World Series champion Jamie Moyer and his wife, Karen. A reception was held on the baseball field at the Maguire Campus with members of the University’s baseball team and Jamie “coaching” 30 players from the Narberth Little League.
With work on the renovation and expansion of the Fieldhouse limiting access to those facilities for much of the year, the gym complex at the Maguire Campus provided a valued alternative for the University community, as well as for our neighbors; the swim teams from both Lower Merion and Harriton High Schools used the pool on the Maguire Campus while theirs were being renovated.
On April 24, the University filed a Notice of Appeal in the Court of Common Pleas of Montgomery County in response to the Lower Merion Township Zoning Hearing Board’s March 26 decision requiring, among other things, the University to seek additional approvals from the Board before proceeding with its intended and previously approved intercollegiate and intramural use of its Maguire Campus athletic fields. Last week, the University also filed a request with the Lower Merion Zoning Hearing Board for a special exception regarding its plans to properly equip the fields for the University’s use. The first hearing on the University’s application is expected to take place on July 23, 2009.
On the community front, I met recently with two neighbors who are members of a residents’ group and discussed the various requests from some neighbors concerning the University’s usage of the athletic fields. We will continue to be open and forthright about our plans for the Maguire Campus.
We also met with the editorial board of the Philadelphia Inquirer to discuss our plans. In an April 20 editorial, the Inquirer strongly supported the University’s position. The Inquirer wrote: “St. Joe's has bent over backward to appease nearby residents, holding more than 20 community meetings, and making a number of concessions in response to residents' concerns…” The full editorial is available on the testimonials page of this site.
This summer, we will renovate Cynwyd Hall to house the new Kinney Center for Autism Education and Support. As I announced in April, the Kinney Center will serve as a practical and supportive resource for educators, professionals and families affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).
Some of the University’s additional summer projects at the Maguire Campus include: the renovation of the music building; structural repairs to the Campus Commons; the installation of energy-efficient new boilers at the gym complex; the renovation of four classrooms in Cynwyd Hall; improvement of the security lighting on the campus; and the renovation of the tennis courts. We anticipate substantial completion of these projects by the end of the summer.
We will continue to keep you informed about enhancements to the Maguire Campus on this site. Please check back often for new information, and direct any questions to the Office of External Affairs at 610-660-1226.
As always, thank you for all you continue to do for Saint Joseph's University and our mission.
--Timothy R. Lannon, S.J.
President, Saint Joseph's University
