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BY ROSARIO PAZ

In print | Published September 13, 2007

Discussions between the college and the borough concerning the inn development project are in continuance for the new school year. Recently, the college requested that various interested developers submit their qualifications and a concept plan to present their general ideas for the proposed inn in the Ville.

Associate Vice President of Facilities and Services Stu Hain has worked on the “request for qualifications,” a document that was recently sent out to approximately 20 firms that were deemed appropriate for the development project.

“[The developers] tell us who they are, their concept and how they plan to develop the site. Ideally, we know that there are eight to nine developers who’ve expressed interest,” Hain said.

The document lists the various details of the inn development project, including the number of allotted rooms, the amount of retail space and the exact location. Developers are then asked to respond with their own concept plans by Sept. 14.

“The developers … sit down and work out all the numbers — that’s when … they’ll go ahead and decide. The college is putting up the land. The developers will have to rent the land and lease,” Hain said.

At this point, the college can decide to narrow down the list of concepts and talk to developers most suitable for the project. Subsequently, the selected developers will be sent a second document, a request for proposal, which will require them to provide more specific details about their intentions.

Swarthmore Borough Manager Jane Billings said that the borough and college are looking for a more concrete decision on concept plans by February.

The idea for an inn as a joint collaboration between

the college and the borough came about in the mid-1990s. Both entities mutually worked towards developing

a nearby locale that would attract more activity for the town.

Hain said that there was a town plan developed with various steps on how to go about proceeding with the inn idea, including the hiring of planners for the

project. Since the plan involved tranportation-oriented development, due to the vicinity of the train station, the

idea, Hain said, was for the inn to be "situated in a very thriving town where people can stay to work over-

night. That’s always been the plan and we’ll see what

happens."

“Around 2000 there was a referendum in the town,” Hain said. “There was a vote to serve alcohol in the Ville, to facilitate the building, to create a regional draw and help make the town more lively. That was the driving principle that always focused on a restaurant and a bar, a retail space and an inn.”

After the referendum was passed, the borough and college encountered another issue with parameters in 2005. An ordinance was proposed in order to establish the IN-C Institutional Commercial Overlay District.

This was done in order to modify the type of zoning in which the inn was intended to be built. The west side of Chester Road near the train station, the proposed area for the inn, was institutional zoning. “The borough changed the zoning to allow commercial development,” Billings said.

Currently, the borough is at a standstill in the developments for the inn until the college makes a decision based on the responses received from the request for qualifications. “Because the development is occurring on private college property, they’re the ones in the driver’s seat,” Billings said.

“At this point, the borough is in a sort of a wait and hold position,” said President of the Swarthmore Borough Council Peg Hebner.

“We are waiting to see, based on what the developers submit, whether [the college] need[s] anything from the borough that is not already covered in the existing ordinance. The subject would be open for discussion with people in the community, and there would be action based on those factors. Beyond that, there isn’t anything that we can do except say that we have laid the groundwork,” she said.

“Not all college and towns work well together, and I think we’re lucky sometimes. We’re very excited to continue working with the college. It’s a great effort,” Billings said.

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