Archdiocese announces plan to sell large portion of St. Charles Borromeo property

3/12/2013 | Real Estate Blog

Archbishop Charles J. Chaput recently announced plans to consolidate operations at Saint Charles Borromeo Seminary in Wynnewood, close the building currently used for its College Division and lease or sell a large section of the 75-acre campus for development.

The plans reserve roughly 30 acres of the upper campus for housing for roughly 200 seminarians. The other 45 acres would be sold or leased. The future use of the property is still under consideration, according to Chaput, but the goal is to “ensure the future viability and sustainability” of the seminary. This will be done by making use of the property more efficient.

The seminary, particularly the college building, has reportedly been underutilized for some time, and the new plan has been several years in the making. Back when it was founded in 1832, there was an enrollment over 500. Currently, there are roughly 130 resident seminarians, and another 200 laymen and women enrolled in courses through the seminary’s Graduate School of Theology and Program of Catholic Studies.

The eventual plan for the property is a subject of intense interest to Lower Merion Township officials and the seminary’s neighboring communities. The seminary, sources say, is eager to find a plan that puts the property to good use and that is in cooperation with local communities.

The entire 75-acre parcel is zone R-3 residential, meaning it could be developed with single-family homes. It is possible that the property could be eligible for conversion for more specific uses. Time will tell.

Source: Mainline Media News, “Update: Philadelphia Archbishop announces plans to develop or sell land at St. Charles Seminary,” Cheryl Allison, March 8, 2013