October 19, 2006

 

MOORESTOWN FRIENDS SCHOOL TO PURCHASE FORMER ACME BUILDING

School also under contract to purchase property at 66 E. Main Street

 

The Board of Trustees of Moorestown Friends School (MFS) has agreed to a contract to purchase the former Acme Supermarket building at 119-123 Chester Avenue in Moorestown. In addition, there is a contract in place for the school to purchase the property at 66 East Main Street in Moorestown, which includes two buildings that are currently professional offices. (Click here to view photos.)

“This is a great moment for the school,” said Head of School Larry Van Meter (MFS Class of 1968). “We have just completed a Master Plan and we identified that more space is needed for classrooms and labs in all three divisions of the school.  We believe these properties will help to meet the space needs of our academic programs. As someone who grew up in Moorestown, I’m delighted to preserve these buildings for the use of our school community.”

The former Acme building was built in 1955 and designed by noted Philadelphia architect Vincent Kling.

Settlement on both properties will occur later this fall. The school is working through due diligence processes with the current owners.

During the next 6-12 months, the school will conduct a comprehensive analysis to determine the best use of the facility.

“It will be important to assess how to best use these sites,” said Bill Guthe, Chair of the MFS Board of Trustees. “We will consult with our Board, faculty, students, parents, alumni and Moorestown Township as we move through this process. I am thrilled that the school will be able to preserve the Acme building, which contributes to the character and charm of Moorestown.”

Laessle Builders, Inc., was the general contractor for construction of the Acme in 1955. According to Jim Laessle (MFS Class of 1938), the building was unique for an Acme building at the time.

“Moorestown decided that its store ought to fit the look of the town,” said Laessle. “Vincent Kling was selected to design this building rather than Acme’s in-house design staff. We (Laessle Builders, Inc.) were the tool that carried out Kling’s design. It’s good news that the building is being preserved. The structure is fitting to the town and was designed to have permanency.”

“Kling modeled the Acme after the Moorestown Friends Meeting House and West Building, which were a big part of downtown Moorestown at that time,” continued Laessle. MFS students attend Meeting for Worship weekly in the Meeting House and the West Building is a part of the present-day campus, immediately west of the intersection of Chester Avenue and Main Street.

According to Laessle, some unique features of the building at the time of construction included the brickwork and multi-paned windows, along with a cupola, a design feature also found on the MFS Middle/Upper School building.

Ken Miller, a spokesperson for the owners, commented on the sale of the Chester Avenue property.

“Prior to and well after the Acme closed, we experienced a very high level of interest in the property from a variety of users plus well-known local and regional developers,” he said. “This interest continues to this day. However, when the leadership of Moorestown Friends School approached us, we ultimately concluded that one simply could not script a more important need than seeing the property become part of the school’s overall educational environment.  We firmly believe that it is a marvelous outcome for Moorestown Friends School, its present and future students, and our township.”   

For additional information, please contact Mike Schlotterbeck, Director of Marketing and Communications, at 856-914-4434 or mschlotterbeck@mfriends.org.   

Click here for Photos