LMSD Finalizes Villanova Land Purchase For Playing Fields

VILLANOVA, PA — The Lower Merion School district finalized its acquisition of the property at 1835 County Line Road in Villanova for future development as enrollment grows.

According to the district, that property as well as 1800 W. Montgomery Ave. will be used for playing fields for the new middle school that is being built at 1860 Montgomery Ave.

There are plans to use the 1835 County Line Road property as a student art gallery or for other school purposes.

The district got the property from Dr. John A. Bennett and Nance DiRocco, who initially planned to sell the property to Villanova University.

The property at 1835 County Line Road was acquired by agreement under the same terms that were approved by the Lower Merion Board of School Directors in December 2018.

At that time, the board approved and offered a payment up to $9.95 million for the property and a lease allowing Bennett, DiRocco, and their family to stay on the property through May 2023.

Lower Merion School District is meeting the challenge of its rapidly growing student enrollment by building a new middle school for grades 5 through 8, which is set to open in September 2022.

The fields will be completed after the school opens.

This new school will alleviate crowding at the six elementary schools and two middle schools by moving fifth graders out of the elementary schools and distributing the middle school population among three schools instead of two.

Drawings of the proposed site layout for fields are available online here.

See related coverage on the property deal:

• Lower Merion Schools Fight Back To Get Villanova Land
• New LMSD School Site Being Used For Firefighter Training
• Lower Merion Schools Using Eminent Domain On 13.4 Villanova Acres