Online Petition Circulates To Save Historic Narberth Church

NARBERTH, PA -- An online petition is circulating to a save a historic Narberth church from a scheduled demolition.

The Church of the Evangel at 198 Elmwood Avenue, a 125-year-old historic structure, has been slated to be demolished.

The Narberth Planning Commission unanimously recommended creating opportunities and incentives to preserve the Borough’s remaining former civic institutional buildings, including the Church of the Evangel, by permitting mixed residential and commercial uses within the structures in 2015, the petition states.

The Montgomery County Planning Commission and the Lower Merion Conservancy supported the recommendation. Narberth Borough Council passed Ordinance 984 to create such mixed-use opportunities by a 4-3 vote, according to the petition.

However, Ordinance 984 was then vetoed by Mayor Tom Grady.

Narberth’s proposed Form-Based Zoning Code presented another opportunity to save the church. The Form-Based Zoning Code embraces preservation and restoration of our former civic institutional buildings by providing the opportunity for mixed-use projects that re-energize buildings that have outlived their original purpose, while maintaining the look and feel of the community.

The petition says that such mixed-use is the best option available.

More than 300 supporters have already signed the petition.