Temple Ambler Campus Sale Among Long-Term Planning Options: Officials

UPPER DUBLIN TOWNSHIP, PA — Temple University is considering selling its sprawling campus on Meetinghouse Road as one of the options on the table for its long-term planning.

Temple University is weighing the long-term planning process for the Temple Ambler Campus, which is located in Upper Dublin Township.

“As I have shared before, Temple Ambler is a tremendous asset, but it remains a significantly underutilized asset. We intend to change that,” Temple President John Fry said. “We are just in the beginning stages, as this process will likely take at least six months, but when it’s completed, we will have developed a concrete strategy for Ambler moving forward.”

Temple said some options open for consideration besides a potential sale include a single or multiple private/public partnerships, or transforming the campus into an experiential learning campus that incorporates commercial activity with academic endeavors, or a potential sale.

The university also said both the Main Campus and Temple Ambler Campus communities will have a role in the process.

Fry said the current planning process is expected to produce a concrete strategy after the next several months of work.

In recent weeks, Temple representatives have met with Upper Dublin Township leaders to discuss the effort.

“Temple representatives have met with Upper Dublin Township staff several times as they begin considering the future of the Ambler campus,” said Upper Dublin Township Manager Kurt Ferguson. “We appreciate that Temple has included the township in these early conversations and look forward to learning more as the process moves forward and the future of the campus takes shape.”

Temple Ambler was first established as the Pennsylvania School of Horticulture for Women in 1910 and merged with Temple University in 1958.

The campus was designated an arboretum by the University Board of Trustees in March 2000.

Temple said 647 students reported taking a course at Ambler in fall 2024.

A survey for the Temple community was launched and just closed on Friday.

“What is exciting for us as a university is that this is the first time we are not just considering traditional academic uses for the campus, but exploring private and public partnerships as part of the future of Ambler,” said Jonathan Reiter, vice president of business affairs and administration. “We are eager to work with these advisors and look forward to hearing their recommendations, which will be guided by the feedback of the Temple and Ambler communities.”