Hatboro Facilities Study Shows 'Rearranging,' Not Rebuilding

Instead of building anew, an outside firm tasked with evaluating Hatboro's cramped and aging facilities is recommending that the borough "rearrange space," according to an official. 

Hatboro Council President John Zygmont said that architectural firm Thomas Committa Associates Inc. - or TCA - will make a formal presentation during the governing body's Feb. 25 to outline its recommendations.

The council hired TCA last summer at a cost of $19,500 to conduct a study of borough-owned facilities. Along with the study, TCA was tasked with providing a written report, cost estimates, as well as design sketches.

Under the previous Democrat-controlled council’s leadership, in 2011,  to determine if the existing nearly 60-year-old police station should be renovated and expanded, or razed and built anew. The architectural firm suggested the council build a new police station at a $2.2 million price tag.

But, Borough Manager Fred Zollers told Patch that TCA, by contrast, is not proposing any new buildings. Instead, the firm suggests building additions, as well as extra space for public works, which is currently housed in a portion of the Hatboro Police Department.

When asked where public works would be housed, Zollers said only that TCA is "looking at options." The sketch plans that the architect submitted are "not public" because, Zollers said, they contain "critical information about the police station."

that the "rough cost estimate" from TCA's "very preliminary" review indicated that renovating borough-owned properties could cost $3 million.