Long time coming: North Franklin Township prepares for ribbon cutting at new building
While township operations have already shifted to a new base of operations, North Franklin officials are gearing up to show off the new municipal building to the public.
A ribbon cutting is planned for the new facility at 345 Franklin Farms Road at 11 a.m. Saturday. Township Supervisor Bob Sabot said the $4 million project is the realization of a 25-year-old plan.
“I tried to do this in the late ’90s when I was elected supervisor the first time, but budget restraints kept me from progressing with it and then I was voted out of office in 2003,” Sabot said. “When I got elected in 2017, I was back at it again. I said we have to get out of this old building.”
Sabot emphasized that the building’s construction was accomplished without raising taxes.
On Tuesday morning, township employees were working to finish unpacking as the local fire department tested the fire alarm system. Sabot expects they will finish in time for Saturday morning’s ribbon cutting.
The 7,000-square-foot building offers a significant increase in size compared to the old building at 670 Franklin Farms Road. A central feature of the new facility is a large, multipurpose room where township meetings will be held. The space will also be available to rent for events.
“You can have graduations, small weddings, church events, corporate gatherings. If you’re going to have tables, you can have up to 100. If you’re going to have people just milling around, you can go almost up to 300,” Sabot said.
Off the doors of the event space to the rear of the building are the reservoirs. Sabot said the township also owns the building next door that used to belong to the water company, and will continue to expand the township campus with recreational activities. The building will become a park pavilion, according to Sabot.
Erin Dinch, township director of planning and development, explained how they intend to transform the space.
“We’re going to have a waterside park that’s 89 acres and it will run from the water building clear through the valley to Route 18,” Dinch said.
Dinch added that the park will include pickleball courts, a playground and a mile-long walking trail.
According to Sabot, the township is selling the old building to Washington business Rhodes Carpet and Installation. Sabot said the approximate $400,000 sale will be finalized next week.
Sabot hopes the changes will ultimately lead to a happier, healthier municipality.
“Studies have shown that successful communities must have parks and recreation, and our idea here was to give the residents of the township something that could last a really long time,” Sabot said. “We think we have the most modern township building in the county right now, and we’re really proud of it.”