VFMA legal warns Radnor not to condemn land, threatens federal government involvment

Radnor Township is a step closer to condemning land now part of the Valley Forge Military Academy Foundation. 

On Monday, the Board of Commissioners voted 6-0 to pass an introductory ordinance to condemn 17.1 acres at the school’s campus. Radnor plans to use the site for a recreation center and for open space.

Not so fast, Phil Rosenzweig, a lawyer for the foundation, warned the Board of Commissioners before its vote.

Rosenzsweig said he wanted to correct an impression the board had that the land was for sale. The Foundation’s board had turned down a $20 million offer from Rockwell Development for the same piece of land, which includes the dining hall, dorms, gym, and weight room. 

“The land is mission-critical for the operation of the college,” said Rosenzweig. 

While the high school is closing in May, the college is very much open, he said. There are 100 cadets now and another 20 are possible. Those cadets are funded by the U.S. government and become Army officers. VFMA is a West Point feeder school.

Selling that property would “devastate the operation of the college,” said Rosenzsweig. He noted that if the township condemns it, “there will be some Supremacy Clause issues invoked because the federal government does have interest in our ability to operate.”

Valley Forge is selling 33 acres in Tredyffrin Township to nearby Eastern University at a cost of nearly $1 million an acre.

Foundation Chairman John English told Main Line Now that he hadn’t heard from anyone from Radnor Township before they suddenly started talking about condemning the land. 

“If somebody wants to buy the land, make an offer,” he said. “There was no indication this was coming. It’s quite frustrating.”

“Now we know how Greenland feels,” English said. 

English said they’ve “tried to be good neighbors.” He wondered why the township is not trying to seize part of Villanova or Eastern Universities and speculated they thought they could come after VFMA because the high school is closing.

“They saw blood in the water,” said English.

Township officials plan to meet with the college representatives on Feb. 20 for further discussions. 

A few residents spoke at the meeting, one complaining about an increase in traffic that the local roads could not take if the township moved its recreation center there. And others said communication about this issue from the township and the college has been sparse. 

In other business: 

• Radnor Treasurer Rob Armstrong was sworn into office
• The board approved hiring two new Radnor Police officers, conditioned on the job candidates’ passing a medical and psychological examinations. The salaries start at $98,977 to $118, 636, according to an ad for the positions.

“We’re excited,” said Chief Chris Flanagan. One new officer is an experienced officer and the other is a newer officer, he said. “So, we’re bringing the best to Radnor Township.” 

Linda Stein is a Philadelphia-area journalist.