Montgomery County · Cheltenham · MCPC #25-0046-002
Glenside Elementary School
400 Harrison Avenue, Glenside, PA , Cheltenham, PA · 7,573 sq ft non-residential, school · 10.06 acres
About this project
Cheltenham School District is adding three building additions totaling about 7,573 square feet to Glenside Elementary School at 400 Harrison Avenue, roughly a 14% increase over the existing 54,388-square-foot building. The project also reshapes the site: nine parking spaces on the west side are removed and nine are added to the bus loop, a play area and an emergency access drive are moved, and three stormwater beds are upgraded.
County planning commission: Supports, with comments
Issues raised: Crosswalk visibility at Limekiln Pike and Harrison Avenue, Thorny Washington Hawthorn trees near student foot traffic
- Engineer / rep.
- Chester Valley Engineers, Inc.
- Zoning
- R-2
- Approvals needed
- waiver
Filing history
- 2025-09-19 · MCPC #25-0046-002 · Land Dev Plan, Prelim Plan, Resubmission · 7,573 sq ft
- 2025-02-26 · MCPC #25-0046-001 · Land Dev Plan, Prelim Plan · 7,573 sq ft
County review letters
2025-02-26 · CHELT 25-0046-001r.pdf
2025-09-19 · CHELT 25-0046-002r.pdf
The full picture AI research · Nov 1, 2026
Cheltenham School District plans three small additions to Glenside Elementary School at 400 Harrison Avenue. Together they add about 7,573 square feet, roughly 14% more space than the current 54,388-square-foot building. The school sits on about 10 acres. The current building opened in 2011.
The project also changes the school grounds. Nine parking spaces on the west side are removed and nine new ones are added at the bus loop. A play area and an emergency access drive are moved, and three underground stormwater beds are upgraded. Stormwater beds hold rain runoff and release it slowly.
News coverage ties the additions to the district's plan to close Elkins Park School and move to a K–5 and 6–8 grade structure. That coverage says permanent additions at Glenside and Cedarbrook Middle School were to begin in 2026. No opposition was found.
What it could mean nearby
- Nine parking spaces move from the west side of the site to the bus loop, so drop-off and pick-up patterns on the grounds may change.
- The emergency access drive is relocated, which changes how fire and rescue vehicles reach the site.
- The district's grade restructuring, tied to the additions, could mean more students at Glenside.
- Upgraded stormwater beds are meant to manage runoff from the added building area.
Where it stands
A land development filing was made with the county, with the latest filing dated 2025-09-19. Township review and approval usually come first, followed by building permits and construction. News coverage indicated work was expected to start in 2026, but no approval or construction records were found.
- Sep 19, 2025 Latest county planning filing for the Glenside Elementary additions
- May 28, 2025 News article on the Elkins Park School closure was updated. It says Glenside additions would begin in 2026.
Want to weigh in? Cheltenham Township's planning commission and board of commissioners typically review school land development plans, and residents can usually comment at their public meetings. Check the township website for agendas.
Who's behind it
Cheltenham School District · The public school district serving Cheltenham Township. Chester Valley Engineers, Inc. is the firm named on the county filing.
Around the web
- Cheltenham school board moves to close Elkins Park SchoolWHYY · May 28, 2025Says the district planned permanent additions at Glenside and Cedarbrook Middle School starting in 2026 as part of a grade restructuring.
- Kudos to Cheltenham School District for Glenside Elementary green practicesTookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership · Oct 9, 2014Gives background on the 2011 Glenside Elementary building and its hillside site above the upper Tookany Creek.
Planning terms explained
- Land development
- A formal township review of construction or site changes, such as new building additions, parking and drainage.
- Stormwater bed
- An underground or shallow basin that collects rain runoff and releases it slowly so it does not flood nearby areas.
- Emergency access drive
- A route kept clear so fire trucks and ambulances can reach the building.
- Bus loop
- A driveway where school buses pick up and drop off students.
Researched by AI from public sources on Nov 1, 2026. It can make mistakes, so check the linked sources and the municipality before relying on it.
Scope estimate for contractors
Estimated construction value: $2.7M
- ~37 roofing squares (assumes 2 stories)
- ~18 tons of cooling (rule of thumb 400 sq ft/ton)
- ~1.2 acres of site work (grading, stormwater, landscaping)
- Nine parking spaces removed on west side and nine added to bus loop
- Relocated play area
- Relocated emergency access drive
- Improvements to three subsurface stormwater detention/infiltration beds
- Bus loop landscape plantings
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