Philadelphia Cricket Club wins zoning approval for upgrades at Chestnut Hill campus

The Philadelphia Cricket Club is set to begin renovations on its St. Martins campus in Chestnut Hill. The club received unanimous approval for its plans from the city’s Zoning Board of Adjustment (ZBA) Wednesday afternoon.

The vote came less than a day after the Development Review Committee of the Chestnut Hill Community Association approved the club’s plans.

DRC’s vote was cast on behalf of the association’s board in order to expedite the process of obtaining community support ahead of the club’s ZBA hearing.

” “This is a big win for our Members and for the entire community.  PCC is an absolute jewel, and keeping her polished and relevant is an important labor of love by all involved, ” stated Tim Muessle, the club’s general manager and chief operating officer.

Construction at the club, located at 415 W. Willow Grove Ave., is scheduled to begin in March and is anticipated to take six months to complete.

Upcoming upgrades

Improvements mostly involve revamping the club’s existing squash and paddle tennis courts.

The building that houses the club’s squash courts and facilities will be enlarged, providing more courts and a mezzanine level where members can view championship matches. The expansion will also feature a long covered portico which will face the tennis lawn, a fitness shop and provide a connection between the building’s locker rooms and the campus’ main clubhouse.

The club’s paddle tennis courts will be repositioned so that the sun is less disruptive to gameplay. The courts will also be regarded to ground level.

Additionally, a new air-conditioned tennis pavilion, bounded on either side by covered open-air seating, will replace a small shed-like structure and open tent which currently sit in that section of the grounds.

An infant swimming pool will also be relocated to the rear of the swimming area by the member lounging lawn.

The Philadelphia Cricket Club is working closely with the Morris Arboretum on its landscaping design, which includes building a rain garden on the grounds. The garden will serve as part of the club’s storm water management plan.

The project’s upgrades “will breathe new life into our tremendous institution,”  said Muessle.