Temple could buy vacant high school in North Philly

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 William Penn High School located at 1333 N Broad St. was designed to serve 900 students from grades 9-12.  (Nathaniel Hamilton/For NewsWorks)

William Penn High School located at 1333 N Broad St. was designed to serve 900 students from grades 9-12. (Nathaniel Hamilton/For NewsWorks)

As the School District of Philadelphia is trying to sell off vacant properties, a university is kicking the tires on one building.

The now closed William Penn High School on North Broad Street is on the edge of Temple University’s campus. Spokesman Ray Betzner says Temple is talking with the School District about acquiring the property.

“There’s been no determination made yet on how the property would be used if Temple would be to be successful in purchasing it,” he said.

Betzner says the university is now reviewing all its property in order to put together a master plan, but real estate this good creates an opportunity for the university.

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“It’s more important for us to take advantage of opportunities that come up even if we don’t have explicit plans for it but to help the university make plans for its future.”

Betzner says Temple can’t decide whether it will renovate or raze the building until it actually buys the property, noting there could be other bidders.

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