Main Line Times announces headquarters up for sale

The Main Line Times, which has covered local and regional news for Main Line residents since 1930, announced today on its website that its current home at 311 E. Lancaster Ave is up for sale.

The announcement doesn't mean that Main Line Times is leaving news coverage to the daily newspapers, Neighbors and the various Patch websites.

The beloved weekly newspaper, currently delivering news daily via online and social media, made a similar change in 1948, when it switched venues from Ardmore's Suburban Square to Lancaster Ave.

In the web announcement, Main Line Times cited several reasons for the move, among them the changing news industry and a desire for more community visibility.

"The truth is we are a much different operation than we used to be, and the sprawling building that now houses our editorial, advertising and circulation offices is simply too big for us," the online article reads. "As part of the new Digital First philosophy we want a much more visible spot in the community, where we can welcome the public to take part in the news-gathering operations and come face-to-face with our staff."

Ed Condra, Main Line News' publisher, said in the article that the news organization would "work to find a location that makes it easer to reach our audience and for our readers to reach us."

The announcement didn't mention prospective buildings for the Main Line Times, but said that the new headquarters would include a community media lab, an open newsroom initiative by its parent company, the Journal Register Co., which will allow for public computer usage and access to newspaper archives.

"We're not looking to lessen our visibility in the community, we're actually trying to increase it," Condra added.

Attempts to contact Journal Register General Manager Tom Abbott for comments were unsucessful.