Jenkintown to Unveil New Streetscape

Next Saturday members of Jenkintown Borough Council and other officials will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the borough’s recently completed streetscape project along Old York Road.

According to Jenkintown Assistant Borough Manager Chris Bashore, the $3.5 million project includes new streetlights, large trees, benches, trash and recycling receptacles, bike racks, new sidewalks and traffic signal upgrades. Bashore said the borough got federal funding through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and added that Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, D-13, was instrumental in getting the funds.

The project spans Old York Road from Summit to Hillside avenues.

There are still several empty storefronts in Jenkintown, especially along Old York Road, but Bashore said revitalization is always on the mind of borough officials. He said that borough council established a 16-person revitalization taskforce as well as a building, zoning and revitalization committee to help turn things around.

“The streetscape is an important step in filling storefronts and is important for the revitalization plan for the borough,” Bashore said. “We’re seeing some of these vacant properties being sold to real estate agents. [A property at] York Road and Greenwod Avenue is under construction and properties at West Avenue and York Road have been purchased.”

The streetscape project started in May and finished in June; it’s part of a revitalization master plan that was approved by borough council in spring 2002.

The ribbon cutting ceremony will take place Saturday, Sept. 15 at 11 a.m. in the corner of Greenwood Avenue and Old York Road near the Drake Tavern.

Bashore said State Sen. LeAnna Washington, D-4, will be making remarks and added that someone from Schwartz’ office will be on hand, as well as members of borough council.

A rain date is set for Sept. 29.