Can we save Haverford Road (and the Township)?

Haverford Township Board of Commissioners recently hosted a listening session in response to the updated draft of the township's Comprehensive Plan. While many comments focused on the land use changes that (apparently erroneously) were proposed by the draft, it was clear listening to the feedback that most residents understood that major changes were needed to address safety, convenience, and beauty in the focus areas in the comprehensive plan, what the Township is calling "Town Centers"

One of those "Town Centers" is the Haverford Road corridor, and I, along with others who live on or near Haverford Road, were adamant in our comments that something needs to change. One of the main draws of the Havertown/South Ardmore area is its family-friendly amenities and scale of residential lots. Haverford Road itself has shops, transit stations, proximity to two major parks and intersects the SEPTA Bus Path, but the experience of living on and traveling on Haverford Road is anything but family-friendly. On the residential portion of the Road, between Ardmore Junction and Ardmore Avenue SEPTA stations, vehicular traffic is regularly above 40 mph while sidewalks are only present on one side of the road and the pedestrian experience is inconsistent on that side as well. The commercial portion of the road, between Ardmore Junction and Eagle Road also features an inconsistent pedestrian experience and the streetscape is ugly, dominated by large swaths of off-street parking.

For all this, Haverford Road features a local hardware store (D.M.I. Home Supply), The Head Nut (an amazing purveyor of coffee, candy, and other dry and bulk goods), a bar with live music (The Rusty Nail) and strong connection to the Norristown High Speed Line which can take residents into the City of Philadelphia for work or recreation. It also connects to the Oakmont area of Havertown via the bus path, which is one of the strongest features of life in the township. It is ripe for a make-over that will enhance its existing strengths and give it new ones. The comprehensive plan for Haverford Township is an attempt to do just that (among other things) and residents of Haverford Road and the surrounding area should applaud the township for seriously engaging with this need.

But what do we need to save Haverford Road? First of all, I think it's important not to treat all the focus areas in the comprehensive plan as "town centers". The Oakmont-Brookline area can reasonably be called the "town center" of Havertown, with a history of suburban-scale mixed-use development including multiple institutions. The township already sponsors public events in this area, recognizing its civic significance. The Haverford Road corridor is on the edge of the township with a strong historical emphasis on transit and a commercial crossroad at Haverford and Eagle. This requires looking at different models of development for any changes that are to be made.

Besides new trends in transit-oriented development, which are certainly worth considering for their applicability in this area, the township should look at historic models in the area as well as older American and European towns which are most closely related to Havertown/South Ardmore in their development pattern. Priority should be given to the ease in which residents can engage in the commercial, recreational, and transportation features of the area. Pedestrian improvements and amenities for patrons of the local businesses should be at the top of the list of changes. This is not merely a question of safety (though it is that). The township is already in conversation with PennDOT about changes that can be made to the Haverford Road; it should be a pleasant place to spend time, and not just somewhere people drive into and drive out of.

With that in mind, strategic use of parking, both on and off-street, can open up room for street trees, wider sidewalks, pedestrian plazas, outdoor seating at restaurants, a diversity of businesses that can reinforce and improve patronage at existing favorites, as well as new homes built at an appropriate scale that will increase commercial business and contribute to the strong existing character of the built environment in Havertown/South Ardmore. The citizens of the township do not want development that is prone to regular turn-over leaving residents uncertain of whether the amenities and businesses that come in will turn into empty shells in 5 years or less. We want an attractive and safe built environment that will give us places to enjoy our wonderful township together

Haverford Township has an opportunity to present a compelling vision for Haverford Road Corridor as well as the other focus areas of the township with equally applicable strategies from new and old models. There are many admirable goals and steps already taken as part of the comprehensive plan process. A good next step would be for the township to communicate its vision with renderings and graphics showing that rather than just importing a vague "mixed-use" model, our suburban township will be enhanced by a masterplan for development that is beautiful, convenient, safe, and long-lasting.