Residents Give Revitalization Task Force Clear Direction

As part of the county requirements in receiving revitalization grants, a public input meeting on the township’s revitalization plan was held.

The, which was also formed in accordance with county requirements, hosted the input meeting in the township building, Oct. 18.

Well-over 50 residents and township officials attended the meeting.

“Basically, tonight, we want to address our goals and vision with those of you who are here,” Karen Houck, Revitalization Task Force chairperson said.

Houck, along with Michal Narchowich, a senior planner with the Montgomery County Planning Commission, provided a brief presentation at the start of the meeting.

Their presentation gave an overview of the purpose of a revitalization task force, and further explained that revitalization grants are available for an approved revitalization plan. Such a plan is suggested by the task force and submitted by the township.

“The goal of the revitalization program is to help the county’s older communities become more vibrant and attractive places to live, work and visit,” Narchowich said. “This program provides funding that will assist the township in its revitalization, redevelopment and rebuilding.”

The township has participated and received funding from the revitalization program in the past, as recently as 2003, of which the streetscape improvements to Veterans Memorial park are a direct result.

A New Plan

However, past revitalization projects focused on a section of Willow Grove, largely considered to be the township’s “downtown” area. The task force’s new revitalization plan now incorporates a much larger area, consisting mostly of land on the western side of the SEPTA line.

According to Houck, the task force originally came up with over 20 areas of opportunity for revitalization, but then dwindled the number down to the eight most appealing and attainable project proposal areas.

The revitalization area proposals were based on several county criteria, including the adherence to the state’s “Keystone Principles,” which Houck described as projects that lend to growth, investment and resource conservation, while attending to aging infrastructure.

During the presentation portion of the event, it was noted the township recently celebrated its 300-year anniversary. 

Residents’ choice

[For a list of the proposed areas, see photo gallery]

The potential revitalization areas were displayed on large poster boards around the meeting room.

Along with questionnaires, attendees were given four green sticker dots, with the attendees voting on their preferred project.

“If you think we’re off track, tell us,” Houck said, addressing the attendees. “This is the chance to let us know.”

The most popular plans seemed to revolve around improvements for a downtown area, including streetscape improvements on Davisville Road.

“That’s what I’m hoping for in Willow Grove, to be a pedestrian-friendly community,” Michelle Young, vice-president of the Willow Grove Chamber of Commerce, said.

Brian Olszak, a life-long resident of Upper Moreland, also voted for the Davisville Road proposals.

Olszak, 25, who is a first year Community and Regional Planning graduate student at Temple University, was noticeably one of the youngest attendees at the meeting.

“I feel I have a stake here,” he said. “A lot of people just drive through Willow Grove, and not stop in it.”

Business owners in the township also attended the event, including Joe Bolletino, who has owned his business; Sink the Ink, a tattoo parlor, since 2004.

He put all four of his sticker votes on the “York Road (East Side, SEPTA RR to Fairhill; West Side, SEPTA RR to Cedar)” poster, because he’d like to see business façade improvements that surround his own business.

“Honestly, I want to see something nice there,” Bollentino said. “I like the people here. I think it’s a great area for business.”

Bollentino added that he has spent years establishing his business in the community, and just signed a 6-year extension on the property.

According to Narchowich, a draft of the Upper Moreland revitalization plan must be submitted by mid-February to qualify for April’s deadline. A second public-input revitalization meeting will be held prior, and based off of feedback given at the Oct. 18 meeting.

Task Force Second Task

In addition to assembling the township’s revitalization plan, the task force has also been given the job of finding out the .

According to Houck, the two projects are interrelated, explaining that one of the goals of the revitalization effort would be to attract new businesses, and a successful commercial area built around a train station would help to make Upper Moreland a destination, rather than just a stop along the Warminster line.

Should the township be successful in submitting a revitalization plan, the township may receive several grants, one of which may award up to $668,460, while another may award up to $3-million; each would have to be matched by a certain ratio by the township.

“If there’s not enough businesses contributing [to the revitalization projects], then it’s on the shoulders of the residents,” she said.

The task force will host its second of three Train Station Feasibility Study Input meetings on Nov. 3, located at the township building.