Township Looking to Move Forward with Placemaking Project

Upper Moreland Township will soon be looking for consultants to submit proposals for the potential “Willow Grove Placemaking Project.”

The request for proposals (RFP) comes after the township received a $38,000 grant from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission in December.

The township’s redevelopment coordinator Marian Hull presented the placemaking RFP at the Feb. 13 Community Development Committee  (CDC) meeting.

According to the placemaking RFP document, the placemaking project has two interrelated elements:

• Design of a gateway, wayfinding and interpretive signage program.

• Identify and create a structure for local partners to work with the Township for further physical improvements.

The document describes the purpose of a gateway project in Willow Grove as a way to help visitors, “Take advantage of the significant community and retail assets of the area.”

According to the document, a gateway project would also take advantage of the stronger community bonds created through the success of the Willow Grove 300 celebration.

The document further states that the importance of this request for consultants goes beyond the gateway project itself. According to the document design standards and template partnership agreements created through the gateway project, will be the basis for ongoing physical improvements throughout the downtown area of Willow Grove.

The request for proposals will be released on March 7, and will be due April 6 at 4 p.m. A copy of the RFP Willow Grove Placemaking Project can be attained by contacting Hull at 215-940-9270 or e-mailing her at marian_hull@urs.com.

Revitalization Update

In related news, Hull, during the Feb. 13 CDC meeting, said that the deadline for the Montgomery County Revitalization Board review of Upper Moreland’s Revitalization Plan draft has been moved to March 27. Senior planner with the Montgomery County Planning Commission Mike Narcowich will present the draft.

Further comments to be considered for inclusion can be made at the next public meeting of the Upper Moreland Revitalization Task Force. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 22, starting at 7 p.m. in the Township building.

Willow Grove Train Station Feasibility Study Update

The task force will also have public meetings about the Willow Grove Train Station Feasibility Study.

• A task force work session implementation/financial impact train-station meeting will take place on Feb. 29, at 7 p.m. in the Township building.

• A task force work session draft final report of the study will take place  on March 20, 7 p.m. in the Township building.

• And a final presentation public meeting will take place on April 17, with a time to be determined.

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More from the reporter’s notebook

Craigslist Advertisement

During the Feb. 13 CDC commissioners’ comments, Ward 2 commissioner Kevin Spearing brought up the idea that the Township should do a better job at advertising its vacant lots. He called into example a recent Italian restaurant that purchased a property in the township via a Craigslist advertisement.

During the commissioners' comments, it was suggested that the Township may explore working with the Willow Grove Chamber of Commerce to advertise its vacant lots.