Township gives residents a peek at the pike
At an open house at township municipal building Wednesday, Springfield Township residents and business owners got a detailed look at the final plans for street-level improvements scheduled to be implemented this fall along Bethlehem Pike.
"This is an opportunity for the public to see the plans in their somewhat final state to get any changes in before construction begins," consultant Chris Stanford, project manager for Michael Baker Jr. Inc., said Wednesday.
Representations of the first two implementation phases of the Streescape Master Plan — created in October 2008 by a committee of residents, business owners, township officials and consultants — were available at the open house. Phase one includes the installation of stamped crosswalks at the intersections of Bethlehem Pike with Wissahickon, College and Bysher avenues, and with Mill Road, as well as ornamental lighting, cobblestone paving strips and street trees in the same areas.
Phase two includes decorative gateway zones along the pike near Cisco Park, East Mill Road and West Valley Green Road notifying drivers as they pass from one area of town into another.
"It's really to define the space, to announce a change," Peter Wilson, a member of the streetscape committee said. "The two [phases] together will begin to establish this as a place, which was one of the objectives."
Creating destinations along the corridor for shopping and dining, and improving pedestrian safety — making Bethlehem Pike more walkable — will revitalize the business district, Stanford said.
Landscape architect Andrew Hamilton, of Carter van Dyke Associates, another consultant on the project, agreed.
"We did Keswick Village 14 years ago and they've seen a huge spike in values," he said. "It always had some destination appeal, but now, much more so."
Although the project is very specific, making these small improvements in high-impact areas will attract additional grant funding and support for the implementation of later phases, Stanford said.
"With a large corridor like this you have to do little pieces at a time," he said. "People see the benefits, which draws funding. I think people are encouraged — think investment is coming back to the area."
In part because of the project's limited scope, most business owners responded positively to the plans.
"I think everybody benefits by having the appearance improve," said Albert Comly, Jr., whose family owns the Flourtown Acme. "This first phase doesn't really impact us in too many ways."
Because many businesses rely on shoppers who prefer to drive rather than walk, maintaining a congestion-free driving corridor is also essential, he said.
"When you try to do the walkability, you can't lose sight of the aspect of driving your car, parking your car and going into the store," he said. "Until we have a paradigm shift we're all dealing with that. It's just part of the culture right now. Whether that will change we have to stay in touch with it."
Tony Mariello, of Collex Collision, described the general plan as "a move in the right direction," but said he would ask the township to move a proposed tree that might block the view of his store's signage.
"I kind of like the changes they are going to make," he said. "I'm worried about the maintenance. They said they will take care of the trees, but five or six years ago they planted them and just walked away."