Cheltenham Township Community Revitalization Plan Update 2009
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Cheltenham Township Community Revitalization Plan Update 2009 For the Census Tracts Lynnewood Gardens (2024.01) LaMott (2024.02) Block Group 6 Glenside (2026.03) March 2010 Cheltenham Township Community Revitalization Plan Update 2009 March 2010 adopted March 17, 2010 For the Census Tracts Lynnewood Gardens (2024.01) LaMott (2024.02) Block Group 6 Glenside (2026.03) Prepared by Carter van Dyke Associates Planners and Landscape Architects Urban Partners Community and Economic Development Planners F. Tavani Associates Traffic Engineers Table of Contents ‘ Introduction ................................................5 Community Background ...................................7 Lynnewood Gardens . 7 LaMott Block Group 6 . 7 Landuse ......................................................7 Recent revitalization trends . 8 Assessment ..................................................9 Public participation findings . 9 Community characteristics . 11 Housing unit condition . 13 Retail/commercial/office . 13 Community amenities . 13 Streetscape . 14 Sidewalks . 14 Curbing . 15 Street trees . 16 Lighting . 16 Other infrastructure . 17 Traffic . 17 Public safety . 17 Intersection accidents . 18 Goals and Vision ...........................................19 Commercial areas . 19 Infrastructure . 19 Public safety . 19 Jobs .........................................................19 Housing . 19 Street tree improvements . 20 Traffic calming and streetscape enhancements . 20 Pedestrian crosswalk marking . 20 Improve commercial frontage landscaping . 20 Site amenities for public places . 20 Gateway and interpretive signs . 20 Infill development . 20 Relevant planning documents . 23 Cheltenham Township Community Revitalization Plan Action Plans. ...............................................24 Lynnewood Gardens. 25 Action Plan: LaMott . 31 Cheltenham Revitalization Update Timing and Cost Schedule . 49 Appendix ................................................App:1 Montgomery County Community Revitalization Program: Glenside 2026.03 Opt-in Status . .App: 2 Glenside, Cheltenham Township Revitalization Eligibility Survey . .App: 4 Meeting Notes: June 29, 2009 Public Meeting . .App: 7 Meeting Notes: December 1, 2009 . .App: 10 Presentation: December 1, 2009 . .App: 11 Update 2009 Introduction N 4 Cheltenham Township Community Revitalization Plan Introduction Introduction -Cheltenham Township is situated criteria nor the opt-in criteria as requirements shown in Appendix C on the northern border of defined in the Montgomery County Section D: the number of children Philadelphia. It is also bordered by Economic Development Program July under 5 years of age in poverty, the Jenkintown Borough, and Abington 2009 Program Manual. percentage of female-headed and Springfield Townships in households, the percentage of In 2007 LaMott 6 became eligible for Montgomery County. In the 2000 population change between 1990 funding from Montgomery County’s census the township population was and 2000, and the percentage of Revitalization Program through the 36,875 people. Cheltenham employment change between 1990 Opt-in Criteria in the Montgomery Township is approximately nine and 2000. County Revitalization Program square miles in area. Sections of Manual, Appendix C. In addition to For this update, the consultant team Cheltenham Township that are the required income criteria (that prepared and distributed an income eligible for project funding under the census block group be in the eligibility survey in a portion of the Montgomery County lowest quarter of census block Glenside Census Tract 2026.03 that Revitalization Program are the groups for household income in included a one- to two-block radius communities of Lynnewood Gardens Montgomery County), the LaMott from Easton Road and along a and part of the community of tract also met four additional portion of Glenside Avenue. The LaMott. In 2002, Cheltenham completed the N Cheltenham Township Community Revitalization Plan for four census tracts: Glenside (2026.03), Lynnewood Gardens (2024.01), LaMott (2024.02) and Melrose Park (2024.02). In this report, unless otherwise specified, the term LaMott 6 shall refer to the LaMott Block Group 6 portion of census tract 2024.02. Seven years later, at the time of this update report, only Lynnewood Gardens (2024.01) meets the general eligibility requirements of the Tyler Montgomery County Revitalization Campus Program Update. The LaMott neighborhood is divided John into two census blocks, Block Russell Park Groups 5 and 6. LaMott 2024.02 Block Group 5 was eligible for funding from the Montgomery County Revitalization Program in 2002, but at the time of this update, it no longer meets the eligibility KoBaWoo Shopping Center Update 2009 5 Introduction purpose of the survey was to It is the Township’s goal to further The 2002 Revitalization Plan was determine whether the area would plan and implement improvements the roadmap to considerable meet eligibility requirements for in the entirety of LaMott. The changes in the Glenside Commercial County Revitalization funding under Township will make efforts separate District. Significant roadway and the income eligibility under the opt- from this Revitalization Plan Update streetscape reconstruction was in criteria. to facilitate improvements in completed over the past seven LaMott’s Block Group 5. Future years. There were two major mailings of planning efforts will include both the survey to the residents (see The following revitalization report Block Group 6 and Block Group 5. Appendix), both of which had low identifies community needs, response rates. At the end of the six community goals and sets a high, Results of the 2002 month process, it was determined medium and low-priority five-year Revitalization Plan in that Cheltenham Township would funding and action timeline. The Lynnewood Gardens and work with the Montgomery County goal of this document is to provide LaMott Block Group 6 Planning Commission staff next year an update to a plan that strengthens to determine whether a segment of The 2002 Revitalization Plan the residential quality of life and Census Group 2026.03 will be recommended some concrete safety of the Lynnewood Gardens eligible through the opt-in criteria. projects in both Lynnewood Gardens and LaMott block group 6 The Glenside Avenue area will be re- and LaMott Block Group 6. In neighborhoods of Cheltenham surveyed for eligibility at that time. LaMott, the Community Center Township. The report structures the improvements have been completed. approach for Cheltenham Township While this Revitalization Plan Additionally, street trees have been to move forward with an action plan Update does not include LaMott installed along Beech Avenue and over the next five years including Block Group 5, Cheltenham Sycamore Avenue, and work to yearly writing of grant applications Township understands that the implement a pedestrian-scale to numerous public entities. historic district of LaMott is a single ornamental streetlight plan is neighborhood that incorporates This plan has been developed currently being undertaken. In both Census Block Groups. The through active public participation, Lynnewood Gardens pedestrian- Township recognizes that many of guidance from Township staff, the scale ornamental streetlights and the issues discussed in this report Economic Development Task Force, tree plantings projects have been are also present in Block Group 5, the expert advice of professional completed. These projects show the and that the district needs to be planners and with full cooperation dedication of Cheltenham Township unified with historically appropriate throughout the municipality. The and Montgomery County to the improvements. Cheltenham will seek public initiatives identified within revitalization of LaMott and other funding opportunities for this this plan will help to leverage Lynnewood Gardens. effort in Block Group 5. private investment, Township The findings and goals of the 2002 appropriations, County grants, state It has been determined by report were the starting point for grants, PennDOT investment, and Montgomery County that a section this current update. At a June 2009 federal grants to achieve powerful of Block Group 5 can be evaluated public meeting, the community was and dramatic improvement for these for Opt-In status; this could occur asked to validate and reassess the neighborhoods. when Glenside is also evaluated for goals and priorities for community Opt-In status. However, funding for revitalization. The consensus was the study of Opt-In for these two that the findings of the 2002 report additional areas is not available are still valid, although some through County grants. additional priorities have been determined by the community. 6 Cheltenham Township Community Revitalization Plan Community Background Community Background Lynnewood Gardens LaMott Block Groups 5 Places. This Historic District is recognized by Cheltenham Located within census tract 2024.01, and 6 Township and a Board of Historical the majority of this area is occupied LaMott 6 is located within Census and Architectural Review has been by the 119-acre, 1798-unit Tract 2024.02, which consists of created to conserve its integrity. The Lynnewood Gardens Apartments, a Block Groups 5 and 6. Only Block Citizens for the Restoration of privately owned and managed Group 6 qualifies for matching Historical LaMott is attempting to 1950s-era brick, garden-style revitalization grant funds under the have LaMott recognized as a apartment complex,