NORRISTOWN — More housing. No more housing. Retail space. No retail space. More office space. No office space. Mom-and-pop grocery store or franchise grocery store?
Coming out of the community meeting last week regarding the development of the state hospital land conveyed to Norristown — well, it was enough to make a head spin. I attended the meeting to learn more about the plans to develop the Preserve at Stony Creek, and came out more informed, but with a few more questions than when I went in about what to do with those 68 acres on the grounds of the Norristown State Hospital.
As MediaNews Group staff writer Rachel Ravina reported last week, about 60 residents attended the first of two public meetings. Lead developer Tony Maras, president of Pinnacle Realty Development Company, outlined “the framework plan” that includes, as Rachel reported, more than 700 residential units and 69,000 square feet of commercial space for a grocery store, restaurant and daycare center.
Other possible uses. Rachel wrote, include a proposed indoor sports facility and flex warehouse tech space, which Maras said potentially could house a biotech firm, office space and a job training program. Stormwater and connectivity were also topics of concern.
Maras was very gracious (and patient) in answering and addressing residents’ concerns, questions and issues with the proposal. And those questions, concerns and issues differed greatly, depending on the resident.
Some who spoke were in favor of a bigger grocery store that offers healthy alternatives, like Trader Joe’s. Other residents suggested “mom-and-pop” stores to give local business owners a new venue.
Some folks argued that Marshall Street — between Markley and Stanbridge — already has a lot of those smaller stores and that smaller stores tend to translate into high prices. Personally, I’d love to see a “real” grocery store — Shop Rite, Giant — so I don’t have to go outside of Norristown to shop. Plus a grocery store offers not just convenience, but jobs.
As for housing? There was a lot of talk that Norristown doesn’t need more housing. I respectfully disagree. Norristown most certainly needs money, and money comes from tax revenue. For so long Norristown was home to two hospitals, a Catholic high school — and there’s a church on just about every corner. No tax money comes from those institutions.
Now, consider the townhomes being built on Arch Street (near Caiola Pass for those in the know). If Norristown doesn’t need housing, why are these selling so quickly? And word has it there’s real buying interest in the homes yet to be built on the grounds of Kennedy-Kenrick high school. Ideally, these new homes are bringing in new people to Norristown, which translates to new tax revenue. To me, these “rateables” purchased by new residents will mean improved quality of life for existing residents. How do we lose with that?
The one thing everyone seemed to agree on is that the new homes/apartments must be affordable. As Mike Hays, a resident of Bridgeport and co-founder of the Montco 30% Project, said, “(Montgomery County), and yes, Norristown, needs more housing for bus drivers, teachers, social workers, grocery clerks, mail carriers … all the regular people who keep this economy going. We need more affordable housing, and Preserve at Stony Creek can be a part of the solution.”
With each differing opinion and idea, I found myself nodding my head slightly in agreement. I could see the value and possibility of all ideas presented. But there were times I was a little dismayed — some of the residents came at the developers a bit harshly — as if the developers were Norristown’s enemy. It wasn’t a good look, in my opinion. I understand being passionate about an issue, but not being angry about something that hasn’t even happened yet.
Fortunately state Rep. Greg Scott was there to calm the intermittent waves of anger and frustration. He did a great job reminding the audience that this project was still very much in the planning stages, and that “nothing is written in stone.”
And since not one council member was present, it was encouraging that Scott was. I have to admit, I was surprised no one from council was there, considering this was an opportunity to learn the concerns and hopes of those residents who will be directly affected by this project. It was encouraging to me to see how many residents really care about progress — but on the flip side, no council. Maybe they stayed away on purpose?
But a former councilwoman was there — Mila Hayes. And she stressed that the developers must listen to the residents and not depend on council’s input as the sole source of inspiration for the plans.
“We are the people that are paying the taxes and it is really important that you include us in those discussions,” Hayes said. “We’ve got a state rep here, we’ve got some former council people here that are vested in this community, and the people that pay the taxes. It is really important that when you come to these meetings as well that you say ‘what do you want’ as opposed (to) ‘well council is saying this’ — because council represents us.”
The folks at the meeting did hear that phrase from the developers — “council is saying” — a lot. For example: “Our feedback from council was that they wanted a mixed-use project,” Maras said. “This is the plan that council felt best fit their need to create ratables in the township for tax revenue purposes.”
And while council’s suggestion for a mixed-use project just may be the best option, I couldn’t agree with Hayes more. The loudest voices, the voices the developers should hear and consider, are those of the residents. Even though there were contradictory ideas presented by the residents who spoke, those ideas all had merit. And, those ideas are the ones that will impact folks who live on Stanbridge Street, on Sterigere and within walking distance of the state hospital. And whether those suggestions are put into play by the developers or not, at least the residents who care will feel that they were heard.
Council members and administrators have a tremendous job ahead of them in making the Preserve at Stony Creek a springboard for the advancement and forward progress of Norristown. And it most certainly can be. There’s no reason Norristown can’t follow in the footsteps of Phoenixville and Conshohocken in terms of rebirth and progress. But among all those involved in the planning stages and on through to the completion of Preserve at Stony Creek, at the very heart of this development project are the residents current and future. Their voices must be heard.
Email Cheryl Kehoe Rodgers at crodgers@timesherald.com
