Roslyn Community Revitalization Plan with Real Estate Strategies

October 28, 2009

Community Visioning Workshop

Agenda

• What is this plan?• Summary of issues so far• Workshop: Visit Stations

– Streetscape– Signage– Development– Centers

• Regroup and Summarize Findings

• Next Steps

Go Phillies!!!Go Phillies!!!

Montgomery Community Revitalization Program

• Help older communities revitalize

• Grants to prepare revitalization plans

• Grant funding for implementation

• Plans good for up to 7 years

• Update to 2002 Roslyn Plan– Streetscape improvements– Business property improvement

grants– Improved pedestrian access– Gateway enhancements

• Community Task Force overseeing preparation of plan update

Neighborhood Profile

• Roslyn is both younger and more racially diverse than the Township as a whole

• Incomes are lower than Township averages but are increasing faster than in the Township or County

• High rate of owner occupied housing

• Extremely low vacancy rate – less than one percent

• Dominated by small businesses, with fewer than 10 employees

• Roslyn represents about 9% of Township businesses, but only 2.2% of jobs

• Very low crime rate, but ongoing concerns about “nuisance crimes”

Infrastructure

• High traffic volumes, AM, PM and lunchtime

• Variable sidewalk conditions & pedestrian safety features

• Limited parking & challenges to adding new supply

• Transit service: R1, R2, Route 22 and The Link

• Station reconstruction projects

• Poor bike access

Considerations in Moving Forward

• Revitalization Plan has a 5 to 7 year timeframe

• What is the vision?– Land uses

– Appearance & scale

– Transportation access

• Prioritize– What we can complete in that

time?

– What we can lay the ground work for?

What do we want to be?

• Desire to be like Ambler, Lansdale & other successful town centers

• Roslyn somewhat larger than comparable centers

• Need to concentrate efforts, focus on centers of activity

• What are some possible centers of activity?

• How are they connected?

Activity Centers

• How do we reach “critical mass”

– Identify obvious potential draws and nodes

– Create and/or enhance attractions

– Sustain interest between each center

Train Station

• Two major activities: Roslyn Train Station and Genaurdis supermarket.

• Potential gateways:– Train station – Welcome park.

• Crosswalks provide poor access to train station

• Should it be better integrated into Roslyn? If so how?

Triangle Area

• Gateway signage at Bradfield

• A new library/community center would create an important anchor

• Former Bank of America building as opportunity site

• What would we like to see here?

• What should it look like?

Woodland

• Mix of development types, including the Roslyn Valley Shopping Center

• Focus of streetscape improvements

• Grove Park extension to Easton Road with dog park

• What kind of businesses would we like to see here?

• How should development look?

Other Areas

• Hamilton character is distinct from the rest of the corridor– Lot consolidation has provided for

considerable auto-oriented development

– Potential for other uses over time?

• Transition areas – places between the “centers”– How to keep it interesting

Development

Wide mix of uses and development types today

– Traditional small-scale retail

Development

Wide mix of uses and development types today

– National & regional retailers & service providers

Development

Wide mix of uses and development types today– Residential

– Commercial uses in residential structures

Development

Wide mix of uses and development types today

– Auto-serving

Development

• What would we like to see in the future– What goods &

services missing?

– What is the desired development pattern(s)?

– How do we accommodate parking?

Streetscape Appearance and Function

• How important is a consistent appearance?

• What improvements will have the biggest impact?– How it looks

– Supporting business needs

– Pedestrian safety

• Are gateways important?

Signage Along Easton

Signage Issues To Consider

• Balance need to communicate information with appearance

• Amount of signage – information overload?

– Number– Size– Amount of text

• Sign placement– Location on site or

building – Legibility to both

autos and pedestrians

• Sign design– Materials– Appearance

Next Steps

• Workshop exercise

• Tonight’s materials to be posted on Twp. website

• Use tonight’s feedback and Task Force comments to draft preliminary recommendations

• December 16: Community workshop to review

• January: Prepare 2010 County grant application

• March 11: Final public meeting

• Finalize plan by end of March

Workshop

• Stations around the room, each highlights an issue raised in the planning effort

• Review information on the displays, ask questions of consulting team or committee members

• Place stickers in appropriate boxes to answer questions

• Write comments directly on the displays to share any other thoughts

• Regroup for summary and questions at end of evening