Montgomery County, PA

 

NORRISTOWN, PA — The Montgomery Awards acknowledge outstanding land developments and revitalization achievements in the County will be presented on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 at 10:30 a.m. in conference room 202 of One Montgomery Plaza, Norristown

 

The Montgomery County Planning Commission created the awards to raise awareness of the importance of planning and design and to honor developers, consultants, organizations, and municipalities for their commitment and contribution to the enhancement of our communities.

 

This prestigious program has two major award categories.  The Land Development Award focuses on excellence in land development and planning concepts. The three projects receiving this award are CVS Pharmacy and Audubon Inn in Lower Providence Township, Fort Washington Station in Whitemarsh Township and Stony Creek Park in Lansdale Borough.  The Revitalization Award recognizes successful revitalization projects and programs.  The two award winners in this category are Pottstown Pedestrian Underpass and College Building Adaptive Reuse in Pottstown Borough and The Marketplace at Telford Station in Telford Borough.

 

CVS Pharmacy and Audubon Inn will receive a Land Development Award in recognition of the collaborative effort and effective design that involved preserving and reusing the historic Audubon Inn while successfully integrating a new CVS drugstore into an historic setting.  The meticulously restored inn and the new CVS blend together through the use of complementary building materials and architectural details.  Award-winning features include critical

transportation improvements, streetscape amenities, and attractive landscaping.  This project demonstrates how a community can work together to retain its historic resources while allowing new development that respects the historic integrity of a site.

 

Fort Washington Station will receive a Land Development Award in recognition of the successful reconstruction and expansion of the Fort Washington Train Station.  This well-planned project incorporated a multimodal design, a new station building with elevated platforms, and a pedestrian underpass.  The new station blends with the existing station, which was preserved.  Project amenities include an expanded parking area, improved bus service, lighting, landscaping, and pedestrian connections, including a portion of Montgomery County’s Cross County Trail.  Fort Washington Station is an excellent example for other stations and is a community asset that benefits many passengers.    

 

Stony Creek Park will receive a Land Development Award in recognition of exceptional site planning, innovative amenities, and environmental sensitivity.  Stony Creek Park transformed a former industrial site into a popular community park for residents of all ages.  Award-winning features include a new pond with a fountain, an innovative children’s playground, an overlook, a picnic area, and a whimsical labyrinth.  Environmentally sensitive aspects include a preserved woodland with meandering trail, naturalized plantings, and a low-impact parking lot.  This well-designed, appealing park is a valuable open space amenity and an outstanding community asset.

 

The Pottstown Pedestrian Underpass and College Building Adaptive Reuse will receive a Revitalization Award in recognition of the transformation of a vacant industrial mill building into an attractive classroom and training facility for the Montgomery County Community College and in recognition of the improvement of an existing culvert into a pedestrian walkway that made the college expansion feasible.  The rehabilitated historic mill, a former brownfield site, adds 50,000 square feet of classroom space and expanded workforce development programs that are valuable resources to residents and entrepreneurs in the area.  The new underpass walkway connects pedestrians to the Schuylkill River Trail, the riverfront, and downtown Pottstown and makes a future regional trail connection possible.  This successful collaborative project has provided growth and potential in Pottstown. 
 
The Marketplace at Telford Station will receive a Revitalization Award in recognition of the successful renovation and adaptive reuse of the original train station and freight buildings into viable retail entities, creating a vibrant community space for gatherings and events and a permanent place for the

Indian Valley Farmers’ Market.  The borough designed and constructed a community pavilion and added infrastructure that would ensure a permanent place for the farmers’ market.  Significant design elements included completely restoring two historic railroad buildings for new retail establishments and adding a pavilion and patio area for community activities. This multi-government effort included federal, county, and municipal funding, substantial private investment, cooperation between Souderton and Telford Boroughs, and the dedication of Souderton-Telford Main Streets volunteers.
 
The 2008 Land Development Award Committee, consisting of Montgomery County Planning Commission Board members Dulcie F. Flaharty, Scott Exley, and Pasquale N. Mascaro, selected the Land Development Award winners.  The Revitalization Award recipients were chosen by the 2008 Revitalization Award Committee, consisting of  Montgomery County Community Revitalization Board members F. Lee Mangan, Stuart L. Rosenthal, and John Westrum.

 

For further information, contact Rita McKelvey at 610-278-3753.