Dear Lansdowne neighbors,
As we wind down the summer months, let the beautiful sunshine, hazy mornings and the many beautiful flowers remind us about the joy of our neighborhoods in Lansdowne.
First of all, I want to thank all of the Lansdowne residents and elected officials from Upper Darby, Yeadon, East Lansdowne, and Darby who joined us for our celebrations for Liberia day. Thank you to Representative Joanna McClinton, Representative Mike Zabel, State Senator Tim Kearney, and District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer for attending. A special “Thank you” to Siddiq Kamara, Joar Dahn, and Alphonse Samukai for developing the ceremony. And, a special “Thank you” to Joe Foley for donating the sound equipment and Francesca Merritt for the beautiful rendition of The Star Spangled Banner.
Economic Development
Lansdowne Borough Council continues to move forward with the development of projects to improve the amenities for Lansdowne Borough residents through strategic investments in the parks and in the walkability of our downtown. On August 3rd, our Borough Manager Craig Totaro and I met with NV5 Engineering to discuss the preliminary sketches for the designs for the Veteran’s Park and The Landing area and the Highland Avenue and Owen Avenue Parking Lots. As discussed before, the design will develop ideas to upgrade our Veteran’s Memorial for the first time in decades and also to build on the pilot program of the Lansdowne Landing into the next stage of a thriving downtown community gathering space and upgrade our parking lots. Please be on the lookout within the next months for opportunities to provide community feedback on the plans.
Lansdowne Borough Council voted to approve the recommendation by the HARB (Historic Architecture Review Board) for the Callahan Ward development on Wycombe and Lansdowne. The project is the third of the development of several places in Lansdowne to provide apartments in our downtown.
Finally, the ad hoc Committee for the Comprehensive Plan met with the final applicants and has a recommendation for Council tonight. Thank you to Councilmember English and Naji Taylor and Borough Manager Craig Totaro for their work on the Committee to provide the plans. For the community.
Bike Facilities
On August 4th, Borough Manager Craig Totaro and I met with representatives from Upper Darby Township, Delaware County, and David Schwartz to discuss the current implementation and planning for future extensions of the Eastern Delaware County Biking Plan. Lansdowne Borough Council continues to work with Upper Darby, Yeadon, and East Lansdowne to develop the Eastern Delaware County Bikeway. Bicycle facilities help to promote public health and create non-motorized connections between people and trails, parks, schools, transit sites, and other key areas. The plan demonstrates Lansdowne’s leadership to create the 21st Century infrastructure to allow for transit oriented development.
At the Council meeting on August 18th, Borough Council unanimously voted to award the contract for paving for the Bicycle Facilities in Lansdowne. With the paving on Lansdowne Avenue by Penndot, the Lansdowne Loop and arterials for the Bicycle Plan will be completed this fall.
With the completion of these projects, the new businesses coming to Lansdowne, the booming real estate market, new people, new initiatives and new development is occurring in Lansdowne Borough. The real estate market remains brisk and folks throughout the region are realizing this gem of a town, Lansdowne, and we welcome our new neighbors into this green place to grow.
Special Events:
Goats are coming to Lansdowne! Lansdowne Borough Council voted to bring Goats from Amazing Grazing to Marlyn park this fall. Thank you to the Parks and Recreation Board for the research, the discussion, and the recommendation for bringing goats to Lansdowne to browse on the overgrown areas and eat the poison ivy.
August 31, 2021 International Overdose Awareness Day
Lansdowne Borough will recognize the importance of awareness and recognition of the families who have lost loved ones due to drug overdoses. Through highlighting the awareness, we also encourage the treatment of drug addiction and the importance of training for our EMS squads and police units. Thank you to our first responders for the lives you have saved through your quick action. Click here to view the resolution.
September 11, 2021 20th Anniversary of 9/11
In the coming weeks, Lansdowne Borough will honor and remember the 20th anniversary of 9/11 with a short ceremony at 12:00 on Borough Green on September 11th. We invite all members of the public to participate. Click here to view the resolution.
September 18, 2021 POW/ MIA Remembrance Day
On September 18, 2021 Lansdowne Borough in conjunction with the American Legion Post 65 will conduct a ceremony at 12:00 on Borough Green to honor the many service members who are still Prisoners of War or Missing in Action. The National POW/ MIA Day is on September 17th, 2021. Thank you to the American Legion for the continued advocacy for remembering these servicemen and women and their families. Click here to view the resolution.
September 16, 17, and 18, CGI marketing will be in Lansdowne creating videos for the Lansdowne Marketing Program. When we more closely approach the the time of the video creation, we will post a list of times for any Lansdowne residents to participate as extras in the videos.
Hope to see you around town in our parks, at the Farmer’s Market, in our stores, or just walking around the neighborhoods!
Sincerely,
Benjamin Hover
Council President