Narberth Place Honored By Montgomery County Planning Commission For Excellence

A Narberth project is among five across Montgomery County that received special recognition from the Planning Commission for excellence at a recent awards ceremony, the county announced.

The Montgomery Awards annually recognizes the best in planning, design, and advocacy across Montgomery County.

The five projects receiving Montgomery Awards were The Courts at Spring Mill Station in Whitemarsh Township, Narberth Place in Narberth Borough, Einstein Medical Center Montgomery in East Norriton Township, the Sustainability and Innovation Hub of Montgomery County Community College in Pottstown Borough, and Reliance Crossing in Souderton Borough.

In addition to these projects, Paul W. Meyer, The F. Otto Haas Executive Director of the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, received a 2016 Planning Advocate Award, the county announced.

“This year’s award winners are examples of excellence in planning and design with important project characteristics such as transit-and trail-oriented development, adaptive reuse of historic buildings, and sustainable site design," said Jody L. Holton, AICP, Executive Director of the Montgomery County Planning Commission. "All of our winners, including our exceptional planning advocate award recipient, Paul Meyer, have a positive impact in our communities and show that Montgomery County is growing and adapting in valuable ways."

Here's what the county had to say about Narberth Place:

Narberth Place received a 2016 Montgomery Award for exceptional adaptive reuse, historic preservation, creative site design, and successful community collaboration. This outstanding project preserved and creatively transformed two historic landmark buildings in Narberth – the United Methodist Church of Narberth and its parsonage – into unique residential condominiums and enhanced the property with new complementary townhouses. The developer worked closely with the borough to save these iconic buildings and to convert them into residences. A façade easement was placed on both the church and parsonage, permanently protecting architectural details and materials. The impressive stone church, with its stunning stained-glass windows, was creatively transformed into six luxury condominiums and is now called Elm Hall. Many of the church’s original architectural features were preserved and incorporated into the elegant residential design. The basement of the church was converted into parking for residents and provides convenient access. The 1881 Barrie House, the former parsonage, was converted into three condominiums. Its historic architectural details, including seven original fireplaces, a stone porch, and a Juliet balcony, were preserved. Designed to resemble a turn-of-the-century manor house, Vauclain Manor consists of three new townhomes that blend with the adjacent Barrie House and the historic character of the neighborhood. Narberth Place demonstrates how successful adaptive reuse can preserve treasured buildings in our communities in a way that respects the past while embracing the future.

___________________________________________________________________________Image courtesy Fox and Roach Realtors.