Horsham Still Working To Obtain Willow Grove Air Station Land

The Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority (HLRA) is continuing to work to obtain the former Naval Air Station-Joint Reserve Base (NAS-JRB) Willow Grove land.

The HLRA is seeking to use the 862 acre spread for a variety of uses, including a museum, parks, open space, a hotel, a commercial area, residential units, and a town center, per their redevelopment plan.

The NAS-JRB Willow Grove Redevelopment Plan recommended that the property be conveyed from the Navy to the HLRA via something called an Economic Development Conveyance, a way which the military can hand over surplus federal land for economic benefit to the local community.

The HLRA submitted an application to the Navy in January 2014, and the finer points of the deal are still being ironed out.

Some of those points were addressed in a meeting on Wednesday, including continuing concerns about groundwater contamination from both officials and residents.

The HLRA was named the official local “reuse” authority by the Department of Defense in 2012, an important recognition in the organization’s quest to utilize the massive area.

The HLRA invites the public’s questions and comments via email at mail@hlra.org or by phone at (215) 643-3131.

Residents may also sign up for email news alerts to stay informed on the progress of the Redevelopment Plan.

Map of the proposed redevelopment courtesy of the HLRA.