Lower Moreland Township Awarded $500K Grant

After applying for a grant more than a year ago to help with revitalization costs, Lower Moreland Township was awarded the $500,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Grant.

In late December 2011, Senator Stewart J. Greenleaf presented the grant to the township, according to Assistant Township Manager Christopher Hoffman. The grant will help fund ongoing revitalization efforts as part of the township's Philmont Avenue Greenway and Development Plan.

Back in 2009, before Hoffman worked for the township, the township completed a feasibility study for a redevelopment plan along Philmont Avenue, he said. That area has been zoned as the Revitalization District.

Part of the plan for Philmont Avenue is to add sidewalks and multi-use trails, Hoffman said, "making the entire area walkable."

Now that the township has the appropriate funds, the planning process for implementation of the Philmont Avenue Greenway and Development Plan can continue.

"We actually just had the first meeting [about the next step] yesterday," Hoffman said. "The phase we are at now [is to] request bids for design work."

Because this process has not yet begun, an actual date for construction has not been set. However, Hoffman said that if everything goes smoothly, the design work could be approved mid-summer with construction beginning shortly after.