Greetings neighbors! I post today with such a sense of delight that I am not sure where to start. How about with the fact that at last night’s Council meeting, you couldn’t move at Borough Hall. It was crowded, uncomfortably warm; one could hardly hear what was being said over the PA; buttcha know what… I saw a group of strangers, neighbors, friends, and family pull together as a single voice to speak collectively on behalf of the community. It was great. We had attendees from the North Ward, the West, the Middle and East Wards all there. And within seconds of approach you could take one look at the crowd and know it was time to get down to business. The concept of Parkview Heights has been tabled for now. The Developers had decided just hours before the meeting to send in their lawyer and withdraw any planned discussion regarding Parkview Heights from the Council agenda.
HDC Mid- Atlantic says they want to have further talks with us in order to bring forth something that will make everyone happy. When their lawyer mentioned this at the podium, it was met by a lone voice saying “get out! That would make us happy.” And that is the truth. No high-rise on Friendship field period. Our Mayor even suggested discussing a way for the borough to purchase the land & expand the park. I think that is great. Do I foresee a new blog topic on community fundraising? I think I do. Let’s keep that space open.
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I cut my teeth on this topic. I wrote about it, knocked on doors and stopped people as they walked up the street to get them in the know. It produced results. Not only did I get the opportunity to get to know some of my neighbors that I otherwise probably would not have ever encountered, but I got the ultimate reward in public outreach… Getting to watch a community mobilize around a public concern & produce results.
It’s not over. I am sure we haven’t heard the last from HDC Mid-Atlantic; there will probably be another developer in the future with similar intentions and we will be there. I know this now. Great job Phoenixville, I’ll see you at Borough Hall.
