Yardley Inn Renovations Will Elevate Eatery Five Feet

YARDLEY, PA —One of the borough's landmarks will undergo a makeover to bring it out of the flood plain, but work isn't expected to begin until early 2025.

The Yardley Inn will be renovated, expanded, and elevated five feet after the Yardley Borough Council unanimously approved plans for preliminary/final land development at its recent meeting.

Representatives called the renovations a "multi-million dollar" expansion with Attorney Mike Meginniss saying costs were estimated at $4 million in 2021 but might now be closer to $5 million.

The approval comes five years after renovations at the Yardley Inn on 82 E. Afton Ave. —which opened in 1979 —were first proposed, Meginniss said.

"People in the borough will still recognize it as the Inn when all is said and done," said Peter Golden, who will serve as the construction manager on the project.

With the renovations, the Yardley Inn —which sits on 3.32 acres and overlooks the Delaware River —would be closed for a year.

"We looked at trying to do it in phases, but will try to get it opened as quickly as possible," Golden said.

Renovations include moving the inn farther into the parking lot and moving it back on a new foundation at a higher elevation. There will also be a second-floor deck added to accommodate 35 to 50 people for outdoor dining, a lift from ground level up to the first floor, and an elevator from the first to the second floor, project representatives said.

Golden said the project includes new doors, windows, and bathrooms with the restaurant being brought up to ADA compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The square footage of the restaurant would increase from 5,000 square feet to 8,700 square feet. A sidewalk will be built along East Afton Avenue as well. Seating will increase slightly to 300.

Council President Caroline Thompson thanked everyone "for their diligence on this project."

The project went through numerous board meetings and received an extensive review from the planning commission.

"I want to say how much I appreciate you investing in the Yardley Inn so it can be maintained for many more generations," Councilman David Appelbaum said at the May 16 council meeting.

At the meeting earlier this month, Councilman Don Carlson said the renovations will allow the Yardley Inn to "maintain its historical value."

"The Yardley Inn floods over time, and its structural integrity was a little shaky," Carlson said. "This is really to save it then make it bigger and make money. We are doing this to give it another 100 years of life."

Following final land development approval, the Yardley Inn was also approved for an outdoor dining permit. There would be a temporary tent set up on the rear of the property with 76 seats available for outdoor dining.

The tent —a fixture during the pandemic —will remain for 18 months but then it will be removed permanently, representatives said.