Bensalem Township and economic development officials are
scheduled to unveil a bold new plan for 675 acres fronting the Delaware River.
An event is set for Oct. 2 in which officials will
provide details on a plan called: River Renaissance in New Bensalem. Only an
overview of what will be discussed has been disclosed at this time.
The River Renaissance involves preserving the natural
infrastructure that the river provides while incorporating recreational,
housing, retail and other development in an area that has been mostly dedicated
to industrial uses for decades. Pedestrian and bicycle paths, dense, mixed-use
development that provides a variety of housing at a range of prices, as well as
having it all within walking distance of a train station are among the goals of
the plan.
Talk of revitalizing the riverfront in this gritty
industrial Bucks County town is not new and has been discussed, analyzed and
studied for the last 20 years. However, the latest in the so-called River
Renaissance has been in the works since April 2014 when a renewed effort was
initiated.
The revitalization would be the first of its kind in
Bucks and would also include creating a River Renaissance District bounded by
I-95 and the Delaware River, extending north from Station Avenue to Street
Road. As part of the plan, SEPTA’s Cornwells Heights and Eddington stations
would be improved, new roads paved, a town center developed with buildings that
have residential space on top floors and retail as well as restaurants on the
bottom floor.
“We want the property owners in this area of the township
to know that this is a tremendous opportunity both for them and for the
community as a whole,” said Matt Takita, Bensalem’s director of building and
planning.
Some daring developers are already trying to seize on the
waterfront. Two years ago, Mignatti Cos. began construction on the first phase of a $300 million
residential community on 45 acres fronting the Delaware.
Source: Philadelphia
Business Journal
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