Last Saturday’s “Home for the Holidays” event was one of the most enjoyable days we have had here in town. It was wonderful to have our streets filled with adults and kids from Swarthmore and our neighboring communities.
All tagged 2021/12
‘Swarthmore Has History’
My grandfather built the Celia Building in the early 1920s. He had even imported marble from Italy for the foyer. After a long struggle with the town, he was finally able to build this apartment building with two businesses, one of which was his shoe store. Please remember what the town represents. Please remember what Swarthmore is. A condo building is not part of that representation.
‘A Stacked Gated Community’
If this project goes forward, we will regret all that we have lost, and how we have been changed for a long time to come. I urge the development team to re-envision this project so that it is in keeping with the aspirations that we share for ourselves and our community.
Historical Maps Can Tell a Story
It was interesting to read Guy Smith’s anecdote about the origin of the borough’s streets, specifically Swarthmore and Haverford avenues, in the article “New Community Center,” December 3 issue. The story posits that the town was originally laid out by Swarthmore College students. Because of the students’ hatred of Haverford, that street is one of the shortest in town and Swarthmore Avenue is one of the longest. Amusing, but surely apocryphal, as research of historic maps of Swarthmore will show.
It is important that we engage positively with developers so we can improve the built environment in ways that benefit Swarthmore. However, we also need to think deeply about what makes Swarthmore such a great place and how the borough can preserve that historical value.
I appreciate W.S. Cumby “going back to the drawing board” on their proposed condos. I now ask them to go back not to the drawing board but to the map. As others have pointed out, a project of this outlandish size seems better suited outside town center.
I strongly urge Swarthmore Borough Council to keep the values and physical beauty that makes Swarthmore what it is. I look forward to a fair, and positive decision—without Swarthmore becoming the Main Line of Delco. And I believe this is possible.