The roads begin to take shape and the first cluster of Townhomes (one cluster of three) and Carriage homes (one cluster of two)….this is 42 acres that is to hold 250 senior living, 4 story building, 32 Carriage homes and 78 Townhomes
Read MoreAerial view of the castle surrounded by the chapel and historical stone building behind. Both eventually torn down.
Read Morehttps://www.montgomerynews.com/amblergazette/news/shovels-hit-the-ground-at-former-st-mary-s-villa-in-upper-dublin/article_9c4b2bca-3ead-11e9-b36d-e3c0e87134e7.html
https://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2019/01/29/ambler-st-marys-villa-sage-mattison-goldenberg.html
I am extremely disappointed and quite frankly sad to report that the UD board of commissioners voted to pass the "resolution granting preliminary and final land development plans for the Mattison Estate”. It was a 6-1 vote, with Liz Ferry, being the lone no vote. What is so bad is that a> community was not made aware of this agenda item in advance b> there are still many conditions not fulfilled c> there is not a cross agreement among the FIVE different entities that will own this property. In a sense the process just almost seems illegal…..This project was bad at the start and it has changed and morphed all for the worse and the board of commissions seem to have little regard for doing the right thing for our community, this property and the neighbors. Developers calling the shots and it appears we are letting them. This development will not come before the board of commissioners again...............the developer is off and running....there should be meetings with various committees but that is it....done! So sad!
I will continue to keep you informed as I hear of meetings and watch the development and as its ensuing problems occur! Please keep up the fight, let your commissioners know how you feel, write an op-ed and spread the word!!
See link to the Ambler Gazette Article Dated 1/22/14:
http://www.montgomerynews.com/amblergazette/news/st-mary-s-villa-plan-too-dense-too-much-traffic/article_0ffbf693-4bef-5a07-8ee5-a34409a13903.html
Lindenwold Estate is now on the Pennsylvania At Risk list! This is a list of Pennsylvania's 8 most endangered historic resources. Below, I have provided the description of Lindenwold Estate as taken from their website.
Lindenwold, 701 S. Bethlehem Pike, (Ambler) Upper Dublin Township, Montgomery County
THREAT: Historic Character Compromised by Development
Lindenwold is currently under an agreement of sale to a development team that hopes to establish a residential community on this 45 acre estate.
The developer believes that by preserving "the castle,” the main entrance, two gate houses, a walking path, sunken garden, lake and 19 acres of open space, they are doing the right thing. But because the character-defining landscape will be negatively impacted by the removal of more than 1500 mature trees, regrading of the site, and the construction of approximately 350 housing units and a parking garage, the community is not satisfied.
The essential historic character of the property, built by Dr. Richard V. Mattison, "the man who built Ambler," will not be preserved by the proposed intensive development. To preserve this historic estate, alternative development plans should be explored.
