Moorestown Township is ready to bring in 2023, and Mayor Nicole Gillespie shared what residents can look forward to.
“In terms of things that are in the works, with the Lenola Streetscape, that’s going to make that area look a lot more appealing and it make it safer for pedestrians,” she said. “We’ve also started working on upgrading what’s there. We want to make sure there’s businesses and other services that people want to walk to.”
Earlier this year, Vittorio Anepete, project manager for engineering firm McCormick Taylor, presented updates and upgrades on the project, which include a median that will act as a center left turn lane, narrow travel lanes to promote calm traffic, colored brick sidewalks and crosswalks, a signalized pedestrian crossing at New Albany Road, additional signage, trees, furniture and ornamental lighting.
“Design approval has all gone through for the Lenola Streetscape; we got additional grant money for that, so every bit of that from design through construction is being paid for by grants,” Gillespie said. “ … We expect that the shovels are going to go in the ground in early spring.”
The mayor looks forward to the project’s completion.
“I think as that streetscape gets installed and that gets improved, we’re going to start seeing new businesses there, and some sort of refurbishment of the old businesses and the old buildings that are currently there,” she noted. “I think in a couple of years, that commercial part of town is going to start to look and feel very different.”
Other projects in the works include a microbrewery and cannabis dispensary, new shops on Main Street and turning the former Lord & Taylor into an entertainment and dining experience for families.
“We just got the news that there’s a cannabis retailer that received their annual license,” Gillespie said. “They have space over in Moorestown Commons, which is over on Young Avenue … We expect to see them taking off pretty soon.”
Gillespie also highlighted some of the year’s accomplishments in the township.
“I would say one of the biggest things that happened is that we got the judgment of compliance and re-pose on our affordable housing plan,” she said. “Essentially what that means is that we are meeting our affordable housing obligation … The most important thing is that (it) protects us from what’s called a builder’s remedy lawsuit.”
Gillespie looks forward to seeing Moorestown grow in 2023 and working with community members.
“I think we’ll be continuing with listening sessions,” she said. “We’ll be continuing to do those, and we want to hear from residents about what’s on their mind, what are the things they think we need to address …
“We definitely want to hear from residents if there are issues going on that we need to know about.”
