Credit: Screenshot/Fox29.
There soon could be a Main Street going down the same runway that World War II planes did at the former Willow Grove Air Naval Base.
After more than a decade in planning, redevelopment of the former Willow Grove Naval Air Base is finally gaining momentum. Officials unveiled a map of the potential redevelopment for the site at Monday night's Horsham Township Council meeting.
If all goes as envisioned, the old runway once could soon become the heart of a new town square, complete with a Main Street.
“This site makes up nearly 10 percent of the township's land. We’ve long called it ‘the hole in the donut,’” said Michael Shinton, Executive Director of the Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority.
Shinton is leading the charge to transform the 862-acre site along Route 611 into a vibrant, mixed-use community. Plans were first discussed in 2012 that included 1,300 homes (both single-family and apartments) along with shops, parks, and walking trails.
The newly revealed plans feature the first layouts for streets, green spaces, and trail systems.
“There’s nothing like this available anywhere else in Montgomery County or even the surrounding five-county region,” Shinton said. “Its location near the Turnpike and major highways makes it incredibly valuable.”
Long-term plans include the creation of a town square, something the township has never had, and up to 7,000 new jobs over time.
A more detailed redevelopment plan is expected to be approved in November.
The base was shut down in 2011 under the military’s Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) program, but redevelopment has been delayed due to environmental concerns, including PFAS contamination in soil and groundwater.
While the Navy has been cleaning up the site for years, concerns remain over water quality, environmental cleanup, and just how long the timeline will take.
“They [the Navy] are making significant progress with environmental cleanup,” said Shinton. “We’re preparing now so we’re ready when the land becomes available.”
Cleanup will happen in phases, with land transferred to the township as it’s cleared. The area has already been rezoned for residential use, but the first phase of construction may still be five years out. A full build-out could take 20 to 30 years.
