Politics & Government

Valet Parking, New Restaurants and Concert Area In the Works for Suburban Square Courtyard

Receiving permits for the planned development is the next step on the project timeline.

Plans for a major facelift at Ardmore's Suburban Square cleared the final stages of township approval last week, leaving only permits and design before the mall's owners, Kimco Realty, can start renovating the courtyard area outside of Macy's.

The plans, which were approved by the Board of Commissioners in early August and granted a certificate of appropriateness without delay by the Lower Merion Historical Commission on Aug. 31, call for a redesign of one of the mall's underutilized areas.

"We determined that ever since the Ardmore Farmers' Market relocated itself down the street (across from Trader Joe's), what used to be the highest grossing sales areas, in the courtyard, has become one of the lower generating sites," Kimco Vice President of Development Geoff Glazer told the Historical Commission.

Find out what's happening in Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"It doesn't get use to the level it should on the Main Line," Glazer said.

The new plans call for some general refurbishing of the area, as well as the more ambitious design of a new traffic circle featuring valet parking, two new restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating, as well as an open area for holding concerts, festivals and other live events.

Find out what's happening in Ardmore-Merion-Wynnewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The construction will be completed in phases, starting with a clean-up of the existing courtyard.

"The courtyard has aged, and we wanted to make some general updates and improvements," Glazer said. "The pavers are peeling; it just needs new life."

Glazer said the area will be preserved as an outdoor gathering place for people who want to sit and relax outdoors. New pavers will replace the old, and fountain area will be cleaned up.

After renovations, Kimco would like to alter traffic patterns on nearby St, James Place, which runs between Starbucks and Macy's, to create a traffic circle where cars could be pulled off to the side. "We asked, how do we take this courtyard and let it flow off into St. James Place?" Glazer said. Kimco hopes the new circle will solve some logistical traffic problems while also creating a new space that could be utilized for entertainment and other creative functions to draw in crowds.

"By generating a circle-like element, it allows us to create a place where performances will occur," Glazer said. "St. James is a private road and potentially on a weekend, we could close off the road and let people come to Suburban Square for concerts, art shows (or other activities). "

The courtyard itself would also get a traffic makeover, including a new delivery truck entrance on the side and an area for valet parking to service two new planned restaurants that will be added when space becomes available. Glazer would not say which restaurants would occupy the territory, although he said he has received several requests.

Historical Commission Chairman Christian Busch said, like the Board of Commissioners, he was supported of the plans. "The choice of neutral elements, along with what certainly seems to be the proper choice in terms of direction would in my opinion have a minimal impact on the existing resources," Busch told Kimco. The Historical Commission voted unanimously to grant a certificate of appropriateness for the project.

Building and Planning Director Robert Duncan said in an email this week that the developers only need to obtain permits from the township to complete the proposed work.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here