According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, the term “renaissance” is defined as a “rebirth” or “revival.” In Bensalem Township, this is exactly what’s slated to happen along the Delaware Riverfront.
Two years ago, Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo and the township’s council launched the “River Renaissance Project,” which aims to fully redevelop the area, transforming it into a haven for locals to live, work and enjoy the picturesque scenery.
Recently, it was announced by Sen. Tommy Tomlinson that Bensalem was awarded a $500,000 Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s Office of the Budget.
The grant, which DiGirolamo said comes on the heels of the $1 million already secured by the township for the project, will be utilized for the creation of what’s temporarily being called “Renaissance Road.”
“It’s a new road into the River Renaissance area off of Street Road,” he said, explaining how this addition is expected to become the main arterial feeder for that section of the township. “It’ll go down the middle of the developing area that we’re doing. We’re revitalizing down there at the riverfront, and this is on the State Road side. It’ll be between 95 and State Road.”
Funding from the RACP grant will also be used to create the basic spine of a new Waterfront Multimodal Infrastructure system composed of enhancements to provide better connections to the SEPTA/Amtrak Cornwell Heights Station and an extension of the national East Coast Greenway. It will also help to fill in a critical gap in the regional and national bicycle network and provide multimodal access to residents.
According to DiGirolamo, the township is currently seeking retail businesses, technology companies and other organizations that are interested in inhabiting the area.
“Now we can start surveying and start reality. We’re going to separate parts for now where people can look to start to develop,” he said. “It’s a mixed-use area, 700 acres, where people can live, work, play. Everything in that area. So this gives us the start to put this road in, to where we can get some of the trucks off of State Road for now. And then hopefully it develops over the years. It’ll be a working community without total industrialism. That’s what we’re proposing for that whole area.”
The first phase of the “River Renaissance Project” was the construction of the Waterside townhomes, located at 2375 State Road. To date, 120 homes have been built out of the anticipated 600.
DiGirolamo said the completion date for the “River Renaissance Project” is still to be determined, but he hopes to get the new road underway in 2020.
“The Renaissance area is very important to me. I was born and raised on the Delaware River,” he said, reminiscing on the many years spent on his father’s local farm. “I look forward to the improvements of State Road and that whole area there. And the river. The river is so important if it’s utilized in the right way.”
The RACP grant is a state program administered for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historical improvement projects. Bensalem Township was one of three organizations to receive funding this summer.
The others were the Northampton Township Police Department for its new headquarters in Richboro, and the YMCA of Bucks County for the renovation of its Fairless Hills branch and expansion of programming.
“I’m pleased that local organizations, municipalities and residents will benefit from this critical state funding. These funds will help to expand recreation opportunities, improve public safety and showcase our area’s riverfront,” Tomlinson said. “All of these will promote economic development and make this area a better place to live, work and raise a family.”
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
