Council Agenda - Lafayette Street Extension Presentation

For those willing to brave the cold tonight, there's going to be a presentation about the Lafayette Street Extension Project by Montco Planning at the Council Workshop, 6:30 pm at Municipal Hall. The whole agenda can be read at this link.

Here are some other highlights:

1. The developers of 1 West Main (the old bank building at Main and Swede) are seeking approval for modifications to their original conditional use agreement. The proposed modifications are of course NOT listed on the agenda because that might actually inform the public prior to the meeting. This will be voted on.

2. Council will vote on authorization to execute the Cooperation Agreement for the Redevelopment Authority of Montgomery County. The RACP aids in the provision of affordable housing through applications to state and federal sources.

3. Discussion and possible action regarding bid to repair the Public Works roof. (I assume this is where our PW vehicles are stored.)

4. Discussion on a policy for the use of Municipal Hall facility. I hope this will finally exclude use by one political party or the other to use our hall for partisan purposes. I don't think this has happened lately, but not too long ago certain candidates were having campaign meetings there.

Our Public Square

5. Discussion on the Montgomery County Main Street Campus Project. This sounds as if Montco Community College is moving to N-town, which would be awesome, but I think it refers instead to the courthouse redevelopment. My only concern here is that the public square doesn't shrink or lose what greenness it has left. One of the worse things previous courthouse developments did was to create all those cold concrete spaces that no one wants to use. I hope the remaining trees and grass can stay. And that anything built along Main Street is pedestrian friendly and welcoming, eliminating the no-man zone there now.

Our Public Square--Always Open

Yesterday I heard someone mention "the courthouse lawn." I assume the person meant our Public Square. That piece of land, its name, and its concept have been important to Norristown for 229 years. It's our oldest historical landmark.

In 1784, Montgomery County was formed and the Town of Norris was designated as the county seat. Despite its name, Norris was an unincorporated village of about 100 people on 28 acres. The photo shows the original street layout and plan for the courthouse. It also designates a public square, with the words "To remain open forever."

Public Squares, or Town Greens, were common at the time. Residents would have kept chickens, and possibly a cow or goats, in their backyards, but in town, extra grazing land was always needed. Also, a place was needed to hold market days, when farmers brought their goods into town. And villages recognized the need for a community gathering place, for harvest and May Day festivals, and in America, Independence Day celebrations. In a county seat, too, those with an hour's business at the courthouse would appreciate a place to stake and graze their horses without having to seek out a livery stable.

Our Public Square in 1784 would have been a simple lawn, mowed only by sheep or goats. In 1812, when Norristown incorporated as a borough and its boundaries were expanded to include over 500 acres, our founders still needed the Public Square, for most of the same reasons. They kept the pledge to keep it "open forever." It was Norristown's first park.

During the 19th century, monuments, walks and trees were added to the square, as well as raised paving around the edges, to prevent erosion. Our Square became a favorite landscape for painters. Many local postcards of the 1890s and early 1900s featured it. Other monuments, steps and railings were added during the 20th century.

That's why we have a Public Square, and why, in theory, we will ALWAYS have a Public Square. So don't simply call it "the courthouse lawn." It belongs to the "public"--the people of Norristown and Montgomery County--and will "remain open forever."