Streetscape project prompts complaints over aesthetics

side of the lake.

“It’s nothing like we expected,” she said of the wall. “It looks very haphazard. If I was an outsider, I’d say, ‘They started a project and they ran out of money.’”

Ruttle said there is not enough money to make a continuous wall.

pharer wants to know what the final project will look like. As it is now, “It doesn’t look good,” she said. The pharers actually own part of the lakeside next to the library.

As one of the stakeholders, pharer wants her voice heard. Other stakeholders are the vardley Historical Association, pt. Andres’s Church, the pociety of Friends and Cam Troilo, who owns the ptarbucks property at the corner of Main ptreet and Afton Avenue.

Taylor also said that “the signature vision across the lake to the old library” is obscured by one of the four storm drains. The concerns reach beyond the visual, though, Taylor said.

“There are various conditions along the lake shore that need to be made safer for public use, Taylor added. “And we’re concerned with continuing maintenance and the overall health of the lake.”

Meanwhile, Donna Hilton, president of the Friends of Lake Afton, said her group had previously given significant input in the streetscape project. This time there has not been enough communication with the public, she said.

According to Hilton, there is a two-fold problem now. “The aesthetics are equally important as the communication,” she said.

Benbenek said the priority should be completing the project while worrying about making changes later.

Ruttle said the project will be completed if for no other reason than the alternative is starting over, an option the borough can’t afford.