The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
HOORAY FOR MUFFINS
Owners Tina, Mark Foley honored; plans heard for development of business Center
BRIDGEPORT >> A nod to a recently shuttered borough institution and a glimpse at what could be the future were the overarching themes as Council convened its first regular meeting of the year.
Tuesday night’s session began, fittingly, with awards and community recognition for Brian and Tina Foley, proprietors of Muffins, the Bridgeport mainstay which they closed late last year to enjoy their well-earned retirement after four decades of serving some of the area’s most beloved and lovingly prepared daytime fare.
As the Foleys rose to accept their accolades, attendees in the packed borough hall chamber couldn’t resist exclaiming their favorite sandwiches and go-to breakfast menu items in appreciation.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to speak for everybody up here at the dais along with the residents of Bridgeport as a whole when I say thank you for your dedication to the community for 43 years,” said Council President Kyle Shenk before presenting the borough award.
“Since 1977, Muffins has been an institution in the Bridgeport community, not just a great little luncheonette but a place where friends and family met religiously, a place that exemplified the hometown atmosphere that Bridgeport has come to be known for.
“We will greatly miss seeing the ‘Open’ sign hanging at the corner of Green and Fourth streets. But this story does have a happy ending because it means that a family that has for decades brought comfort to us now gets to hang up their aprons and enjoy life on their terms, which hopefully means much more time on the beach, in the mountains, or whatever makes them happy.”
Following the recognition of the Foleys, council heard from representatives from PRDC Properties about a proposed project that could be a game-changer for the borough.
The Bridgeview development would consist of 338 townhomes, 250 apartments, 12 condominiums and 7,000 square feet of retail space on 35 acres of riverfront real estate where the Diamond State Fibre Factory, and later, the Continental Business Center,
once stood.
“This transformative development on the waterfront will bring new opportunities and energy to the Borough,” said CEO of PRDC Properties David Perlman in a press release announcing the plan. “We are pleased to partner with the Borough of Bridgeport and the Bridgeport community to work together to bring Bridgeview to fruition.”
Perlman joined PRDC attorney Anthony Harris and engineer Nate Burns in presenting the preliminary plans to Council.
They also fielded questions from council members and the public about flood concerns, parking, traffic, and the price points and square footage of the apartment units as they relate to the residents they will attract.
Langan engineer Keith Otis assured residents that the development’s floodway would be filled to bring it out of the floodplain in accordance with FEMA regulations.
Adequate parking, Burns said, is currently incorporated into the design contingent on a borough variance and the potential for traffic congestion could be mitigated by the project’s multiple points of entry, as well as its close proximity to public transportation.
The apartment building, Perlman said, will be a mix of studio, one and two-bedroom units with amenities that fit a more modern lifestyle.
“A lot of thought and a lot of process time goes into design work to make those units rentable so we have a successful project here,” he said. “And the apartment building is something that PRDC will be here and maintain and manage in the borough, so we’re not going anywhere.”
“We know when we look at adjoining community’s prices here will be comparable but not quite as high,” added Harris. “And that’s because we want to give people an opportunity to live in a great place, to have all the amenities we’re going to have here and be close to the things that are important to them without having to go to King of Prussia or be over in Conshohocken where it’s getting more crowded, and it’s getting too busy and it’s getting too pricey for people to live.”
If preliminary plans are approved, work could begin on the site in March.
The four-phase project is expected to take between four and five years to complete.