January 2011

Neighbors and friends,

I write to wish you the best in the New Year and to ask you to support your local civic association—The Neighborhood Club of Bala Cynwyd.  For nearly 100 years, The Neighborhood Club has worked hard to maintain and improve the quality of life in our community.  We ask you to join and participate so that we can continue to satisfy our mission of preserving the residential character of the Bala Cynwyd community.

The Club’s Board is comprised solely of volunteers, but your support through a paid membership is essential to enable The Club to serve the community in a number of ways, including the following:

• Sponsoring community-building special events, such as the Independence Day Celebration;
• Mailing notices of important developments to all Bala Cynwyd residents, including updates on the rezoning of the City Avenue corridor;
• Taking an active role in support of open space and historic preservation; and
• Advocating for the R-6 train and other public transportation.

Your financial support, as well as your attendance at our meetings, is particularly critical now.  Two issues highlight this fact.  First, the Township Commissioners are considering an ordinance that will change the zoning of the City Avenue corridor and parts of Bala Village.  The Club has been extremely active during this process and has sent community-wide emails and mailings to provide updates regarding this process.  We continue to ask for your engagement on this issue, which will establish the zoning parameters for commercial development for the next several decades.  Second, and relatedly, the Township Planning Commission is considering a comprehensive plan that will address, among other things, historic preservation, architectural and design requirements for new construction and rebuilds, affordable housing, traffic throughout the Township, and economic development and revitalization of commercial areas.  Like the City Avenue rezoning ordinance, the Township’s comprehensive plan will shape and define our community not only for us today, but for the next generations of Bala Cynwyd residents.

Please support The Neighborhood Club and its efforts on behalf of our community.  Dues are payable by mail or online at www.BalaCynwyd.org.  The Neighborhood Club has a tiered membership structure:

Please note that Gold membership includes an ad in the July 4th Program booklet; Gold members and Benefactors will also receive recognition in our fall newsletter and on our website.

If you have comments, questions, or topics of interest for our monthly board meetings, please send them to me at TheNeighborhoodClub@BalaCynwyd.org.  The Club meets the second Tuesday of every month, usually at The Academy on the campus of the Bala Cynwyd Middle School on Bryn Mawr Avenue.  Please consider attending a meeting.  Also, if you would like to receive electronic copies of our newsletter and updates from The Club, please let me know. 

Again, thank you for your support!

With best regards,

John C. Grugan, President