The landscape along City Avenue, marking the border between Philadelphia and Lower Merion Township, is undergoing a significant transformation, writes Jake Blumgart for The Philadelphia Inquirer.  

What was once a congested, auto-oriented thoroughfare dominated by strip malls and office towers is now poised for a shift towards walkability and mixed-use development. 

Lower Merion Township, recognizing the need for change, has laid the groundwork by adjusting zoning codes to encourage density and mixed-use spaces.  

This shift has sparked a boom in residential development, with hundreds of units already built and more in the pipeline.  

The abundance of surface parking lots surrounding existing office buildings and shopping malls offers ample space for new construction. 

Leading the charge is the City Ave District, a nonprofit business development agency, which aims to modernize the corridor.  

Plans include repurposing former retail spaces into residential units, with Federal Realty Investment Trust leading the way with a project to build 217 units on the site of a former Lord & Taylor’s department store. 

Read more about the upcoming changes to Lower Merion’s City Avenue in The Philadelphia Inquirer.  

Top 10 BEST Suburbs to Live in Near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! | Montgomery County