Lower Merion committee recommends approval of new wayfinding signs in Ardmore.

LOWER MERION – A committee has given the green light for new wayfinding signs in Ardmore.

During its recent meeting, Lower Merion’s Economic Development Committee recommended that the board of commissioners approve the request from the Downtown Ardmore District (formerly the Ardmore Initiative) to replace and expand wayfinding assets. The signs will consist of four free-standing wayfinding kiosks and one wall-mounted wayfinding sign.

Libby Horwitz, economic development specialist for Lower Merion Township, outlined some details of the new assets.

“So, the request is for five different signs,” Horwitz said. “One is a new freestanding kiosk. Three are going to be replacing existing signage, and then one is going to be a wall-mounted sign.”

Horwitz said they’ve reviewed the required township permits for the new signs.

The freestanding kiosk will require a highway permit. The freestanding kiosks replacing the three existing signs do not require permits, but the wall-mounted sign will require a commercial building permit.

“As far as the design of these, they are going to be inclusive of wayfinding maps and historical interpretive panels,” Horwitz said.

According to Horwitz, there will be no financial impact for the township. They are receiving grant funding from a local state-shared account, as well as 14 private sponsorships, and will be responsible for ongoing maintenance.

According to information in a staff memo to the commissioners, the five signs would feature wayfinding maps and historical information. The kiosks will include solar-powered lighting that highlights the Downtown Ardmore District logo. The wall-mounted sign would not be lit. Design features were selected to reflect the existing visual language of streetscape assets in the District.

“I just want to express my thanks to Alec Hersh [executive director of the Downtown Ardmore District] and everyone at the Downtown Ardmore District for the work they’re doing to beautify and improve downtown Ardmore. They’re doing an absolutely fantastic job above and beyond my expectations,” said Lower Merion Commissioner Craig Timberlake.

With the committee voting unanimously to recommend that the commissioners approve the request, it has been placed on the board’s consent agenda for its next meeting.