A proposed townhouse development will be a real upgrade on its street in central Bryn Mawr, Lower Merion Townships planning commission agrees, but it has given the developer a long list of items to explore to make it even better.

The properties in question include the Devon Apartments at 859 Old Lancaster Road, two older garden-apartment buildings containing 24 units, which were put up for sale by Main Line Realty Corp., an affiliate of Main Line Health in 2013. Developer JLPH Associates has also acquired neighboring properties at 843 and 847 Old Lancaster, and will consolidate the parcels into a lot of 1.9 acres. All of the structures, including two single-family houses built in the mid- to late-19th century, will be demolished.

Replacing them will be a total 28 units: 12 townhouses set back from the street, and, fronting Old Lancaster Road, a new type of dwelling in the township. The 16 units there will be in the form of quads or stacked twins, as Assistant Director of Planning Chris Leswing described them in a presentation on a tentative sketch plan for the site May 5. That is, along the streetscape, the structures will have the appearance of twin homes, but each half will contain two units, with living space on different levels of the three-story structures.

That unusual configuration led to one of the planners questions: Would there be a market for the new homes?

Sarah Peck, whose Progressive Housing Ventures is a partner in the project, said it could be a nice variety.

With options for elevators, the quads could appeal to older, empty-nesters, or, with the location close to Bryn Mawrs amenities, to first-time homebuyers. She said the quads would be priced in the mid-$400,000s; the somewhat larger townhouses in the low- to mid-$500,000s, in the bulls eye of what the market would like to see, a range appropriate for the neighborhood.

The project as proposed has another feature, nearly unheard-of in Lower Merion for a multifamily development, Leswing noted. In addition to two parking spaces per unit in the homes garages, the plan currently provides 10 guest parking spaces on-site. That led some on the commission to wonder if there isnt too much parking, robbing the development of green or recreational space, or another desirable feature larger porches that would reflect the character of the neighborhood.

Peck had also said an attraction of the homes would be the availability of transit in Bryn Mawr, but planners noted the tight space and multiple breaks along a central driveway for garages made the project seem dominated by parking. Some commission members want one of those items for study before the project comes back for the next stage of review to be eliminating some parking spaces.

Discussion of the plans tied in with another item on the agenda that night. Because the trend of several similar in-fill or redevelopment proposals has been to build to the building envelope, creating larger, boxy structures, Leswing said porches are seen as one feature that could soften their mass and make new construction more compatible with established neigborhoods.

Township commissioners last year adopted a zoning code amendment to permit porches to extend 10 feet into the front-yard setback in R-6A zoning districts, transitional areas near commercial districts. Now a further amendment, triggered both by some recent plans and a recommendation of a committee working toward writing a new Comprehensive Plan, is proposed to apply more broadly. Continued...

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Bryn Mawr townhouse plan raises unusual question: Is there too much parking?

Marta Lamigueiro Durn y Azcar La Liga de Los Porches 17 11 2013 1 00 m

By: Marta Lamigueiro

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Marta Lamigueiro Durn y Azcar La Liga de Los Porches 17 11 2013 1 00 m - Video

Azcar y Marta Lamigueiro Durn 1 00 m Liga de Los Porches 29 12 2013

By: Marta Lamigueiro

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Azcar y Marta Lamigueiro Durn 1 00 m Liga de Los Porches 29 12 2013 - Video

Headsgiving (Cover) - Porches.

By: Randy #39;s Got a Playdough Face

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Headsgiving (Cover) - Porches. - Video

Life in South Florida in the early 1900s was simpler, undiluted by the complexities of our high-tech, multitasking modern age.

It was also more miserable, in a steamy, torpid, sweat-soaked way.

Hard for us to imagine, but folks back then actually lived an air-conditioning-free existence in subtropical humidity, ignorant of how wretched they were by current standards.

"They were resigned to it," said Susan Gillis, curator for the Boca Raton Historical Society. "In the good old summertime, they put up with the way things were."

But old-time residents grabbed for all the cool they could, gamely seeking relief from the heat through their dress, home design and recreation. Fans, parasols, loose clothing and sleeping porches staved off sweat-inducing temperatures. Air conditioning was a breeze off the coast.

A new exhibit by the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, "Beating the Heat: Surviving Summer in South Florida," outlines how early residents adapted to the sweltering climate. It opened Friday at the New River Inn, 231 SW Second Ave., Fort Lauderdale, and runs through spring of 2015.

"People were actually able to live down here without air conditioning," said Chris Barfield, the historical society's curator. "You just suffer from it because that's what was expected."

The South Florida in the early 20th century was a tad cooler than today, Barfield said. There were more trees, and thus more shade. High-rise beach-side condos didn't block the ocean breeze and concrete and asphalt didn't pull in and radiate heat.

But folks still took steps to limit their misery.

Clothing, especially for women, was the first defense against the sultry summer. The ladies abandoned whalebone corsets in favor of lightweight skirts thin and perforated with lace. Their hems were hiked above the ankle gasp! to allow air flow upward. Gauzy underskirts and baggy bloomers provided coverage while still letting the air in.

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Before A/C: Parasols, porches and baggy bloomers in sultry SoFla heat | Photos

Published: Sunday, May 4, 2014 at 14:25 PM.

Sometimes we play for hours and dont know each others name.

This is the heart of bluegrassa music finely tuned in back yards and on front porches, among friends. Tedd Williams, a guitar player from Duluth, Minn., said thats his favorite part of festivals like the Five-String Fest at Elliott Family Farms in Lawndale, which ran Thursday through Sunday.

I usually end up at really big festivals. This place is gorgeous. Its small but its easy to access, he said. For me, these are all about sitting on the porch playing.

Beside Williams, as he sits on the porchs wooden floor, is his fellow Minnesota-native friend Tom Driessen, who said he came to the festival for the intramural sport of jamming.

Thats what they call their informal sessionsjamming.

Steve Potts, who just met Driessen at the first annual festival, said the festival brought a good mix of bands and shows.

Among some of the most well-known acts who played this weekend were Big Daddy Love, Tony Trischka Territory, the Travelin McCourys and Willie Watson from Old Crowe Medicine Show.

Saturday afternoon, the sound of 11 children singing Ill Fly Away danced across the farms hills and back to a group of bluegrass lovers sitting on the grass in front of the stage.

While the Sweet Potato Pie Kids strummed banjos, guitars, fiddles and mandolins, Roger Maye smiled to the music.

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Bluegrass, folk music lovers converge for Five-String Fest

Life in South Florida in the early 1900s was simpler, undiluted by the complexities of our high-tech, multitasking modern age.

It was also more miserable, in a steamy, torpid, sweat-soaked way.

Hard for us to imagine, but folks back then actually lived an air-conditioning-free existence in subtropical humidity, ignorant of how wretched they were by current standards.

"They were resigned to it," said Susan Gillis, curator for the Boca Raton Historical Society. "In the good old summertime, they put up with the way things were."

But old-time residents grabbed for all the cool they could, gamely seeking relief from the heat through their dress, home design and recreation. Fans, parasols, loose clothing and sleeping porches staved off sweat-inducing temperatures. Air conditioning was a breeze off the coast.

A new exhibit by the Fort Lauderdale Historical Society, "Beating the Heat: Surviving Summer in South Florida," outlines how early residents adapted to the sweltering climate. It opened Friday at the New River Inn, 231 SW Second Ave., Fort Lauderdale, and runs through spring of 2015.

"People were actually able to live down here without air conditioning," said Chris Barfield, the historical society's curator. "You just suffer from it because that's what was expected."

The South Florida in the early 20th century was a tad cooler than today, Barfield said. There were more trees, and thus more shade. High-rise beach-side condos didn't block the ocean breeze and concrete and asphalt didn't pull in and radiate heat.

But folks still took steps to limit their misery.

Clothing, especially for women, was the first defense against the sultry summer. The ladies abandoned whalebone corsets in favor of lightweight skirts thin and perforated with lace. Their hems were hiked above the ankle gasp! to allow air flow upward. Gauzy underskirts and baggy bloomers provided coverage while still letting the air in.

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Before A/C: parasols, porches and baggy bloomers needed for sultry SoFla summers

SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - A mail thief is caught on camera swiping packages from porches in Clairemont. Surveillance video shows her plain as day ripping people off. The victims are hoping the clear pictures will help police catch the crook.

New surveillance video shows the suspected mail thief driving from home to home in Clairemont -- stealing mail just about as fast as the postal service can drop it off.

On Wednesday morning, the young blonde woman pulled up to Josh McKeon's home and stole a package from his porch that contained a teething toy for his 8-month-old son.

The woman appears to be driving a newer model Ford Focus with Texas plates.

"Right there, right there. Same glasses, the ponytail, the blonde hair, the whole thing," Michael Gibson said.

After our original story aired on the mail thief -- the Gibson family, who also live in Clairemont, couldn't believe their eyes.

On April 15th, that same young blonde woman stole mail from their home -- not once, but twice.

"This day and age, you would think with social media she would get caught. It's totally ridiculous," Gibson said.

Now that both stories have aired, the e-mails and phone calls are pouring in with even more tips to help the Gibsons, the McKeons and the whole Clairemont neighborhood get this crook off the streets.

"I'm betting she's done this many times before, and I'm betting no one else has gotten any physical evidence. Hopefully now we can stop her and get her off the streets," McKeon said.

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Caught on camera: mail thief strikes in Clairemont

Berwick Windows are specialists in UPVC windows, doors, porches & conservatories with over 20 years of experience working in the trade. Providing a fast, reliable and personal service, we pride ourselves on the finish quality of our installations.

We are suppliers of energiKare, the new energy efficient glazing system form Pilkington - meaning we can now provide glazing solutions twice as efficient as standard double glazing.

We also can help with fascias and guttering work, and we are happy to give advice at any time - let our experience help you choose the products ideally suited to you and your home, we won't pressure you to choose something not right for you.

After installation we are still there for you! If anything goes wrong we are always available for swift and prompt repair work e.g. replacing failed units, emergency work etc.

Getting a new conservatory is a big commitment and we understand its a decision that requires a lot of thought! We would be happy to offer our expertise and advice in what will be best suited to your home.

We offer a huge range of conservatory designs, and with endless customisable finishing touches - we guarantee we can create the perfect conservatory for you.

Berwick Windows & Conservatories supply and fit Global Conservatories. A Global Conservatory guarantees high quality and performance of the highest standards, without making all the conservatories the same, while allowing each single building to speak the local language, adapting the style of the conservatory to its natural surroundings.

Global's versatility, and ability to produce such a vast range of conservatory styles from only one system has been one of the reasons that Global has been the fastest growing conservatory system on the market ever.

So if you are thinking of getting some work done, why not take advantage of our free quotation service?

It's all very well us saying we provide a great service - but you don't have to take our word for it, we have the accreditations to back it up! We are Fensa registered, and a member of both Fairtrades and Trustmark quality control groups.

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Berwick Windows & Conservatories

Car Collection Up for Sale ... But Without His Name 5/1/2014 12:20 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

Paul Walker's famous car collection is now up for sale, but TMZ has learned the estate will NOT use Paul's name in connection with the sale.

According to our sources, Walker's exotic car shop, Always Evolving, is working with the estate to organize the sale, which has already begun -- but we're told the estate felt Paul wouldn't want his name, or the infamy of his fatal crash, to be used to jack up prices.

According to our sources, about 30 cars will go up for sale ... including BMWs, Audis, a lot of Mustangs, and a few Porches.

We're told all vehicle sales will be private through high end brokers. Sorry, Walker fans ... these cars won't be popping up on AutoTrader.

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Paul Walker's Car Collection's For Sale ... But Without His Name