Lansdale’s West Main Street could be on the cusp of a significant transformation as plans for a mixed-use development at 817 W. Main St. are underway. Borough council members recently received an update on the proposal, which aims to inject new life into a long-vacant property in a key area of town. This development promises to bring a blend of commercial and residential spaces to the 800 block of West Main Street, potentially reshaping the local landscape.
The site in question, as highlighted by Director of Community Development Jason Van Dame, is easily recognizable as the empty lot adjacent to the popular “The Main Freeze” ice cream parlor. The developer envisions a mixed-use building featuring commercial establishments on the ground floor and residential units on the upper levels. This approach aligns with modern urban planning trends, seeking to create vibrant, walkable neighborhoods by integrating living and working spaces.
Strategically positioned between the ice cream shop at 813 West Main and the former Oasis restaurant location at 821, the 817 W. Main Street property encompasses over 15,000 square feet, with a notable 90 feet of frontage directly on West Main Street. Property records indicate that Keystone Management Investment LLC acquired the site in July 2023. Historically, the land has seen ownership changes, including a 2013 transfer to Anytime Laundry Inc. from 817 W. Main Street LLC, which had initially purchased it in 2005 from Charles Biehn, the former owner of Charles Cleaners. The Charles Cleaners laundromat, previously located at 815 West Main next door, was demolished back in 2015, marking a previous change in the streetscape.
Further details about the project are available in an online property listing, which describes the fully paved site stretching from Main Street to Mill Street. Intriguingly, the listing mentions that “architectural plans are available for a multifamily and retail commercial property,” and includes sketch plans illustrating a three-story building. These sketches depict a design featuring a prominent first-floor entrance framed by windows, with two additional windowed floors above, and a rear entrance designed to accommodate the property’s gentle slope.
Van Dame informed the council’s code committee on June 5th about an application submitted to the borough’s zoning hearing board, scheduled for a hearing on June 18th. Depending on the zoning board’s decisions, a formal land development plan submission could follow. The developer is reportedly seeking several variances for the project, including adjustments to the maximum building height, a reduction in the required number of off-street parking spaces, and allowances for parking within a common area and within the ten-foot buffer zone from adjacent property lines.
“It’s a pretty ambitious project, so we’ll see what the zoning hearing board determines there,” Van Dame commented, highlighting the scope of the development and the crucial role of the zoning board’s upcoming decision. During the meeting, resident Carole Farrell inquired about the specific height variance requested, to which Van Dame responded that the current plan proposes a building height of 42 feet, slightly exceeding the 40-foot limit stipulated by local code. Another resident, Alex Strickler, voiced concerns about the project’s viability, questioning whether the site might remain an empty lot if the proposal faces obstacles. Van Dame acknowledged the uncertainty but assured residents that he would provide updates during future code committee meetings as the project progresses through the approval process.
Lansdale borough council is scheduled to convene next on June 20th at 7 p.m., followed by the code committee meeting on July 3rd at 7:30 p.m., both at the borough municipal building located at 1 Vine St. For more comprehensive information, residents are encouraged to visit www.Lansdale.org.
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