Often described as “Halfway to Everywhere,” the community of Merchantville owes its present-day charm to its settlement in the mid-19th century as a respite from the congestion of nearby Philadelphia.

Merchantville was primarily farmland until about 1851. Rumors of the coming railroad were the impetus for land acquisition. Completed in 1867, the Camden & Burlington Railroad turned travel to Philadelphia into a short four-mile ride. The wealthy merchants who gave our town its name brought urban insights to a rural, homey, farming community. About 400 of these newcomers built stately residences in what would become an upper-middle-class bedroom suburb. Most of the homes were built on an 80-foot-high, tree-lined ridge that became known as Maple Ave.

Important to the life of a community in the 19th century was a downtown that offered services and products for daily life. Merchantville’s business district provided coal, lumber, upholstery, dry goods, culture, a pool hall and a gentlemen’s club. Founded over a century ago, the Merchantville Women’s Club remains an active and integral component of the community.

Although the town was originally part of Stockton Township, the citizens of Merchantville petitioned the state to become an incorporated Borough, which became effective May 18, 1874.

A second growth spurt occurred in the automotive age when feasibility studies for the building of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge connecting southern New Jersey and Philadelphia were begun in 1914. After the First World War, lots were bought and development began anew. When the bridge opened in 1926, new streets on the southern side of Maple Avenue were cut through, individual homes built, and the Borough gradually developed to nearly its present population.

After I took office in 1991, Merchantville was recognized as part of the Main Street New Jersey program. However, besides improving our downtown business section, we also needed to address an abundance of vacant land, as well as poorly utilized areas. At that time, we were able to use New Jersey’s new redevelopment laws to our advantage to find fresh solutions to these persistent problems.

They say, “it takes a village;” but in our case,
it took heart, dedication, belief and the willingness
and staying power to make our dreams come true.

Realizing there was a big need for senior housing, more shops and parking to accommodate the growing number of folks who sought our town as a destination, we undertook an ambitious growth plan.

 In 2004, Chestnut Station, an “overnight success” project (that really took seven years of dreaming, planning and hard work to complete) was opened. A four-story, 74-unit  senior apartment building, this urban-infill project represented the start of the redevelopment of underutilized land in the historic downtown area.

As a cooperative effort between the Borough of Merchantville, Barton & Associates Architects/Planners, and Conifer Realty, LLC, Chestnut Station provides independent living in the heart of the central business district, thus improving vehicular and pedestrian circulation to our shops and services, thus embodying “Smart Growth” at its best. Many older folks downsizing from their large homes here in town still want to be part of our charming community. And now these seniors are happily enjoying this new-found “station” in their lives.

Already approved, but still to be built, are 10 townhouses that would face Chestnut Station.
On the Drawing Board As reported in The Merchantville Beacon, there are many redevelopment projects in the conceptual phase awaiting approval by the Planning Board, including Maple/Chapel Avenue and 19-21 South Centre Street.

A lovely gazebo welcome’s visitors and residents alike.

Also in the works is the Town Centre East Redevelopment Project, a mixed-use redevelopment effort on a six-acre parcel that will contain almost 287 much-needed parking spaces, 20,000 square feet of retail and 93 luxury condominiums.

As our town has grown and reinvented itself, many activities now take place downtown, such as our Annual Easter Egg Hunt, “It’s All Art” Juried Fine Ants & Craft Fair, 131st Downtown Street Fair Birthday Celebration, Spring Home & Garden Tour, Classic Car Show and Sock Hop, Wellwood Park concerts, flea markets, townwide yard sales, Handcrafts Festival/5K Run, Safe Halloween Promotion, Gala (our “Town Prom”), Summer Sidewalk Sales and Holiday Parade. This year the antique car show drew over 750 classic cars and over 7,000 visitors (almost double our population!). See our Web site for the latest happenings -- www.merchantvillenj.com.

Our Merchantville Business and Professional Association, an organization of local business persons, professionals and community members, is dedicated to the effort of promoting and supporting strong retail and professional commerce within all of the business districts in the Borough of Merchantville. We are also in the process of developing a Business Improvement District.

With hearty thanks to those who’ve worked closely with me on each and every new venture over the years, we look forward to a bright future.

Earth Tones is one of the many small shops that attract out of town guests and give the Merchantville Victorian charm.

Article in November 2005, New Jersey Municipalities