Developers Meet with Community Tonight to Discuss Apartment Complex Proposed for 900 Sandy Street

Representatives from Fort Washington-based Westrum Development Company will meet with the community tonight at 7 p.m. at Evangel Assembly of God Church, 810 E. Marshall Street, to discuss the developer's plans for a new luxury apartment complex proposed for 900 Sandy Street.

The 149-unit, four-story luxury apartment building with an underground parking garage and additional parking lot is being proposed for a 3.5 acres plot right next to recently re-occupied 770 Sandy Street. Westrum reportedly bought the site from P.H. Sentry Associates for $115,000 back in July.

Westrum has already presented plans for the development to Norristown Municipal Council on several occasions to request zoning variances need for the project.

David Carlisle, a resident of the 700 block of Sandy Street, has circulated a petition aimed at stopping the development, claiming that the current infrastructure would not be able to handle the increased traffic flow and that the development would disrupt the tranquility of the neighborhood.

"There is only one way in up Sandy Street from Tremont Street," Carlisle told The Times Herald. "It is a narrow part of the street. There have been a number of near misses. Before it was a cul-de-sac, it was a speedway where people tried to beat the traffic light."

Carlisle sent neighbors a letter encouraging them to join him at tonight's meeting to oppose the development.

"The proposal does not make sense for the entire municipality," Carlisle wrote.

Carlisle and other residents opposing the development are expected to voice their opinions at tonight's meeting.