I'd love to hear your thoughts on how this might affect your own home.

It's difficult for me to put myself in your shoes. I have no young children and rent my home. My concerns are more related to traffic on the south side of the tracks. King Street is already a mess at the rush hours.
I'm looking forward to the possibility of some new and fun retail at this site. I'm not so excited about 290 apartments and the related impact to traffic. I'll enjoy walking up the street to shop at Kimberton Whole Foods or have a bite at The Whip. I won't, however, enjoy trying to cross the street.

I would feel angry and upset if this went up so close to my house and looked into my backyard. I am all for progress in Malvern, but I feel bad that this will be such a negative for the people who live on East Broad Street. I'm still trying to imagine how it will look when it's done, and I have no idea-- will there be anything screening the windows? What options are there now? Can some sort of barrier be planted (like tall bamboo) that would grow quickly and not interfere with the trains? I feel bad for not being more informed about the project-- I figured because it was NIMBY (not in my backyard) I didn't have to worry about it so much-- but now that it's affecting people that I care about who live in East Broad Street, I feel bad that I wasn't more informed and involved. I will definitely pay more attention to new building projects-- because even if it doesn't affect me personally, when you live in a small town like Malvern, it will end up affecting others. Good luck, Kristin, and I hope some solutions can be worked out.

I agree John. I have been this projects biggest supporter. We are VERY excited to walk to the new restaurants and shops. But the fact that a two-story parking garage with windows was built 180 feet from our house, when we were told it would just be a large wall. It doesn't seem like the residents on the "other side of the tracks" were considered at all. If you want to look at me and my kids in our PJS, eating popcorn and watching a movie in our family room, just park your car on the second level and you'll have a great view. Louvers on the windows and giant arborvitae on their side would certainly help. Hopefully they will consider it. We're attending a borough council meeting next Tuesday to seek their advice. Join us.

Thank you for posting this thoughtful article. We live at the bottom of Old Lincoln Highway in full view of the new construction at the intersection of Rt. 30. I fight traffic and congestion 5 days a week on Bridge and King Sts trying to get to General Wayne Elementary School. While we are excited about the prospect of new shopping, dining, job opportunities, and tax revenue --- all of this construction, tearing down of healthy trees, and (what seems to be) the complete disregard of the impact to residents' homes is concerning. While I live in a development where we continuously push the Association to landscape and "hide" the construction, residents on Broad St don't have that option. I am shocked to see the picture of the parking garage in your backyard. It's taken your backyard oasis and turned it into a public park, where the safety and the privacy of your family is being jeopardized. I sincerely hope that Malvern Borough and the developers take your concerns to heart and do the right thing for the residents. Planting some trees and bushes will add value in so many ways. Good luck!!!

Kristen, it would appear you have the ear and support of some of our neighbors. Lets hope and pray that the borough, for once, provides viable and acceptable (and realistic) options for you.

One more thing. I'd like to make it clear that I'm a fan of the developer and his vision and commitment to Malvern. He lives and works here just like the rest of us. It's the borough council which concerns me. Why is this project so big? Why didn't the borough look for a smaller footprint with fewer apartments (do we really, truly need 290?...no) better parking and some open space/park area with more trees. To me that would have been a far more visually appealing and appropriate project.

I was at some of those meetings and my understanding was that the borough did not want it this large, but if the developer could not build it this big his profit would not be lucrative enough to move forward. I think everyone was scared of what else, or who else, would develop on this spot if they didn't move forward with the re-zoning demands of the developer, so they agreed. Again, that's just my understanding of it.

This is very upsetting for the residents. I have not been following the project that closely but just from talking with friends on that street it was my understanding that there would be no windows on that side of the building. I completely understand the residents concerns and would not be happy with this situation at all. To lose this comfort in your own home that you work so hard for everyday is truly upsetting. Hopefully you can voice your concerns to the developer and have them be taken into serious consideration to fix this situation.

Your concerns are understandable and requesting some sort of privacy barrier is reasonable. The developer should understand that "Good fences -- or in the case plantings or louvers -- make good neighbors." Good luck!

Most projects of this type and magnitude always seem to look good and prosperous on paper. Unfortunately, once construction begins vision and reality rarely seem to align themselves. You've got the same developer working on the King and the Old Lincoln Highway projects. Both of which are located at major entry and exit points of Malvern. This, in addition to the added potential for new construction at Downtown Worthington will severely impact traffic flow in and around this area. The potential benefit to economic growth in this community will most certainly be undermined by the deterrence of people coming in and out of the area who don't want to face the traffic and congestion. Moving here 17 years ago, what made Malvern appealing was the quaintness and the old town warmth of the community. Something that will definitely diminish once these projects are up and running. Although I believe in the benefit of bringing new business into the community, those placed in positions of political leadership must be more discerning in the decisions being made. These buildings will be here to stay thus forcing those of us who have made our homes here to live with them. When you talk to many of the retailers and along King Street into the borough, as well as realtors, very few believe that these projects will increase home values in the area.

Check out the photo I just posted on this article this morning. More windows were added this morning. These have a direct view into our neighbors yard who have two young girls. I am assuming these are hallway windows near the elevator, which 290+ people will walk by as they wait for the elevator. Playing in the sprinkler in our yards is no longer an option.

If they continue with similar hallway windows on each floor, we will have four stories of windows looking down at us.

We moved to East Broad St in 2009 and were thrilled that we had found a place in Malvern Borough. This street was a little haven off the main drag. It’s pretty much a quiet street, lots of kids, close to a cute little park and walkable to the town shops and the train. It was remarkably private in our yard for our two kids. When I first heard of the King St project, I was pregnant with our third child. I imagined trying to put the baby to sleep during the day to the sound of construction. I imagined playing with the kids in the yard looking at a four-story wall. A wall so big that is blocks the sun to our yard. I imagined the increase in traffic, making it difficult to walk the three blocks to town with my children. I wanted to sell. So, we did try to sell our house and we were unsuccessful. Why? One of the reasons, we were told was people didn’t know what to expect with the project across the way. Great, just what I feared, too. I never would have bought this house if I knew about this project back in 2009.

It makes me sad because I love the location of our house, the street and the people on it. Our neighbors are all wonderful people, but my kids won’t even play in their own yard now because the construction is too loud for them (and yes, I understand the construction will disappear). In its place, however, there is a massive building with windows looking directly into our yard. (We were told by people, who came onto our property that there would be no windows facing our houses.) They lied to our faces, which I pretty much expected them to do. Why would they tell us, “We are going to make a big profit, but you? You’re screwed!” I’ve ranted a bit and do apologize, but our homes are our sanctuaries and I feel like this project has ruined the peace I once found on this street. We are stuck here for the time being and it makes me very sad to say that my worst nightmare has come true.

Perhaps they are planning the promised wall next? They MUST be! Maybe Pete Kennedy can contact Eli Kahn and get a response from him to directly address your concerns. I would think that a builder who is making his own home in this community wouldn’t just flat out lie to his neighbors like that. That would be pretty shady. So the wall is most likely in the works.

I think that once the project is complete, with the privacy concerns addressed and taken care of, the housing values will not decrease. I think people are more likely to be OK with something once it is already there. I’ve said of my location – “Boy I’d be pretty annoyed if they went and built a shopping center across the street from my house if it wasn’t there already.” But when we moved into our house, the shopping center was already there and I love our location and the convenience. Malvern is a great place to live for its small town feel and location, location, location! I can’t wait to walk or bike down to Whole Foods. Wouldn’t a bike shop be sweet? Notice I didn’t say drive. I am not looking forward to that traffic, but if you live in town, you can walk anywhere.

Kristin, I really hope that the builder is doing the right thing.

Good points Jackie. You are right, once it is there - it is there. And with our privacy back hopefully our home value won't decrease, because it will be within walking distance to so much more. But they won't be able to block five stories of windows and I doubt anyone involved in the development who has children would chose to buy our homes for themselves after this is complete (with 24/7 illumination, lack of privacy, and it also blocks the morning sun). This project has the potential to turn Malvern into everything we had hoped it would be when we bought here, we just didn't expect it to be so very intrusive on our own homes. To be clear and not to throw anyone under the bus, it was not Eli who met with us in the alley. I believe it was the landscape architect. And Dave Mandes has always called me back to discuss my concerns, which we greatly appreciate. We are excited as well about the walkability of our town. I am in the middle of working on a project to have an artist paint a community-funded mural on the side of Malvern Pizza, for no other reason than because I love this town. I am personally a part of the improvements in our greater neighborhood, especially with our parks - we want to stay here. We'd just like to feel safe playing in our yard (sometimes in superhero underpants).

Update: A biofiltration bed is planned for the back of the parking garage area so no trees can be planted there and it's also too tight a space between the building and the tracks. I am calling David Della Porta to ask for a rendering/plan for the back of the building so we all know where the windows will be places in relation to our properties.

one more update: I spoke with David Della Porta, very nice man, who did confirm that the entire back of the building will be apartment windows. We are devastated, but hoping to work with him on something for more privacy. We can't possibly block five stories of windows peering at our yard. They are working to make the back of the building attractive so that those who ride the train find it appealing and that neighbors are happy with it as well. It is what it is and the only thing we can do is make a plan to move forward and figure out a way to build in more privacy or sell.

I'm sure this has been gone over a millions times, but why the need for more apartments?

You've been pwn'd. Malvern is now the Main Line's Section 8.

Noooo, I disagree, We love Malvern. There are lots of awesome things happening here - hardly section 8. And we support this project overall, but are just disappointed with our view of it as home owners. But your comment was funny.
It became all apartments instead of the initially proposed mix of condos and rentals after the market down turn. People stopped buying I guess??? I forget the developers explanation exactly. "The residential space will be “for rent only at this time,” Kahn said. “Financing for condominiums is tough,” he said, although there was a possibility that he could “convert and sell later.” The apartments will be mostly one- and two-bedroom arrangements for empty-nesters and young professionals as the targeted market. Amenities such as courtyard areas, a fitness center and meeting rooms are included in the plan, Kahn said."
http://www.dailylocal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120318/news01/120319530&template=printart

Kristin - I'd start looking into planting some arborvitae if I were you. The right kind can get to 30+ feet tall, so that'll help with your privacy. They are not as expensive as trees. As evergreens they'll be there year round too.

I like the way you think Rich and that's exactly what we are talking about with neighbors. Green giant arborvitae will help.

Kristin- you have our sympathy on your backyard, Trying to get a mental picture of the final product, the long windows in the current photos- thats parking garage right? Could they put Glass Block in those windows that would light the interior but not allow a view out of the windows? Metal louvers would be better to block the light. But then you write about the apt. windows, those will be above the garage another 3 floors? Glass blk would not be acceptable to the renter. Arborvitae--they can't get tall enough for the upper floors. For tree screening of a monster, you would have had to plant them 20 years ago--and then when the train herbicide sprayer comes along, there goes the foliage. Your dedication to Malvern is wonderful --we hope Kahn himself will get involved and do everything he can to make this less awful.

We are a mix of emotions. I go back forth by the hour - to stay or sell, stay or sell? Check out the latest photo I posted. This photo was taken minutes ago at 10:30 am in December. Notice the bottom wire of the top train electrical lines - that is where we estimate the final floor will reach, plus likely an addition 10-15 feet of roofline above that. We will not see the sun every morning until 10:30 am. The sun will not shine into the kids windows at 7 am to wake them, it will no longer warm our house in the morning, it will not appear until after 10 am!
They cannot block the parking garage "openings." They are there for ventilation. The construction manager says they will have slates, but others have said they will remain open - we are hoping to get some clarity on Tuesday night. But yes, you are correct, there will be three more stories of apartment windows on top of the two stories of cement parking garage that you see in the photos now. We are downhill from this project so it's monsterous, ginormous, and intrusive from our view. There is a grass alley behind our house that we cleaned up and opened all by ourselves (it was a trash heap in 2005) as a right-of-way with about 45 feet of space between the fenceline and the tracks, but it needs to remain open.
Even if we planted a few $1,000, 20 foot giant arborvitae right now, someone will still be overlooking our yard as their view of the world from their apartment window.

Kristin, as a Professional Realtor and a resident, my advice would be to watch what and where you post. The outside world now has access to these posts and that will surely impact your value. Keep it positive and work it out with Eli and or Shade Tree Commission, and for heaven sakes do not continue to post negative feedback about your own home. The sun is lower on the horizon this time of year anyway. You will have plenty of sune after the spring solstice:-) I think the fact that your home backs up to train tracks has more of impact on the value of your home than the project does. Stop overestimating the time and energy that people have to want to watch you and your children play in the backyard. People do not have this kind of luxury time in todays world. If they did, they would most likely be enjoying their own outside interests. Keep positive and stay put. We are going to be a great town.

Thanks Jack, I am okay with posting in a public forum about the intrusive issues of this project and the negative affect it is having on our home, the value of our home, and our neighbors homes. Reading this post won't be as damaging as seeing it in person if we choose to sell. We can't hide it. We will loose 3 hours of sunlight in the morning - that is a big deal for us per the layout of our home. People may not want to watch us, at least I hope not, but they will also have no choice when they look out their window. Any privacy we once had is lost. If you have young children, I am sure you can understand.
We are excited for town. The train tracks were here when we bought the home, but now a 5 story apartment building overlooks our yard as well - we'll call you when we're ready to sell.

I also know many residents who live on the other side who think traffic and parking will decrease the value of their home and the happiness that they have living with their families on a quiet street in a small town.

All understood. I'm hoping that the outside world will start to view Malvern as a nice place to visit but not travel through during peak traffic times. Perhaps that will start to drive down "short cut" patterns. I still think you should stay put and see what the omlet looks like after they are finished breaking the eggs:-) We need people that want to live and raise a family here. That's what drives up property values along with our great schools. Thank you for thinking of me if you decide to sell, but I want you to stay put unless you have outgrown your home.

You don't live on a farm. You live in a semi urban area. Get over it. Move on!

LOL Are you raising young children in a home in which developers are building a five story building 180 feet from your back door with apartment windows in full view of the yards of 10 little children on the same half block? Didn't think so. Empathy is nice quality to have JerryS. Malvern was a small town.
For those who might happen upon this public post when googling east broad street if our house is for sale this spring here are the positive aspects of our neighborhood: 2 blocks from the train, 2 blocks from the center of town, 1 block to a public park/playground, fantastic school district, a few minutes to the new playground at Greentree Park and all parks in town, 2 minutes from Wegmans and Target, soon to be accessible Chester Valley Trail, etc, etc, etc. Malvern is a great town, it's just no longer the small town we all bought into - from our downhill view of it anyway.

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Thanks Pete. I read it unfortunately.

I think since Mr. Kahn is a good Industrial and Business Park Builder. I believe (hopefully) that he has his best intentions for the Borough. The project was approved and it is now up to the Borough and Mr. Kahn to make sure it does not disrupt the "locals" ambiance. Thirty years ago growing up in Newtown Sq I looked at Malvern as an industrial pit with Victorian large homes converted into apts and rooming houses. Now it's down sized the multi occupancy in the homes ( by permit). We had an ugly ugly set up where he's building. No matter it's progress. We have not been as rural ( dear to my heart) for years. It's a hot spot between Corporate Parks on rt 29 and a thruway to Newtown Sq. Look we cannot stop redevelopment- if its for sale -it's for sale. If the Borough doesn't keep it's promise to look out for us- we vote for a new board. We need to PARTICIPATE AND SHOW UP for the meetings. I have my fingers crossed that traffic patterns will be watched and corrected if necessary. I pray most of the new residents will take the train so out of towners can come in and shop here. Look Wegmans and that whole Town Ctr was a big enhancement to our neighborhood. Remember what it looked like? Also admitting that I am married to a Contractor- NO ONE likes the time it takes and inconvenience for something to be built. We blame the construction guys but they have a job to do. We need to be patient and go to the meetings to make sure that things go smoother.

Another solution is a window film that is easy to apply, which is "reflective" on the outside, so private, but totally transparent from the inside out. That might be an option. Arborvitae are inexpensive for a reason, they can split and are not as heatry as some trees. Bamboo is very invasive and impossible to get rid of.

I added a new photo and will continue to add photos as construction evolves. Our homes on this street are 124 years old. They have seen the back of a Hires Rootbeer Factory and warehouse/industrial space for most of their existence. It will be nice to have actual residents as neighbors in a nice looking, new building - walking distance to the shops and restaurants. The fact that our privacy is forever gone will take some getting used to. The 24/7 lights in the parking garage and the impact of now living in a twin, on the tracks, behind a parking garage are our main concerns at the moment. Unless some sort of slates on the garage windows block the illumination or screening is provided I am certain the value of our homes will decrease even further - something the families on this street can't afford.

Town is growing and the project is getting closer and closer to being completed and now the rumor is the council is looking to close the police force again.. The best part, they are trying to hide it from us all over again. Just ask your councilman or an officer. Guess they did not get the hint last time. Get ready for round two....

The final 5th floor is going up today. I added more photos to this post. We are wondering about any additional roof height. It is enormous. The East King Street Redevelopment is now called Eastside Flats. http://malvern.patch.com/articles/eastside-flats-east-king-apartments-have-a-name

I added two new photos if you are interested. A before photo if the warehouse and a photo from today - the structure of the new building is complete so we can really get a good idea of how tall and huge it is from our downhill view.

Sure, the train tracks were always going to be an issue with selling a house. I lived a short distance away from tracks in Wayne, you get used to it. But now, from the most recent picture, all buyers are going to see is "no privacy" as a view of all the balconies and windows are staring back. Nevermind the garage. I don't think many people will be staring into a backyard from there. People will be walking to the street side, not looking out the back end. It's all the windows staring back and just the hugeness of the building right there. So I feel for you.

I also wonder how much this will affect the traffic. 200 apartments equals, what 250 cars? At least. Yes, this was built near a train station, thinking that most of these people will be rail commuters. I don't think so, not with Vanguard and the Great Valley Corporate Center so close along with the whole Swedesford corridor all the way to King of Prussia. These means, I'm betting, at least 250 people are going to be driving to/from work. Rush hour through Malvern isn't great right now. I guess I won't ever be driving through Malvern Borough after all is completed. It's also just going to increase the traffic on all the back roads. There are enough speeders as it is cutting through our neighborhoods.

The problem with any developer is that they take up every inch of space. By the time they have the building up, there is no room left at the set backs for trees to be planted as a barrier. My Mom, once a Malvern resident, now lives off Strasburg Road in East Goshen. The old Ground Round was torn down and a bank with parking garage and office structure was put there. The lights from the parking garage are on 24/7 and it's a nightmare. They promised landscaping to block the light from the home on the street, but I can tell you from experience, it is completely insufficient. They cannot plant full grown 30 year old trees. So unless you can wait 30 years to sleep...the residents of Broad Street will have to by Black Out shades or get a job at Third-Shift.

It's very intrusive indeed. The building is 55 feet tall. But we are downhill about 15-20 feet, so it literally looks like it is 70+ feet tall from our view and the parking is not at all underground as discussed in many meetings. The parking is hillside and completely exposed on our side of the building. Nothing will grow fast enough to help much. If we could get some mature leeland cypress and green giant arborvitae it could potentially help shield the garage levels at least. The two leeland cypress that you see along our back fence in the photos are about 15 feet tall at the moment and do very little for screening. We feel like we, the residents on the other side of the tracks, were not considered enough when they were planing. It is what it is. We need to work around it and get used to it or attempt to sell when it's complete.

This project will go down as killing the borough, and I don't even live in it. I am just down the road in East Whiteland though. I imagine my new Wawa will be the one on 30 when this is all said and done.

The the OP. I understand your concerns for your family. Try not to live in fear though.

I'm excited about it ...but what retail is going in there? Seems like the retail in malvern kinda struggles now a bit...and the building is a bit imposing . I've heard rumor that the 2 bedrooms are like 2300 a month..no granite and stainless in a 700 square ft apt is worth 2300. I moved to the Boro 7 years ago and was happy to move to Mayberry this project seems to big rant over

The only confirmed business is Kimberton Whole Foods, which we are excited about.

Check out the photo I just posted of "the city" as my kids call it.