“Our motto is ‘the world in one place,’” says Mayor Ed Brown. “That really encompasses the essence and the beauty of Upper Darby. There’s a whole lot of cultures and colors and hues and we all come from different perspectives, but we do a good job of getting along and appreciating the differences and the similarities that we all have.” WHERE HISTORY MEETS PROGRESS Upper Darby is also a community that blends historical preservation with progressive growth.This is exemplified by the Swedish Cabin, dating back to the 1600s and among the oldest original structures in the country. Looking ahead, the township is preparing to welcome a new campus for Delaware County Community College, set to open in early 2026. “We have a lot of history and a lot of brand new, beautiful things happening,” emphasizes Rita LaRue, Director of Community and Economic Development. Accessibility is another key feature of the township. She notes, “The 69th Street Transportation Center is the second busiest in all of SEPTA’s vast railways and stops, and we have a great network of trolleys. It’s very easy to get to, and get around, Upper Darby.” BREATHING NEW LIFE INTO 69TH STREET Recently, Upper Darby partnered with the Urban Land Institute to host a technical assistance panel, bringing community stakeholders together to help reimagine the iconic 69th Street corridor, and explore how this vital area of the community can continue to evolve. “The 69th Street shopping district is legendary, it’s been around for decades. Before there were even malls, people would shop there to find just about everything they needed,” touts Mayor Brown. “We’re trying to bring it up to the 21st Century but also keep the integrity of what people remember.” Anchoring that vision is the Tower Theater, currently owned by Live Nation, and awaiting a new chapter. “It is a world famous venue that has been around for decades,” he reports.“It’s not currently being utilized, but we want to bring world class acts back to the Tower Theater and have that as a focal point of our downtown area. And we want to have restaurants and eclectic shops where people can go and get things that are unique to their culture.” Built more than 100 years ago, this bustling corridor was designed as a mixed use development, with retail on the main floor, and office or residential above, a concept that many municipalities are trying to incorporate today. And just steps away are apartment buildings and houses.“So, what we have built in at Upper Darby is foot traffic and people who want to come to 69th Street multiple times a week,” LaRue describes. 149 CIVIL AND MUNICIPAL VOLUME 06, ISSUE 08 UPPER DARBY TOWNSHIP, PA
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