Market Study for the Revitalization of Rock Hill Road, Lower Merion Township. (See image to the right.) S. Huffman Associates was asked by Wallace Roberts & Todd to assess the market for various types of commercial uses on this older industrial corridor. Once a viable area that serviced its community and provided jobs for local residents, Rock Hill Road has begun to see demands for different types of land uses, as well as increasing traffic congestion and periodic flooding. The firm reviewed demographic data on Lower Merion Township, and did fieldwork to identify current users on the corridor. Realtors and businesses were interviewed to confirm space estimates, determine employment, and find out why owners and/or tenants chose to locate on Rock Hill Road. The product of this effort was a current picture of supply and demand characteristics for the corridor. Feasibility Study for the Reuse of the Paoli Rail Yards. Two townships in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission asked a Philadelphia urban design firm to study the feasibility of using this Superfund site as a mixed-use intermodal center. Acting as a sub-consultant, S. Huffman Associates took responsibility for assessing the market for office and retail commercial space at that location. The firm reviewed the demographics and economic base of the area, and analyzed secondary data to establish baseline information on local market demand for commercial space. Realtors were also interviewed for a qualitative interpretation of the local market. The firm produced recommendations on the mix of retail and office space that would be supportable at that location. The results of the study were used by the client in final negotiations for clean up, and in the redesign of the site.

Credit: Wallace, Roberts & Todd, LLC

Community Reuse Plan for the Defense Personnel Support Center. The City of Philadelphia was required to prepare a plan for the Defense Personnel Support Center, located on Oregon Avenue in South Philadelphia, as part of the Federal Base Realignment and Closure Process. S. Huffman Associates worked on this project as a subcontractor. The firm’s role was to assess the market for retail and office commercial uses, as well as warehouse and industrial space at that location. Specific tasks included interviewing developers of major older industrial sites in Philadelphia and the region to develop baseline data on market conditions. The study was used as input into the master plan for reuse of the facility.

Preliminary Feasibility Study for Bergen County Light Rail Transit. S. Huffman Associates was a subcontractor to an engineering firm in this study to establish the feasibility of reactivating a former freight rail line for light rail transit between Saddle Brook, New Jersey, and the Hudson River. The firm was responsible for identifying station sites in several communities on the line that would maximize economic development potential for the County. Preliminary market assessments were done for a variety of uses that would provide employment, generate additional revenue, and enhance the attractiveness of the transit line to commuters. S. Huffman Associates also analyzed the economic and fiscal impacts which the line and its adjacent development would have on the County.