The Radnor Gazette — Vol. I, No. 10

By Gazette Staff · Sunday, May 17, 2026

Brandywine Realty Trust opened The Brandywine — a Marriott Bonvoy Tribute Portfolio hotel — at 165 King of Prussia Road on Friday, May 15, marking the most consequential hospitality opening on the Main Line in several years. The boutique property features 121 guest rooms and suites, flexible meeting space, an expansive roof deck, and two restaurants whose combined seating approaches 260.

The anchor restaurant, Merrick's Tavern, opened on Saturday, May 16, serving regional American classics for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, with a bar oriented to bourbon, rye, and local beer. The companion venue, the Pomelo Rooftop Terrace, opens with the property and features outdoor seating with views over the King of Prussia Road corridor. A Brandywine spokesperson described the project as a "cornerstone" of the firm's 2.1-million-square-foot Radnor portfolio, which has been built out over more than a decade.

The opening completes a development arc first announced in 2023 and detailed in further filings throughout 2025. The Philadelphia Inquirer first reported the $60 million price tag in February 2026. The hotel is expected to draw a mix of business travelers connected to the surrounding Class A office campus and regional leisure visitors drawn by the Main Line's dining and shopping circuit.

For Radnor, the consequence runs beyond ribbon-cutting. The Brandywine adds significant new evening and weekend traffic to a corridor whose pedestrian and parking infrastructure remains the inheritance of an earlier era of suburban commercial design. Township officials have not announced a follow-up traffic study; residents in adjacent neighborhoods are likely to look closely at evening volumes through the early summer. The opening also raises the question of whether the township's Vision for Wayne master-plan focus, intensely concentrated on the historic business district along Lancaster Avenue, has the bandwidth to also address the King of Prussia Road sub-economy now emerging around it.

Sources: Brandywine Realty Trust press release (May 15, 2026); Travel and Tour World; The Philadelphia Inquirer (Feb. 12, 2026).

“Merrick's Tavern opens with a bar oriented to bourbon, rye, and local beer — and Radnor's hospitality map quietly redraws itself overnight.” — See Editorial, Page Bottom

Eagle Road Closure to Lift Monday

The two-week Rockwell Radnor LLC road-construction closure of Eagle Road between Paul Road and Radnor Street Road, in effect since May 4, is scheduled to reopen Monday, May 18. Detour traffic has been routed via Wayne Avenue, Upper Gulph Road, and King of Prussia Road; local access has been maintained throughout the closure.

Source: PennDOT District 6; Radnor Township News (April 20, 2026).

Township Action Bulletin

Pet-store sales ban adopted by the Board of Commissioners on Monday, May 11. No existing Radnor business is affected; fines $100–$1,000 per offense.
Fourth of July fireworks return on Thursday, July 2 at Radnor High School — first township display in eight years.
Wed., May 20 Staff Traffic Meeting CANCELLED. No make-up date set.
Eagle Road reopens Mon., May 18 between Paul Rd. and Radnor Street Rd.

Upcoming Meetings

Tue., May 26 — RTSD Board of School Directors, 7:00 p.m., Radnor Township Building (301 Iven Ave.)
Mon., June 1 — Board of Commissioners, 6:30 p.m., Radnorshire Room
Mon., June 8 — Planning Commission, 6:30 p.m., Radnorshire Room

2026 Priorities Watch

VFMA land: Awaiting next BoC action; final commencement held May 9.
Vision for Radnor / Wayne: Implementation phase; no new ordinances this week.
Stormwater (3 projects): All in design/permitting — no construction starts.
Radnor Trail east extension: No update.
Pay-by-plate parking: No new action.
Leaf-blower ban: No new committee report.
RTSD AI/cyberbullying policy: Policy Committee met May 5; no public draft yet.

Safety & Police · Schools (RTSD)

Three-Alarm Fire Destroys Villanova Mansion

Wednesday, May 13 · 800 block of Lesley Road

About 100 firefighters from Delaware, Chester, and Montgomery counties responded shortly after midnight Wednesday to a three-alarm fire that destroyed a century-old, two-and-a-half-story home on the 800 block of Lesley Road in the Villanova section of Radnor Township. All residents evacuated safely and no injuries were reported. The fire was first reported in the attic but spread rapidly; crews pulled ceilings on arrival, and additional companies were called in as the blaze escalated to a third alarm. The fire was declared under control around 2 a.m., with crews remaining on scene roughly three more hours.

The home is assessed at more than $1.6 million, according to KYW Newsradio. The cause is under joint investigation by the State Police Fire Marshal, Radnor Police, the Radnor Fire Marshal, and Delaware County detectives.

Source: Radnor Patch (May 13, 2026); Radnor Fire Company.

Firearm Theft Reported on Cumberland Place

A resident of the 100 block of Cumberland Place reported the theft of a firearm on Monday, May 11. The investigation is open; no suspect information has been released.

Source: Radnor Township News (May 11, 2026).

Roving DUI Patrols Across Main Line

Radnor Police joined departments in Haverford, Marple, Newtown, and Springfield in roving DUI patrols this weekend, in coordination with the Delaware County DUI Task Force.

Source: Radnor Patch.

Valley Forge Military Academy Holds Final Commencement

Saturday, May 9 · End of an Institution

Valley Forge Military Academy held its final commencement on Saturday, May 9, closing the chapter of an institution founded in 1928. The Board of Trustees announced the school's closure in late 2025, citing shifting enrollment patterns and rising costs. About 90 cadets remained enrolled through the academic year. All current students who meet admission standards have been offered automatic acceptance into Valley Forge Military College, which remains open and is rebranding as the Military College of Pennsylvania.

The disposition of the Academy's 100-plus-acre Wayne campus is the most consequential land-use question now facing the township. No new public action was reported on the right-of-first-refusal arrangement this week.

Sources: Valley Forge Military Academy (vfmacademy.org); 6abc News.

RTSD Calendar — Regular Meeting May 26

The Radnor Township Board of School Directors holds its monthly business meeting Tuesday, May 26 at 7:00 p.m. in the Radnor Township Building (301 Iven Ave.). The Finance and Policy committees met May 5; the Curriculum and Facilities committees met May 12. Meetings stream live on the RTSD-TV YouTube channel and on Comcast 5 / Verizon 30.

Source: RTSD School Board; BoardDocs.

Ithan Elementary — No New Milestone

Construction of the new ~$64M Ithan Elementary School remains in early stages on the existing site. No new bid awards or schedule revisions were announced this week. Substantial completion is still targeted for the start of the 2027–28 school year.

Background: RTSD project page.

Development & Real Estate · Environment & Parks

Downtown Wayne Mixed-Use Plan Moves Forward

Updated · No new action this week

The proposal to demolish a one-story commercial complex with a bar and rebuild it as a three-story mixed-use building — restaurant and retail on the ground floor, an office on the second, and four apartments with rooftop decks on the third — cleared a key procedural hurdle with the township in early May. The project had been tabled by the Planning Commission in February over stormwater concerns. No new commissioner vote occurred this week; residents have continued to press the township on density and traffic.

Source: Radnor Patch (May 8, 2026).

Restaurant Pipeline Watch

Several previously announced openings continue to move through the pipeline with no new milestones this week. Testa Rossa (Italian, Fearless Restaurant Group) targets a summer 2026 opening in the former Bertucci's space on Lancaster Avenue. Rosalie, the Wayne Hotel's Italian successor to Paramour, is targeted for the fall. Wild Yeast Bakehouse continues to fit out its Eagle Village storefront for a spring debut.

Source: Main Line Today; Where Philadelphia.

Active Land Development Applications

The township's Subdivision & Land Development page lists ongoing applications including Ithan Elementary, the Lancaster Avenue mixed-use project, and several smaller residential subdivisions. Residents may track filings at radnor.com/currentlanddevelopmentprojects.

Source: Radnor Township Engineering Department.

Quiet Week on the Environmental Beat

No new stormwater-construction milestones, Radnor Conservancy programming announcements, or Environmental Advisory Council action items were posted this week. The three named township stormwater projects — South Wayne, North Wayne / Gulph Creek, and West Wayne Preserve — all remain in design and permitting.

Source: Radnor Township Engineering — Strategic Projects.

Chanticleer Garden — 2026 Season Under Way

Chanticleer is open Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., through November 8. Friday evening hours run to 8 p.m. through September. First Saturdays open at 8 a.m. The 50-acre pleasure garden remains one of the region's most celebrated horticultural destinations.

Source: chanticleergarden.org.

Great American Backyard Campout

Registration for the township's late-June Great American Backyard Campout — one of Radnor's largest family programs — remains open through Parks & Recreation. Details at radnor.com.

Source: Radnor Township News (March 20, 2026).

Hazardous-Waste Collection Reminder

Delaware County's 2026 Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events are on the calendar; residents are encouraged to consult the township notice for dates and the items accepted.

Source: Radnor Township News (April 9, 2026).

Community & Lifestyle · Notices to Residents

July 4th Fireworks Return to Radnor

Township spokesperson Molly Gallagher announced at Monday's commissioners' meeting that Radnor will hold a Fourth of July fireworks display on Thursday, July 2 at Radnor High School — the first township-sponsored Independence Day fireworks in eight years. The free event opens Radnor's America250 weekend. Start time forthcoming.

Source: Radnor Patch (May 15, 2026).

Garrett Hill-Rosemont Parade Returns

The Garrett Hill-Rosemont 4th of July Parade, a Radnor Township tradition, runs again this year on Saturday, July 4. Route details at garretthillpa.com.

Source: garretthillpa.com.

Library Spring Book Sale Closes Today

The Friends of the Radnor Library Spring Book Sale ran Friday through Sunday, May 15–17, at Radnor Memorial Library. Proceeds fund library programming.

Source: Radnor Township News (April 29, 2026).

Help Hope Live "5K Your Way"

Radnor-based national nonprofit Help Hope Live invited supporters to complete a self-paced 5K on Saturday, May 16, raising funds for individuals navigating catastrophic illness and injury.

Source: Radnor Patch calendar.

Delco's 19% Tax Hike Now Hitting Mailboxes

The Delaware County property-tax increase of 19 percent, adopted by Council in December 2025, took effect with January 2026 bills. The average homeowner is paying about $16 more per month — $188 more annually — on a home valued at $255,000. This follows a 23 percent hike in 2025 and 5 percent in 2024.

Source: WHYY; CBS Philadelphia.

SEPTA Bus Network Redesign — Phase 1 in August

SEPTA's New Bus Network rolls out in phases beginning August 2026. Routes 204 and 206 are slated for elimination in Phase 2 (February 2027). On-demand "Go Zones" pilot in Paoli and West Chester. Residents reliant on Main Line bus service should plan accordingly.

Source: Billy Penn; SEPTA.

· · · · ·

Upcoming Events & Notices

Date	Event	Details
Mon., May 18	Eagle Road reopens	Closure between Paul Road and Radnor Street Road lifts after two weeks.
Tue., May 19	PA Primary Election	Polls 7:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m. Drop boxes close 8:00 p.m. See sample ballot at delcopa.gov/vote.
Wed., May 20	Staff Traffic Meeting — CANCELLED	No make-up date set.
Tue., May 26	RTSD Board of School Directors	7:00 p.m. — Radnor Township Building, 301 Iven Ave.
Mon., June 1	Board of Commissioners	6:30 p.m. — Radnorshire Room (typical schedule).
Mon., June 8	Planning Commission	6:30 p.m. — Radnorshire Room (typical schedule).
Thu., July 2	America250 Fireworks Display	Free. Radnor High School. Start time TBA.
Sat., July 4	Garrett Hill–Rosemont Parade	Community 4th of July parade.
Apr 1–Nov 8	Chanticleer Garden 2026 season	Wed–Sun, 10 a.m.–5 p.m. Fri evenings to 8 p.m. through September.

· · · · ·

— The Gazette Editorial —

A Pet-Store Ban Without a Pet Store

On symbolism, spent capital, and what Radnor should be debating this June.

On Monday night, the Radnor Board of Commissioners unanimously passed an ordinance forbidding pet stores from selling animals. The ordinance contains real teeth — fines from $100 to $1,000 per offense, plus the township's right to sue. The only thing it doesn't contain is a problem. As Commissioner Moira Mulroney candidly conceded, there are no Radnor pet stores selling pets. There never have been any complaints. The ordinance, in plain terms, prohibits something that wasn't happening.

That doesn't make it wrong. The case for symbolic local legislation is real: it puts a values flag in the ground, it sends an upstream signal to operators who might consider the township, and it joins Radnor to a growing list of Pennsylvania municipalities — Philadelphia and Lower Merion among them — that have made the same statement. Stevie Boulden, the founder of the Radnor Outreach & Animal Rescue who spoke at the meeting, made the practical case neatly: even an ordinance about a non-problem deters the wrong kind of business from ever showing up.

But residents should ask the harder question that the Pet Advocacy Network — for all its self-interested framing — backed into on Monday: what is the model of governance Radnor is running? In a township juggling the unresolved future of the Valley Forge Military Academy campus, a half-billion dollars of Brandywine Realty development now operational on King of Prussia Road, three stormwater projects still in design, the eastern extension of the Radnor Trail unfunded, and an SEPTA bus network about to be rewritten under us in August, the political capital and meeting time spent on hypothetical pet-store regulation is not free. Symbols carry real costs in attention.

The Brandywine Hotel opened on Friday with 121 rooms and two restaurants. That single development will generate more new traffic, more new tax revenue, more new noise complaints, and more new questions about King of Prussia Road's pedestrian and parking infrastructure than every pet store in Delaware County combined. The commissioners' agenda packet for May 11 ran to several hundred pages. The pet-store ordinance occupied Page 35 onward. The Brandywine — which will reshape the township's hospitality economy for a generation — did not appear at all.

Symbolic acts are fine when they ride alongside real ones. They start to feel like avoidance when they substitute for them.

Call to action: The Board of Commissioners is scheduled to meet next on Monday, June 1 at 6:30 p.m. in the Radnorshire Room. Public comment is open. If you have a view on what the township should be debating between now and Independence Day — VFMA disposition, the stormwater calendar, the Brandywine traffic plan, the August SEPTA changes — that's the room and that's the night. Show up.

· · ·

The Radnor Gazette — A weekly digest for residents of Wayne, St. David's, and Radnor Township.

Research conducted May 17, 2026, across Tier 1–4 sources, including Radnor Township News (radnor.com), Radnor Patch (patch.com/pennsylvania/radnor), RTSD (rtsd.org), Valley Forge Military Academy (vfmacademy.org), Brandywine Realty Trust (brandywinerealty.com), The Philadelphia Inquirer, Travel and Tour World, WHYY, CBS Philadelphia, KYW Newsradio, PennDOT District 6, SEPTA, Billy Penn, Main Line Today, Where Philadelphia, Garrett Hill PA, Chanticleer Garden, and Delaware County government (delcopa.gov). Editorial views are the Gazette's; news items are sourced as noted. Corrections welcome.

— Fin —