Hello, Radnor!
Welcome to the first edition of The Inquirer’s weekly newsletter bringing you the most pertinent news from in and around Radnor Township. Each week, you can expect a mix of the biggest community stories, school district and municipal government updates, restaurant and retail comings and goings, as well as local events you won’t want to miss.
Here’s what’s going on this week: Officials’ quest to bring the magisterial district courthouse within township borders is proving a tall task. We explain why. Also noteworthy, a local surgery center is the busiest of its kind in the region, a beloved eatery is celebrating its 10th anniversary, plus, where to go leaf peeping this fall.
As we get started, tell us what you think of our newsletter by emailing us here or taking our survey. And feel free to drop us a line any time, whether it’s with tips, coverage ideas, or just to say hello.
See you back here next week!
— Lisa Dukart (radnor@inquirer.com)
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Why relocating the magisterial district courthouse remains elusive
Radnor officials are still on the hunt for a place to relocate the township’s magisterial district courthouse, which has been housed in Newtown Square for the past few years.
It’s a tricky needle to thread given county constraints and residents’ preferences, something officials addressed at an information session this week.
While some residents question the need for relocating the court, calling it a “pet project,” Commissioner Jack Larkin noted that having it within township boundaries is important ahead of the commonwealth’s decennial court district realignment process.
The Inquirer’s Denali Sagner looks at where things stand, the significance of having a local court, and the challenges the township faces in trying to find a new location.
💡 Community news
- Penn Medicine Radnor Surgery Center was the busiest surgery center in the region last year, with 12,464 surgical visits performed, according to data from the state health department. Penn Medicine attributed part of the 39% increase over 2024 numbers to the addition of new gastroenterologists.
- Former Radnor resident Charles P. Baker III died last week of congestive heart failure at the age of 101. He was an Army veteran, national squash champion, and the cofounder of Baker Industries, which employed disabled individuals, recent parolees, people in recovery, as well as those facing homelessness.
- A new parklet is slated for the North Wayne Avenue parking lot after the township’s commissioners approved improvements to the space at last week’s meeting. The project, initially slated for two phases that would have started this fall, will now take place in a single phase in the spring, based on community feedback.
- Ocean City-headquartered Cury Design Studio, which offers interior design services, has opened a location at 121 N. Wayne Ave. in Wayne.
- King of Prussia Road will be closed between Upper Gulph and Eagle Roads weekdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. between Sept. 30 and Oct. 16 for Peco work.
- Delaware County plans to install 70 flood gauges to help it better track data and plan for future extreme weather, as well as improve flood responses. The region experienced an unusually high number of flooding events over the summer, posting some of the largest numbers of warnings issued nationwide. On the upside, all that rain may make for a particularly vibrant foliage season.
🗺️ Other nearby news
- Fall is officially here. Making plans for the season? The Inquirer has rounded up can’t-miss festivals, a guide to apple picking, plus a dozen great spots to go leaf peeping.
- Brian O’Neill, the developer behind five proposed — and rejected — nearby data centers, is suing the Upper Merion Board of Supervisors over its decision not to allow the project to move forward, claiming the centers are permitted under the zoning code.
- The owner of Dane Fine Art in Haverford has been named in a lawsuit for allegedly participating in a scheme to sell fraudulent artwork, including fake Andy Warhol paintings. The 2320 Haverford Rd. gallery was raided by the FBI earlier this summer, but owner Nathan “Nicky” Isen has denied the accusations.
🏫 Schools briefing
- Radnor High School is among the best public schools in the state, landing at No. 7 in Pennsylvania in the latest U.S. News & World Report rankings. Nationwide, the school ranks No. 341.
🍽️ On our plate
- At the Table, the fine dining spot in Wayne from chefs Alex Hardy and Tara Buzan-Hardy, is celebrating its 10-year anniversary through Oct. 3 with a special $100, three-course offering featuring popular dishes from the past decade.
- A La Mousse owner Anna Chen is working to improve mooncakes’ reputation by giving the intricate but otherwise unimpressive treats a twist, The Inquirer’s Kiki Aranita writes, including stuffing them with a range of fillings and flavors. Find Chen’s take on mooncakes at A La Mousse’s Narberth outpost ahead of the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival tomorrow.
- Former Sixers icon Julius “Dr. J” Erving will be at the Fine Wine and Good Spirits on Greenfield Avenue in Ardmore Saturday at 2 p.m. to sign pre-purchased bottles of American Harvest Organic Vodka.
🎳 Things to do
🇫🇷 Regional French Cuisine and Wine: Chef Karen Bentz will take participants through several regional dishes, including a salad, chicken dish, and dessert. ⏰ Thursday, Sept. 24, 6-8:30 p.m. 💵 $85 for members, $100 for non-members 📍 Wayne Art Center
📷 Garden Photography Workshop: Chanticleer horticulturist Lisa Roper will guide attendees through a workshop on the garden’s grounds, then work with them to select and edit a few photos. ⏰ Saturday, Sept. 26, 4:30-8:30 p.m. 💵 $95 📍 Chanticleer
🌻 Eco-Printing with Wildflowers Workshop: Summer may officially be over, but that doesn’t mean its remnants can’t still make beautiful art. ⏰ Sunday, Sept. 27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. 💵 $85-$95 📍 Stoneleigh
🎶 Joseph Parsons and Friends: The rock, folk, and soul singer-songwriter will take the stage. ⏰ Sunday, Sept. 27, 3 p.m. 💵 $27.32 📍 118 North
🏡 On the market
A century-old Villanova home with a guest cottage
Dating back to 1900, this updated stone Villanova estate blends past and present. The home features an eat-in kitchen with an island, a living room with a fireplace, and a family room. It has four bedrooms upstairs, including a primary suite with a sitting area. Downstairs, there’s a finished basement with another fireplace. Its grounds include a pond and gardens, in addition to a guest cottage with a kitchenette.
See more photos of the property here.
Price: $1.5M | Size: 3,245 SF | Acreage: 3.39
Each week we feature an interesting listing in or around the township. Have one we should consider? Email us at radnor@inquirer.com.
📈 Radnor market report
- Median listing price: $912,000 (down $37,000 from July) 📉
- Median sold price: $1.2M (same as July)
- Days on the market: 31 (down 11 days from July) 📉
This Radnor market report is published on a monthly basis. Above is data for August from realtor.com.
🗞️ What other Radnor residents are reading this week:
- A Philadelphia teacher pretended to be Black and Palestinian, ‘a betrayal’ of the activists she supported
- After decades of fund growth, Vanguard pivots
- Sources: Zach Ertz is reuniting with the Eagles as tight end depth grows thin
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This suburban content is produced with support from the Leslie Miller and Richard Worley Foundation and The Lenfest Institute for Journalism. Editorial content is created independently of the project donors. Gifts to support The Inquirer’s high-impact journalism can be made at inquirer.com/donate. A list of Lenfest Institute donors can be found at lenfestinstitute.org/supporters.
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