Supporters of Cornerstone Rally before key 11/17 vote

More than 30 residents, advocates, and local leaders gathered Saturday at Parkside Park in Upper Gwynedd Township to rally in support of the Cornerstone at Pennbrook Station development ahead of the Township Board of Commissioners’ final vote on Monday, November 17 at 7 p.m.

Organized by the Montco 30% Project and co-hosted by North Penn Advocates and the Bucks-Mont Collaborative, the rally brought together a cross-section of neighbors and community partners calling for more attainable housing for the people who live and work in the North Penn region — including teachers, nurses, first responders, and service workers who increasingly struggle to afford homes near their jobs.

“This is what community looks like,” said Mike Hays, Director of the Montco 30% Project. “Cornerstone is about dignity and belonging — about making sure the people who keep our towns running can also call them home.”

Emma Hertz, HealthSpark Foundation President & CEO, emphasized that affordable housing is central to community health:

“When we can’t afford to have our 911 operators, our child-care workers, our EMTs and our police officers live in the same communities where they work, our entire community is harmed by that... Projects like Cornerstone are a way to ensure that not just individuals but households and communities as a whole have an opportunity to maintain health.”

Montgomery County Prothonotary Noah Marlier spoke about what he sees every day in his office — families struggling to stay housed: 

“There are so many different causes of homelessness and housing insecurity, which means there are so many different ways we can all make a difference. The question I ask myself every morning is simple: How can I help people? That’s what this project is about.”

Kimberly Krauter, Vice President of Real Estate for HDC Mid Atlantic and longtime Montgomery County resident, delivered one of the day’s most powerful calls to action:

“Upper Gwynedd is an absolutely beautiful township — strong schools, thriving economy, real sense of pride. But like so many towns, it’s facing a quiet crisis. The people who make the community work — our teachers, health-care workers, first responders, municipal employees — increasingly can’t afford to live here.”

“Affordable and workforce housing isn’t about lowering standards — it’s about opening doors,” she continued. “When we make room for the people who make our towns work, we strengthen the entire community. We support our schools, our small businesses, and our local economy. We make Montgomery County more sustainable, more inclusive, and more resilient.”

Kofi Osei, Supervisor in neighboring Towamencin Township, spoke candidly about how challenging it can be for local leaders to make balanced decisions when only the loudest voices show up at meetings:

“Too often, the only people who come to speak are the ones who oppose something — but that doesn’t reflect the whole community. When residents show up and say, ‘Yes, I support this,’ it gives us the courage to fight for what’s right.”

From left: Montgomery County Prothonotary Noah Marlier; Claire Gawinowicz of Social Justice Indivisible; Towamencin Supervisor Kofi Osei; and Montco 30% Director Mike Hays.

The proposed Cornerstone at Pennbrook Station project would add 60 new apartment homes (one- to three-bedroom units) for households earning roughly $44,000 – $66,000 per year. The project is financed through the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program — a proven federal incentive created under President Reagan that has helped finance more than 3 million affordable homes nationwide.

Supporters say Cornerstone will strengthen the local workforce, reduce commute times, and expand access to Upper Gwynedd’s excellent public schools — aligning with Montgomery County’s 2035 Comprehensive Plan goals for diverse, walkable neighborhoods. 

Community members are encouraged to attend the November 17 Township meeting at 7 p.m. at One Parkside Place, North Wales, to voice their support for Cornerstone and for a North Penn region where everyone belongs.