Haverford resident's front yard faces new developments but backyard remains the same

Jill Gill opened the door to her Old Lancaster Avenue home and immediately began walking through the dining room and kitchen to her back window.

"This is what we really hold on to," Gill said looking into her hidden half-acre backyard. "No matter what happens out front, we always have this."

Gill's backyard used to house chickens, ducks and still serves as a goldfish haven – Gill's husband Bruce built a small pond for her – and vegetable garden. Rhubarb, asparagus and peppers thrive.

The front of Gill's 1884-home, however, will eventually face Haverford Court. But despite going to meetings lasting sometimes until 1 a.m. some days and seeing sketch upon sketch of the townhomes since 2007, Gill and her neighbors still don't know exactly what the homes will look like.

"Half the time, we don't know what's going on," she said. "We're kind of just hoping it won't be so bad."

Tomorrow, Lower Merion Township's Historical Architecture Review Board will release a list of changes the developer has made to the houses' original proposal, Planning Division Director Bob Duncan said.

Since the Haveford Court homes may be erected in phases, Gill said she's still trying to influence the landscape of the development. Three older homes and massive trees used to tower above Gill's home, where she and her husband moved into in 1984.

"Now I can see Haverford School and the cars, which is OK, but it's not the same," she said.