Episode 83
APMM Series: Everybody’s Hometown: How Media Borough Built a Sense of Place with Brittany Forman
In this episode, I talk with Brittany Forman, Manager of Media Borough in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, about what it takes to build — and preserve — a strong sense of place in a small community that has suddenly become a regional magnet.
Brittany walks us through Media’s evolution from a struggling commercial district in the 1990s to today’s walkable, lively, “everybody’s hometown,” complete with trolleys, a regional rail station, an energetic restaurant district, and a deep environmental ethic.
Listeners will hear a grounded, practical conversation about what local leaders can control, what they can influence, and what they simply need to adapt to as their communities change.
This episode is for municipal managers, planners, elected officials, and anyone wrestling with growth, affordability, and the tension between tourism appeal and local character.
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SHOWNOTES
00:00–01:10 — Opening & Purpose
I introduce Brittany and set the stage: a conversation for municipal managers and elected leaders about transformation and sense of place.
01:10–04:00 — Brittany’s Path to Media
Her career in HUD, Norfolk, mayor’s office, planning, private-sector consulting — and how Media’s economic development plan brought her to the borough.
04:00–06:00 — Living and Working in the Same Community
Why Media feels like the right fit and what it's meant to be embedded in the place she serves.
06:00–08:30 — “Everybody’s Hometown” & The Trolley
We discuss Media’s iconic branding, its historic trolley system, and early investments that anchor identity.
08:30–11:00 — Media’s Built Form & Good Bones
Grid layout, transit access, mixed housing types, courthouse activity, and how the borough’s size (¾ sq mile) shapes everyday life.
11:00–13:30 — Media’s Recovery Story
The 1990s: crime, vacancies, and disrepair — and how Mayor McMahon and elected officials actively recruited businesses and built events that revived the town.
13:30–15:30 — A Full Calendar: 30+ Annual Street Closures
Brittany describes Dining Under the Stars, seasonal festivals, parades, and weekly programs that create social cohesion.
15:30–18:00 — Parks, Environmental Ethos & Regional Connectivity
Media’s strong environmental culture, parks investment, and the importance of looking to adjacent municipal assets.
18:00–21:00 — Housing Pressure & Becoming a “Victim of Success”
Demand outpacing supply, luxury units, price spikes, first million-dollar home, and concerns about seniors and young families.
21:00–23:30 — Media’s Affordable Housing Strategy
Vision: a place where residents can access housing at every stage of life.
Focus areas: households under $75k, seniors, zoning changes, office conversions.
23:30–26:00 — Preserving Character While Welcoming Growth
Placemaking investments (Plum Street Mall), creating “third places,” and designing for connection.
26:00–29:00 — How Leadership Creates or Loses Vision
What stalls progress, why leadership turnover matters, and how staff align everyday decisions with council priorities.
29:00–34:00 — Tourism vs. Residents: Balancing Tension
Events that serve locals vs. events that serve visitors, communication strategies, and maintaining a sense of “this is for us.”
34:00–38:00 — Is the Affordable Housing Plan Working?
Early wins, patience required, partnerships with developers, regional zoning comparisons, and home-sharing models.
38:00–41:30 — Municipal Innovation: Land, Authorities & Development Tools
What Media can and cannot do because of land constraints; examples from other communities; public-private development strategies.
41:30–End — Final Reflections & Closing Thoughts
Holding onto core values (“everybody’s hometown”) while allowing the community to evolve; gratitude and wrap-up.
