GENERAL INFORMATION
REALTORS® Hit the Hill in Harrisburg
On Wednesday morning, nearly 100 REALTORS® visited Capitol Hill to discuss legislative issues with their elected officials. The hill visits, nearly 70 in all, were conducted as part of the annual Government Affairs Seminar, and allowed REALTORS® to talk about issues that are important to the industry. Members discussed Senate Bill 241 (Tomlinson, R-Bucks) which would allow escrow funds to be disbursed after a certain amount of time following termination of an agreement of sale, and asked legislators to support the bill when it is considered in committee next week. Also discussed was PAR support for a statewide housing trust fund to develop programs to build, rehab and preserve homes specifically for low to moderate income individuals and families, seniors, and people with disabilities. House Bill 60 (Daley, D-Washington) and Senate Bill 599 (Yaw, R-Bradford) would implement the fund. The hill visits followed a successful legislative reception held the evening before, which was attended by 85 members of the General Assembly.
Source: Pennsylvania Association of REALTORS Capital Briefs; 3/27/09
BUCKS COUNTY
Bipartisan Task Force rallies to save Washington Crossing Visitors Center
The current economic crisis is taking its toll on history. The Washington Crossing Visitors Center located in Upper Makefield Township is facing a budget cut from the state of about 20 percent. Add to that the need for renovations to correct a leaking roof and mold and the center may be forced to shut down. A bi-partisan task force was announced by Congressman Patrick Murphy, D-8, and Upper Makefield Supervisors Chairman Dan Rattigan and includes PA State Reps. Steve Santarsiero (D-31), Scott Petri (R-178), Bucks County Commissioners and local residents. The Washington Crossing Task Force is seeking non-profit status for fundraising purposes and will continue searching for solutions for the state-run center to recover and remain viable. Possible solutions run the gamut between local grassroots efforts to keep the center open, to the possibility of having the site added to the National Park System. All task force members agree the center represents a significant part of history that cannot be ignored or allowed to shut down.
Source: BucksLocalNews.com 3/17/09 & The Intelligencer 3/18/09
Bucks County Technical High sends off $22.4M budget for approval
The 2009-10 proposed $22.4 million budget for Bucks County Technical High School is about $700,000 greater than the previous year with the budget increase being attributed to operating expenses. A joint committee made up of members of the six participating school systems, voted 10-4 to forward the budget to the feeder boards for consideration. Approval by four of the six participating school systems and at least 28 board members is needed before final approval is attained.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times 3/24/09
Newtown Borough Council reviews Traffic Committee’s Comprehensive Plan
The Newtown Borough Traffic Committee recently presented a comprehensive plan to Borough Council. The plan consists of short-term and long-term goals to improve pedestrian safety, establish a community awareness campaign aimed at traffic safety and decrease dangerous driving on borough roads. Funding options include a proposed $30,000 PennDOT Smart Transportation grant. The borough will begin to consider some short-term ideas with further discussion to follow.
Source: BucksLocalNews.com 3/19/09
Proposed village-style shopping in Hilltown Township
Wally Rosenthal, owner of the Hilltown Pub, proposed a village-style shopping center for 40 acres he owns along Route 309 and Swartley Road . The “Hilltown Promenade” would require rezoning for shops, restaurants, a hotel and possibly age-restricted apartments. Supervisors reacted positively to the concept and recommended Rosenthal go through the normal land development process.
Source: The Intelligencer 3/24/09
CHESTER COUNTY
Survey: Chester County residents like what they have
Life is good - except in traffic. In a nutshell, that is the message Chester County residents gave to researchers surveying their opinions for county commissioners, who plan to use the responses while developing a long-range strategic plan to deliver county services. The survey found that a significant majority of respondents say the county is a better or as good a place to live as it was five years ago. It remains an excellent place to raise a family and a good place to get an education and buy a home, respondents said. The respondents liked the county’s open space and its convenient location. They found county workers to be courteous and knowledgeable, and they would be willing to pay higher taxes if it meant children were not abused and criminals were imprisoned. But they did not like the county’s roads, traffic, taxes and cost of living, and they said land-use planning is a concern. Respondents were concerned about overdevelopment and had little time or inclination for a property reassessment. Key indicators show 75 percent of residents believe Chester County is a good place to live, and more than half (55 percent) say it is an excellent place to raise a family. One in three citizens responded that open space is the best thing about Chester County life.
Source: Main Line Suburban Life; 3/25/09
Districts react to declining land value: Officials warn that as property values fall, tax rates will rise
The recent decline in real estate value has prompted droves of local land owners to seek reassessments to lower their property taxes. In 2004, the Chester County Board of Assessment Appeals received 824 reassessment requests. That number rose to 1,342 in 2005 and stayed about the same in 2006 and 2007. In 2008, however, nearly 2,000 requests were filed through the county’s Department of Assessments. In turn, this has strained the budgets of public school districts, which rely on local property taxes for much of their funding. Not all of Chester County 's school districts have been equally affected. While finance directors of the West Chester Area and the Downingtown Area school districts said reassessments have caused substantial declines in property tax income, the finance directors of Coatesville Area, Great Valley , and Tredyffrin/Easttown school districts said they've seen little change. Property owners in Chester County can file reassessment appeals from May 1 to Aug. 1. The board of assessment appeals — not local school districts or municipalities — is responsible for reassessing properties.
Source: Daily Local; 3/23/09
Breaking ground: Wegman’s starts constructions at Uptown Worthington complex in East Whiteland
Wegman’s has broken ground and started construction of its new supermarket at Uptown Worthington, a $520 million O’Neill Properties Group Project. The grocery store will be the first retailer to open in the spring of 2010 in Uptown Worthington. When complete, Uptown Worthington will be home to a 1.6 million-square-foot development with 753 residences and 745,000 square feet of retail space, 490,000 square feet of office space and a 240 room hotel. The project will also feature green-friendly infrastructure with a LEED-designated office building, a connection to and extension of the Chester County Rails-to-Trails bike path and the reopening of Little Valley Creek, which had previously been enclosed in a pipe under asphalt paving.
Source Daily Local; 3/25/09
Chester County adds $1 million to Schuylkill River Trail project
Chester County Commissioners approved a $1 million grant for the Schuylkill River Trail, officials with the Schuylkill River Heritage Area announced March 18. The funds are the first step in closing a key missing link in the trail, which when complete will allow hikers and bikers to travel from Philadelphia to Reading — a distance of nearly 60 miles. The trail's construction has been under way since the 1980s. The goal is a 130-mile trail along the Schuylkill River from Philadelphia to Pottsville . The commissioners' $1 million grant will partially fund a 3.5-mile section of the missing link that runs through Chester County . In all, the nonprofit will need $1.8 million to construct this section, and the county has applied to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for the balance of funds. Once the funding is in place, construction will happen in three phases and will likely start next spring, planners say.
Source: Daily Local; 3/25/09
DELAWARE COUNTY
Upper Darby seeking comments on new zoning map
Planners and township officials continue to accept comments from residents about changes to the new zoning map. Three meetings were held last week to give residents from across the Township an opportunity to attend. Chief Administrative officer Thomas Judge Jr. and Councilman/zoning Chairman Donald Bonnett provided information on the process to those in attendance. The goals and objectives of the comprehensive plan were to give the Township areas of focus for economic development, neighborhood preservations, transportation efficiency, environmental protection and design quality. The entire proposal can be viewed on the Township’s website at www.upperdarby.org. Comments or questions can be directed to the mayor’s office at 610-734-4103, or by email to the Director of License and Inspection Jeff Gentil at jgentile@upperdarby.org.
Source: Daily Times; 3/24/09
Hearing set for suspended Radnor manager
Suspended Township Manager David A. Bashore will address the issues that led to his removal at a public meeting scheduled for 6 p.m. April 13 at the township building, his lawyer said Tuesday. The board of commissioners is expected to pass a resolution to fire him at the board’s regularly scheduled township meeting at 7 p.m.
Source: Daily Times; 3/25/09
Jobless rate in Delco hits 6.4 percent
Delaware County’s unemployment rate jumped nearly 1 percent between December and January, according to data collected by the Pennsylvania Labor Department. Though the county’s jobless rate edged up from 5.7 percent to 6.4 percent in a mere month, it is still well below statewide and national rates, which stand at 7.5 percent and 8.1 percent, respectively.
Source: Daily Times; 3/24/09
Tinicum still fearful of Philly Airport plan
Tinicum Township officials are keeping a close eye on Philadelphia International Airport plans to expand by displacing 82 homes and businesses in the 2nd Ward. Officials are also monitoring the failure to reach an agreement with the city that previously provided revenue to the township. When the acquisition or demolition of township property is expected to occur is in limbo. Either one of two runway expansion alternatives, with a projected cost between $5.2 billion and $5.4 billion, could take 12 years to build. The alternatives would allow a fifth runway to be built, in addition to the extension of present runways. The object is to decrease airport delays between 5.2 and 4.7 minutes by 2020. The time reduction would be down from a projected 19.3 minutes with no expansion, according to a draft environmental statement released by the Federal Aviation Administration in September.
Source: Daily Times; 3/23/09
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Federal grant eases sewer connection burden for some Salford residents
Salford Sewer Advisory Board Chairperson and Township Supervisor Barb Lynch announced that the township was awarded federal grant money totaling $350,000 through Congressman Charles Dent’s office. Approximately 100 homes in the Tylersport area slated for water and sewer hookups will benefit through $3,500 in savings from the grant. The total cost of the project has been estimated between $1.7 and $2.1 million.
Source: Souderton Independent 3/18/09
Lower Providence adds 23 acres of open space
Lower Providence Supervisors unanimously approved the purchase of two parcels of land totaling 23 acres to be used for open space. The first tract is located at Crawford Road and consists of 9.13 acres. The second tract of 13.76 acres is located at the end of Yerkes Road running along the Perkiomen Creek. The purchase of both parcels was subsidized by the Montgomery County Green Field/Green Towns Program.
Source: The Times Herald 3/21/09
Spring-Ford Area High School construction bids come in nearly $6M under projections
Expecting a price tag of $28 million, the Spring-Ford Area School Board was excited when bids for the construction of a 106,000 square foot addition to the high school came in close to $6 million below projections. Approximately $3 million of the savings will be used for upgrades to the project, but it is not clear what the school board will decide to do with the remaining $3 million which can be returned to the bond holders or used for other capital projects. Faced with falling revenue and a proposed 4.94 percent property tax hike for the 2009-10 budget, there are some hard choices ahead for board members who did not comment on when a decision will be made.
Source: The Times Herald 3/21/09
Lower Merion moves another step toward Ardmore Station revitalization
Lower Merion Township took another vital step forward in the their quest to revitalize the Ardmore Train Station by selecting Urban Engineers as the architectural and engineering partner. Urban Engineers will work hand in hand with development partner Dranoff Properties. Carl Dranoff presented the township with its first update since November and announced that the initial $5.8 million federal grant for transit improvements was secured, and additional public funding of $6 million from the state and $10 million in commitment from SEPTA have been acquired. Dranoff’s firm recently launched a website dedicated to the project www.ArdmoreStation.com and hopes to begin Phase 1 before the end of 2010.
Source: Main Line Times 3/19/09
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