News

Pennsylvania state Rep. Tarik Khan (D-194), of Philadelphia, has introduced legislation dubbed the “Golden Girls” bill to eliminate outdated local laws that restrict how many unrelated people can live together, arguing such rules worsen the state’s housing affordability crisis and contribute to a shortage of at least 265,000 homes.

Mail delivery could slow in 2026 after the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) changed its postmark rules and raised some shipping costs, potentially affecting time-sensitive mail. Under a new policy that took effect on Dec. 24, 2025, postmarks on mail dropped in collection boxes now reflect the date an envelope is first processed by an automated sorting machine

County property taxes in Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties will increase in 2026, but Chester County taxes will stay level. Property tax rates are measured in millage, with one mill being worth $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. Bucks County commissioners voted 2-1 to adopt a roughly $517 million budget for 2026 that includes a 2.2-mill

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has signed House Bill 735, creating a Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force to study ways to make flood insurance more affordable and accessible, a move prompted by the deadly July 2023 flash floods in Bucks County that killed seven people. Sponsored by state Rep. Perry Warren (D-31), the bipartisan measure directs the

Fort Washington-based luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers reported higher fourth-quarter revenue but issued a cautious outlook for 2026, as national housing demand remains soft amid high mortgage rates and broader economic pressures. The company expects 10,300 to 10,700 home deliveries in fiscal 2026 — slightly below Wall Street projections — and

Gov. Josh Shapiro directed nearly $220 million in capital dollars to SEPTA after the Pennsylvania state budget left out new funding for the beleaguered transit organization. The fresh funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation will allow SEPTA to complete necessary safety upgrades, specifically for Regional Rail cars, and ensure the

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is emphasizing the continued importance of the mortgage interest deduction (MID) following the 2025 tax reform law, H.R.1, which preserved the benefit for qualifying homeowners. The MID allows taxpayers who itemize to deduct interest paid on a home loan — up to $750,000 on a primary or secondary residence

Philadelphia’s suburban counties are bracing for tight 2026 budgets as stagnant state funding, reduced federal support and a recently resolved Harrisburg budget impasse leave local governments preparing for higher property taxes. County officials in Chester, Montgomery, Delaware and Bucks counties say they face growing human-service needs with fewer

A new report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows first-time homebuyers made up just 21% of the U.S. market last year — the lowest share since NAR began tracking — while the average age for first-time buyers rose to 40, up from 38. NAR executive vice president Shannon McGahn warned that delayed homeownership can reduce equity

Federal programs critical to the U.S. housing market are set to resume after Congress approved legislation to fund the government and end the longest shutdown in American history. “This agreement brings programs critical to housing back online and is welcome news for Americans whose home purchases and insurance renewals have been delayed or derailed

Mayors across the United States say housing affordability has become the defining challenge of their administrations, shaping policies and priorities in cities large and small. More than half of mayors in a recent bipartisan survey expect affordability in their cities to decline over the next year, and nearly all say their residents are dissatisfied with

Camden-based American Water Works Co. and Bryn Mawr-based Essential Utilities Inc. announced plans to merge in an all-stock deal that would create a $40 billion water and utilities giant serving nearly 20 million customers in 17 states. The merger, expected to close in early 2027, will operate under the American Water name and remain headquartered in

The Pennsylvania Insurance Department reminds everyone that flood insurance remains available in Pennsylvania despite the federal shutdown, which has resulted in the National Flood Insurance Program’s temporary loss of authority to renew or issue new flood insurance policies. “The current private flood insurance market can provide consumers with

The ongoing skilled labor shortage is delaying the completion of thousands of new homes and costing the U.S. home building industry an estimated $10.8 billion per year, according to the Home Builders Institute’s (HBI) Fall 2025 Construction Labor Market Report. National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) economists found that the shortage adds $2.66

Voters in three municipalities in the Philadelphia suburbs will see referendum questions on their election ballots: West Pikeland Township, Chester County, residents will be asked if they favor raising property taxes by up to 1.5 mills in order to fund and maintain the West Pikeland Township Police Department. Read the full question on the county

The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) provides $1.3 trillion in flood insurance to 4.7 million policyholders in 23,000 communities across the United States. A lapse in NFIP authority puts an estimated 1,400 transactions a day at risk of moving forward without vital flood coverage. Because Congress failed to meet the Sept. 30 deadline to pass a

Federal operations may experience disruptions after Congress failed to pass funding legislation by the Sept. 30 deadline. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is closely monitoring the situation and working with Congress, the administration and industry partners to address impacts on NAR members. NAR has outlined eight programs where NAR members may

Aging malls and office parks across Philadelphia’s suburban counties are being reimagined as mixed-use destinations, blending housing, retail and entertainment to revive prime but underused properties. BET Investments is leading several projects, including a $300 million to $400 million overhaul of Prudential’s former 90-acre office campus in

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is urging Congress to support long-term reauthorization and reform of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Last month, senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bill Cassidy (R-LA) requested public input on 46 questions covering NFIP reauthorization, mapping, mitigation and other reforms. NAR submitted comments to

In a significant move to address the growing housing affordability crisis, a bipartisan group of lawmakers has introduced the Saving the American Dream Act. By requiring key federal agencies, including the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of the Treasury, to coordinate and share housing market data and research, the bill aims

On Sept. 5, President Donald Trump signed into law H.R. 2808, the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act, bipartisan legislation that prevents homebuyers from being inundated with unsolicited calls, texts and emails from competing lenders offering loans. Representatives John Rose (R, TN-6) and Ritchie Torres (D, NY-15) introduced the bill that seeks to restrict

Following an executive order designating English as the official language of the United States, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will transition all operations and programs to English-only communication, effective immediately. HUD will no longer provide non-English translation services, and all correspondence, publications and digital

Commuters in the Philadelphia area have faced crowded buses and skipped stops this week, following the first round of cuts to SEPTA. The nation’s sixth-largest public transit system, SEPTA is facing a $213 million operating deficit for the 2026 fiscal year, which began July 1. State legislators remain at a stalemate over funding. SEPTA recently

The term “broadband” is used to describe high-speed internet access provided by various telecommunications technologies, including cable, telephone wire and wireless. Broadband gives users the ability to send and receive data at volumes and speeds far greater than “dial-up” internet access provided over traditional telephone lines. A

Pennsylvania is one of two states where the typical newly constructed home costs more than twice as much as the typical existing home, according to an analysis by LendingTree, an online lending marketplace. Existing homes in Pennsylvania are valued at a median of $297,831, while new homes are valued at a median of $659,468 — a 121% difference. Price

SEPTA will move ahead with 20% across-the-board service cuts starting Aug. 24 despite a Pennsylvania Senate bill that would temporarily redirect unused transit capital funds to operations. At a state House Rules Committee meeting, SEPTA general manager Scott Sauer said the Senate plan — $1.2 billion over two years from capital funds plus $43 million

President Trump has signed into law H.R. 1815, the VA Home Loan Reform Act, which aims to make permanent the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs' temporary policy allowing veterans to directly compensate their real estate agents, ensuring they can participate in the housing market on equal footing with other homebuyers. The National Association of Realtors

SEPTA needs new state funding by Aug. 14 to prevent a planned round of deep service cuts from taking effect near the end of the month, transit agency officials said. The agency plans to post online new fall schedules that reflect a 20% overall cut in transit service. If the state money doesn’t come through, 32 bus routes will be eliminated and 16

A bipartisan push is gaining steam in Congress to modernize the outdated capital gains tax exclusion on home sales—an issue that’s keeping much-needed housing inventory off the market. The 28-year-old limit, unchanged since 1997, allows individuals to exclude up to $250,000 in gains from the sale of a primary residence, and $500,000 for married

The Accelerating Home Building Act (S. 2361) has been proposed to help address the nation's housing affordability crisis through streamlined construction approval processes. The legislation would establish a pilot grant program at the Department of Housing and Urban Development to fund the creation of pattern books — collections of pre-reviewed

A new report warns the potential impact of tariffs on construction costs could trigger a decline in homebuilding and homeownership across Greater Philadelphia. Proposed tariffs could decrease the number of homes built in the region by nearly 1,600 units per year and drop the homeownership rate below 50%, according to a report from Kevin Gillen, senior

President Trump recently signed into law a major tax package that includes several provisions affecting the real estate industry. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) successfully secured its top legislative priorities in the final legislation: Permanent extension of the qualified business income (QBI) deduction (Section 199A), allowing eligible

For the second time in two years, Pennsylvania lawmakers are weighing legislation that would automatically seal certain eviction records for tens of thousands of renters across the commonwealth. House Bill 1095 is a longtime wish list item for housing advocates, who say it would help tenants struggling to find safe and habitable homes because they were the

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) issued multiple mortgagee letters on June 27, implementing policy changes affecting FHA-insured, single-family loans. The changes, which took effect immediately, are part of what the Trump administration says is a broader effort to reduce regulatory burden in the housing market. The policy modifications affect

SEPTA adopted a budget on June 26 that will slash nearly half its transit service as it wrestles with a $213 million annual deficit and little hope for new funding from Harrisburg. The doomsday moment, if that is what it turns out to be, arrived with little drama — in a quick voice vote by the transit agency’s board — after six months of

The Pennsylvania Department of Revenue has released updated common level ratios (CLR), which are county-specific percentages used to convert assessed values into market values. These ratios are primarily used during tax assessment appeals, but also apply to Realty Transfer Tax (RTT) calculations in certain circumstances — for example, when a

On June 24, more than 200 Pennsylvania Realtors attended more than 120 meetings with legislators at the Capitol in Harrisburg to advocate for the passage of several bills to advance issues important to the real estate industry during PA Realtor Day on the Hill. “It takes a little effort to meet with a legislator and explain our positions on regulation

Title fraud, or deed theft, is when someone illegally transfers the title or deed of a property without the owner’s knowledge. Often, criminals use fake IDs and/or forged documents to record documents with the county recorder of deeds, transferring the property to themselves, or falsely represent themselves as the owner to list and sell a property.

The Suburban Realtors Alliance will host a webinar to discuss the role that international trade and tariffs play in shaping the housing market and real estate more broadly. “Tariffs, Trade, and the Housing Market: What You Need to Know” will be held via Zoom on Thursday, June 26, from 10 to 11 a.m. SRA CEO Jamie Ridge will be joined by Drexel

New research commissioned by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows current federal policy on capital gains taxes is steadily and quietly distorting the housing market, locking in older homeowners and limiting inventory. Under current tax law, homeowners can exclude up to $250,000 in capital gains from the sale of a primary residence, or up to

The Suburban Realtors Alliance will host a webinar to discuss the role that international trade and tariffs play in shaping the housing market and real estate more broadly. “Tariffs, Trade, and the Housing Market: What You Need to Know” will be held via Zoom on Thursday, June 26, from 10 to 11 a.m. SRA CEO Jamie Ridge will be joined by Drexel

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released an updated State Flood Disclosure Tracker to reflect recent changes in state laws requiring disclosure of property conditions, including prior flood damage. The update responds to a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) proposal that would require states to adopt a federal flood disclosure form as a

The Suburban Realtors Alliance will host a webinar to discuss the role that international trade and tariffs play in shaping the housing market and real estate more broadly. “Tariffs, Trade, and the Housing Market: What You Need to Know” will be held via Zoom on Thursday, June 26, from 10 to 11 a.m. SRA CEO Jamie Ridge will be joined by Drexel

Congress is taking steps to make permanent a provision that the Department of Veterans Affairs implemented on a temporary basis last year. The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 1815, the VA Home Loan Reform Act, by a unanimous voice vote. The act aims to codify the temporary policy, implemented in June 2024, that allows veterans to directly

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has joined 14 other housing organizations in a letter supporting the bipartisan Housing Affordability Act (S.1527), sponsored by U.S. Sens. Reuben Gallego (D-AZ) and David McCormick (R-PA). The legislation updates the Federal Housing Administration’s multifamily loan limits to reflect current construction

The Philadelphia metro area is in the top 10 metros with the oldest median homes sold in 2024, according to an analysis by the online real estate brokerage Redfin. Homes sold in the region were a median of 61 years old, built in 1963. Only 6% of homes sold last year were younger than five years old. About 78% were more than 30 years old. Nationwide, the

The Federal Insurance Office at the U.S. Department of the Treasury hosted a roundtable discussion focused on opportunities to address the cost and availability of homeowners insurance. The roundtable included representatives from various sectors, including insurers, reinsurers, state regulators, resilience and consumer groups, and academics. The National

A new report by Realtor.com reveals that Pennsylvania has some of the highest premiums on new construction in the United States. According to Affordability and Homebuilding: State-by-State Report Cards, Pennsylvania ranks fourth with an 89% premium on new construction, trailing only Kansas, Michigan and Ohio. The state's high new construction costs,

Realtors are invited to participate in the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors’ advocacy efforts, learn more about key legislative priorities and take the Realtor message to the Pennsylvania General Assembly during the PA Realtor Day on the Hill on June 23 and 24. The highlight of the event will be meeting with legislators at the Pennsylvania Capitol

SEPTA’s proposal for massive service cuts could lower property values in nearby communities, reduce tax revenues for public services and slow the economy, according to a recent economic impact analysis. On July 1, the transit agency will face a $213 million budget shortfall. Philadelphia-based consultancy Econsult Solutions calculated what it would

Judge Richard Stearns of the U.S. District Court in the District of Massachusetts has allowed the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to proceed with clawing back 78 fair housing grants awarded to fair housing organizations in 33 states. The grants, which are authorized by statute, support fair housing education and enforcement efforts in

Home builders are feeling the sting of uncertain trade policies and growing economic concerns that are adding to the challenge of building enough homes to address America’s inventory shortage. Builder sentiment in the market for new homes has been slumping for months and stayed low in April, according to the National Association of Home Builders/Wells

The Housing Supply Frameworks Act — whose bipartisan sponsors includes Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) — offers a framework for state and local governments to modernize outdated zoning and land-use regulations that hinder new housing development. “The rising cost of housing is putting the American dream out of reach for working families across

Southeastern Pennsylvania homebuyers are seeing more competition than buyers across the country. According to Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at Redfin, as most of the country is shifting into a buyer’s market, the Philadelphia region is “remaining more of a seller’s market.” The combined market of Philadelphia and Delaware

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) will investigate cuts to fair housing enforcement at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The investigation follows HUD's attempt to claw back $30 million in grants awarded to local fair housing centers. Four of the groups successfully sued to block the administration from withholding the

Judge Richard G. Stearns of the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts granted a temporary injunction stopping the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) termination of dozens of Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) grants. Fair housing groups had filed suit against HUD and DOGE after they terminated 78 HUD fair housing grants for

In a major shakeup at the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), newly confirmed director Bill Pulte has swiftly restructured leadership at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Pulte removed 14 board members from both entities, appointing himself as chairman alongside new members from hedge funds, real estate and technology sectors. The restructuring extends beyond

Pennsylvania is one of the states that’s allowed the least amount of housing to be built, and the lack of supply is hiking prices for homebuyers and renters, according to new research by the Pew Charitable Trusts. The state ranked 44th for the share of homes approved to be built from 2017 to 2023, according to a report published this week by Pew, a

Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner and Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced plans to create a joint task force to identify federal lands where affordable housing could be built. They plan to identify underutilized lands for residential development and streamline the process to transfer the lands for

Four local fair housing centers — representing a class of federal fair housing grant recipients whose grants were terminated — are suing the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). The legal action follows HUD’s termination of grants disbursed under the Fair Housing Initiatives

The Trump administration has stalled at least $60 million in funding intended largely for affordable housing developments nationwide, throwing hundreds of projects into a precarious limbo. The move is part of a flurry of funding freezes, staffing cuts and contract cancellations by the Trump administration at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban

On Feb. 28, private fair housing organizations reported that the Trump administration had terminated at least $12 million in grants awarded for local fair housing education, outreach and enforcement. Local fair housing centers, funded by the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Fair Housing Initiatives (FHIP) grant program, are often

State law requires local governments and school districts to publish public notices in print newspapers of general circulation, giving residents a chance to know what their elected representatives are doing. State Rep. Robert Freeman (D-136), of Northampton County, plans to introduce legislation that would update the nearly 50-year-old Newspaper Advertising

Pennsylvania Auditor General Timothy DeFoor’s office released the findings of a three-year audit of the state’s cyber charter schools. The audit shows five of Pennsylvania’s cyber charter schools amassed excessive reserves following rapid enrollment during the COVID-19 pandemic. Online charter schools receive taxpayer funding from the

Deep staffing cuts at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) could derail a federal agency that issues mortgage insurance for hundreds of thousands of homebuyers. The Trump administration has recommended shedding more than 40% of the staff of HUD’s Office of Housing, whose largest agency is the Federal Housing Administration (FHA).

President Donald Trump’s pledge to deport millions of undocumented immigrants has construction-industry watchers concerned about what enforcement operations might mean for the industry’s workforce, laborer working conditions and housing prices. Nationally, foreign-born workers, regardless of legal status, fill an estimated 30% of trade jobs like

Pennsylvanians can begin applying for Property Tax and Rent Rebates for the 2024 tax year. The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians who are 65 and older, widows and widowers who are 50 and older, and people with disabilities who are 18 and older. In 2023, the Pennsylvania General Assembly approved a historic expansion of the Property Tax and Rent

In his 2025-2026 budget proposal, Gov. Josh Shapiro highlighted a six-part plan and $70 million in new funding to expand affordable housing across Pennsylvania, as the cost of homes and rent has increased exponentially. “To meet the need for housing this year alone, we need more than 100,000 new homes and apartments,” he said. Shapiro’s

Realtors considering a run for a local elected office are invited to sign up for the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors’ (PAR) campaign school. The sessions are designed for candidates, campaign team staff and people interested in the democratic process of elections. View session information and register at the PAR website. Source: PA Realtors;

According to a new report from public education advocacy group Education Voters PA, Pennsylvania’s largest cyber charter school spent nearly $600,000 at car dealerships and car washes in one year, and $400,000 on entertainment expenses. The advocacy group obtained check registers through right-to-know requests from Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA).

In a sign that support for housing policy is building on Capitol Hill, the bipartisan Congressional Real Estate Caucus, which is tasked with developing legislation to address home supply and affordability, relaunched as part of the 119th Congress. The caucus formed last year with just four members and grew to more than 50 members. The National Association

The Suburban Realtors Alliance staff is updating municipal tax rates in the Municipal Database. The database is an online resource for Realtors that includes local property resale requirements, rental regulations, tax rates and other information relevant to real estate. Municipal governments approved their 2025 budgets and property tax millage rates at the

Catastrophic disasters across the United States are contributing to the rising cost of homeowners insurance, and some experts believe it will not get better without significant changes in the industry. Gregg Barrett, CEO at WaterStreet Co., which sells property insurance software, said historical data is no longer as accurate to predict future events.

The Philadelphia metropolitan area ranks fifth on Zillow’s list of the hottest markets for 2025. The affordability of its homes compared to other nearby markets and the shortage of homes for sale compared to demand have made the region one of the country’s most competitive markets. “Philly happens to be one of those markets where buyers

The median home equity for homeowning households increased by about $47,900 during the COVID-19 pandemic, from $150,146 in 2019 to $198,000 in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. The rise helped to increase the median net worth of U.S. households by about $40,000, from $136,500 in 2019 to $176,500 in 2022 (adjusted for inflation). Among more commonly

Lung health advocates are striving to teach people about an invisible risk that could be lurking in basements across Pennsylvania — radon. Radon is a radioactive gas that is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking. It comes from decaying uranium, which occurs naturally in soil and rocks, and can enter homes through foundation cracks.

County property taxes in Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties will increase in 2025, but Bucks County taxes will stay level. Property tax rates are measured in millage, with one mill being worth $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. Bucks County commissioners approved a $500 million operating budget for 2025 that maintains the 2024 property

The Real Estate Licensing and Registration Act (RELRA) regulates the practice of real estate and is being amended to clarify that the practice of wholesaling is licensed real estate activity. Anyone who wants to do a wholesale transaction for themselves or represents a wholesaler who is selling a property must have a real estate license. Act 52 of 2024,

The filing deadline to receive property tax and rent relief in Pennsylvania is Dec. 31. Thousands of dollars of rebates are still available for older adults and people with disabilities who meet the requirements. Eligible applicants can easily submit a rebate application online through myPATH. So far, 550,000 rebate applications have been processed for

Governor Josh Shapiro recently signed Executive Order 2024-04, creating the Pennsylvania Permit Fast Track Program to streamline the commonwealth’s permitting process for key economic development and infrastructure projects, increase transparency, and accelerate timelines to ensure state government delivers results quickly and efficiently. The program

National Association of Realtors president Kevin Sears joined national housing leaders for a panel reception hosted by the National League of Cities and American Planning Association. The discussion focused on the Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook, a guide that contains more than 40 strategies for state and local governments to deploy in the fight for

SEPTA's deficit is fueled by the end of federal COVID relief funding along with a drop in ridership post-pandemic. SEPTA spokesperson Andrew Busch said the agency’s goal in talks with lawmakers is "getting a permanent solution in place" to address long-term annual deficits. Should funding remain flat, the transportation agency is considering fare

Applications are now being accepted for the state’s Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for the 2024-2025 season. LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) that helps qualified residents pay their home heating bills during the winter months. Assistance is available for both

Realtors can prepare for a successful political run and gain a competitive edge over opponents by attending the Pennsylvania Realtor Campaign School offered by the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors (PAR). The sessions are designed for interested candidates, campaign team staff and anyone interested in the democratic process of elections. They are being

In September, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order creating Pennsylvania’s first comprehensive Housing Action Plan. It gave the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) and Department of Human Services one year to create a housing action plan by working with stakeholders to create a road map for building more

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, which set a 10-year deadline for cities across the nation to replace their lead pipes, finalizing an aggressive approach aimed at ensuring that drinking water is safe for all Americans. Though the dangers of lead pipes have been known for decades, there are more than nine

Restrictive racial covenants in deeds are no longer allowed or enforceable, thanks to federal law and state protections. But they still exist in the deeds of properties across the region and the country. Many homebuyers and owners are horrified when they find racist language in their own properties’ documents. Pennsylvania passed a law last December

Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 5. The Pennsylvania Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC) voter guide has information on RPAC-supported candidates.

Radnor Township School District has been ranked as the best in Pennsylvania in Niche’s 2025 Best Schools and Districts rankings. Local districts in the top 10 include: #1 Radnor Township School District #3 Tredyffrin-Easttown School District #4 Lower Merion School District #9 New Hope-Solebury School District #10 Spring-Ford Area School District

The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) is a federal program launched in 1987 that provides tax credits to developers in exchange for keeping rents low. Since its inception it has pumped out 3.6 million units nationwide. The buildings need to be kept affordable for a certain amount of time — normally a minimum of 30 years. For the wave of LIHTC

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro signed House Bill 1567 into law as Act 93 of 2024 on Oct. 2. The new law amends the Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act (MCOCA) to address and clarify how municipalities may issue certain types of temporary occupancy permits for multi-family properties that are transferring ownership. The bill makes clear that

Pittsburgh and Philadelphia alone report 29,000 and 25,000 lead pipes, respectively, and a report from the Natural Resources Defense Council noted that its numbers underestimate the problem due to a lack of data. The council report estimated that more than 660,000 service lines in Pennsylvania contain lead. “In a new level of detail, we see a

Pennsylvania has nearly 100,000 fewer housing units than it needs. Experts say federal policy could help close the gap. Economists — and now both candidates running for president — say it’s critical the country finds a way to build more housing. “It’s supply and demand,” said Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s

According to data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey, just under half of America’s renters are considered cost-burdened. The survey found that 21.1 million renters, out of 42.5 million rental households in the United States, spent 30% or more of their income on housing costs last year. The 30% threshold is commonly used

Gov. Josh Shapiro signed an executive order creating Pennsylvania’s first comprehensive Housing Action Plan. The executive order gives the state’s Department of Community and Economic Development and Department of Human Services one year to create a housing action plan by working with stakeholders to create a road map for building more

Lt. Gov. Austin Davis and Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Rick Siger announced a new $20 million Main Street Matters program supporting main streets, downtown business districts, small businesses and local communities across Pennsylvania. Main Street Matters funding is available for community revitalization efforts

Early this summer, the Pennsylvania legislature gave a boost to developers of historic buildings by increasing the annual size of the state's historic tax credit from $5 million to $20 million. The policy is meant to provide resources to developers to renovate buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but its popularity has been limited

In August, the Biden-Harris administration announced several actions to help increase the supply of affordable housing. Building on the administration’s June announcement — which the National Association of Realtors (NAR) supported, and which awarded $85 million in grants through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD)

Fifty Pennsylvania school districts with high property tax burdens will receive an extra $32 million as part of a sweeping effort to overhaul education funding in the new state budget. The supplements, which range from $50,000 to $5 million, target districts with high local taxes compared to the wealth of their residents. Many of the districts that will

In Philadelphia’s collar counties, the luxury-home market is most competitive in and around the $1 million to $1.5 million range, which has the lowest amount of supply compared to demand, the fastest sales and the highest amounts that buyers end up paying over the asking price. This spring, luxury-home buyers faced strong competition across the

A new report examines how private, for-profit companies have strategized to take over nonprofit water and sewer systems in Pennsylvania over the years. The findings provide context for any upcoming hearings on proposed water and sewer rate hikes being sought by Aqua — the third such request in the past seven years. In a report issued in July, an

New research shows Philadelphia remains a city of homeowners but is less affordable than it’s historically been — over the last few years but also over the past two decades — even as the number of homeowners remained virtually unchanged. “The affordability of the city’s market is changing. It’s absolutely changing,”

A new Pennsylvania will protect homeowners from predatory real estate practices that can strip them of their housing wealth. Act 52 of 2024 — formerly Senate Bill 1173 — will regulate third parties in real estate deals called “wholesalers,” who sign agreements of sale with homeowners and then sell those agreements to someone else.

A home repair program once passed as a landmark bipartisan initiative failed to receive funding in the new Pennsylvania budget, disappointing county officials and housing and energy advocates. The commonwealth’s Whole-Home Repairs program, championed by state Sen. Nikil Saval (D-1), of Philadelphia, originally received $125 million in funding in 2022

Thanks to funding in the new state budget, Pennsylvania is now one of six states that will offer free legal representation to low-income renters facing an eviction or another housing-related issue. The budget includes $2.5 million for a statewide right-to-counsel program. The funding will be divided among a network of legal aid programs and organizations.

With fewer than 2% of insured Pennsylvania properties carrying flood insurance, the Pennsylvania Flood Insurance Premium Assistance Task Force has new recommendations to make it more affordable. The problem is often cost. Families pay hundreds or even thousands of dollars per year on top of their regular homeowners insurance. A report published by the task

Pennsylvania lawmakers approved a $47.6 billion budget deal nearly two weeks into the new fiscal year that started July 1. Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the main spending bill on July 11 after it passed the House 122-80 and the Senate 44-5. The budget represents a 6% increase over last year’s approved spending, with most of the new money going toward

The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors (PAR) offers Advocacy Virtual Training to give members the tools they need to be engaged in PAR’s advocacy efforts and help them better represent the industry. Shifting to a virtual format beginning in 2024, members will be able to attend shorter, one-hour sessions, each focused on different aspects of the

Senate Bill 1173 was signed into law by Gov. Josh Shapiro, making it Act 52 of 2024. A priority piece of legislation of the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors (PAR), SB 1173 was overwhelmingly approved by the state Senate and unanimously approved by the House. The law, which goes into effect on Jan. 9, 2025, requires a real estate salesperson license to

The U.S. Department of the Treasury has announced new steps to address housing affordability. The plan mirrors many policies also advocated by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to help lower housing costs and increase housing supply. “Executive agencies have the power to act quickly to promote homeownership. We applaud the Biden

The Supreme Court ruled that cities can enforce bans on homeless people sleeping outdoors, even in West Coast areas where shelter space is lacking. The case is the most significant to come before the high court in decades on the issue and comes as a rising number of people in the U.S. are without a permanent place to live. In a 6-3 decision along

More than 440,000 Pennsylvanians will soon see property tax and rent rebates via direct deposit and mailed checks thanks to a push by Gov. Josh Shapiro. In a visit to Upper Darby on Monday, Shapiro announced the rebates would begin flowing into applicants’ bank accounts on July 1 via the Property Tax/Rent Rebate (PTRR) program. The initial

According to an analysis of a RealtyHop study, homebuying power in the Philadelphia metro area decreased nearly 65% from 1970 to 2022. Homebuying power is defined as the ratio of annual income to average house price. Housing has become 2.83 times more unaffordable for families in Philadelphia, as home values skyrocketed from $10,600 in 1970 to more than

On April 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) finalized revisions to the Buyer/Seller and Landlord/Tenant Lead-Based Paint Disclosure form. The changes will help agents and consumers fill out the form correctly, standardize responses and reduce errors, thereby reducing agent liability. The changes do not alter what information is required of

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced in April a new product proposal for government-sponsored enterprise Freddie Mac that would allow the agency to purchase certain single-family, closed-end second mortgages. The plan would offer borrowers an alternative way to access their home equity without surrendering a first mortgage with a more

The Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania (HECP) has launched a new website. Since 1956, HECP has been working to ensure that all Pennsylvanians have equal access to the housing of their choice regardless of their race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, familial status or disability. They assist housing

On June 5, approximately 250 Pennsylvania Realtors headed to the capitol for more than 110 legislative visits to thank senators for their support of Senate Bill 1173, which they passed on June 4, and to advocate for its passage by the Pennsylvania House. SB 1173 would require a real estate salesperson license under the Real Estate Licensing and Registration

Over the past two years, home buyers and sellers have been pummeled by three colliding forces: the highest borrowing rates in nearly two decades, a crippling shortage of inventory, and a surge in home prices. People who bought their starter home a few years ago are finding themselves frozen in place by the “rate-lock effect” — they bought

Gov. Josh Shapiro’s office announced the deadline to apply for property tax/rent rebates has been extended. The deadline for older adults and Pennsylvanians with disabilities to apply for the rebates on rent and property taxes paid in 2023 is now Dec. 31, 2024. Previously the deadline was June 30. Eligible residents include Pennsylvanians 65 and

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) recently updated its policies by increasing the fees mortgage servicers are allowed to charge — from $900 to $1,800 — when processing an assumable loan. Government-insured mortgages have the unique feature of being assumable to homebuyers. Assumable loans create opportunities for those with FHA-mortgages

Tens of millions of square feet of warehouse space have sprung up in the Philadelphia region in recent years to meet the insatiable demand for online shopping. It is altering the workforce, reshaping communities by devouring farmland, channeling truck traffic to country roads, creating environmental worries — and, more recently, sparking pushback from

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) plans to temporarily lift its ban on buyers directly paying for professional real estate representation until the agency deems it necessary to engage in a formal rulemaking process, according to comments from VA deputy director of policy Michelle Corridon. Her remarks were met with relief from the real estate

A new report shows Pennsylvania’s cyber charter schools amassing a large stockpile of assets. The Education Voters of PA report shows that the four largest cyber charter schools in Pennsylvania in 2018 had net assets and fund balances totaling $566,858; in 2022, that total had grown to $486 million. Cyber charter schools, like brick and mortar charter

A recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court could have ripple effects on the types of impact fees levied on new developments across the United States. Supreme Court justices unanimously ruled April 12 in favor of George Sheetz in Sheetz v. El Dorado County, in which the petitioner was required to pay a $23,420 county traffic-impact fee to build a

With low inventory continuing to plague the Philadelphia housing market, Toll Brothers is making a big push in the region. The Fort Washington-based luxury homebuilder has been aggressively acquiring land in the suburbs and is now in the middle of building more than 1,600 homes in the Philadelphia area. In just the past eight months, the developer spent $86

Thousands of Realtors from across the country — including members of the Bucks County Association of Realtors and Tri-County Suburban Realtors — flooded Capitol Hill on May 7, advocating for housing inventory and affordability, private property rights, and accessibility to professional representation to help more people achieve homeownership.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced its finalized Fair Lending, Fair Housing, and Equitable Housing Finance Plans to address barriers to sustainable housing opportunities. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) applauds FHFA's efforts to codify existing practices and programs, which shows a sustained commitment from the agency to remove

Philadelphia area homeowners may not know they are responsible for the pipes that run between their homes and the water and sewer mains. According to Forbes, water line repairs typically cost between $350 and $1,575, while water line replacement can cost anywhere from $1,500 to $12,000 — with most home insurance policies not covering it. Philadelphia

As vacancy rates in Pennsylvania malls pile up and mall owners face a vexing real estate problem, state lawmakers are trying to help steer the future of these properties. The Pennsylvania House passed a bill to allow local municipalities to enact a property tax abatement for 10 to 15 years if mall properties are redeveloped with multiple uses, which could

The U.S. Supreme Court will continue to wrestle with major questions about the growing issue of homelessness as it considers whether cities can punish people for sleeping outside when shelter space is lacking. Grants Pass v. Johnson is the most significant case before the high court in decades on the issue, and it comes as record numbers of people are

The latest Pennsylvania Comprehensive Housing Study, released by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) and produced in collaboration with the Housing Initiative at the University of Pennsylvania, explores statewide trends for housing. The 48-page report includes charts, tables and analysis of the latest housing data, and this year added findings on

Eviction rates are on the rise in Pennsylvania, including in the southeastern region of the state. A report released by the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, titled "After The Pause: The Rise of Eviction Filings Post-Pandemic," analyzes eviction flings documented in the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts over a five-year span from July 2018 to

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) along with the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) sent a letter to the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Federal Housing Authority, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac seeking confirmation that homebuyers will continue to have access to mortgage credit after the proposed settlement in the Burnett et al and Moehrl et al

According to late 2023 data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), suburban Philadelphia counties have some of the most expensive home prices in Pennsylvania and the nation. NAR uses the Census Bureau's American Community Survey of median housing prices for 3,112 counties and county equivalents across the U.S. Home values reflect the overall worth

Pennsylvania lawmakers on either side of the aisle agree that zoning and building code regulations are strangling the supply of new homes in the commonwealth. State Democrats and Republicans have introduced at least a dozen proposals this legislative session that would loosen these laws to encourage housing construction and reduce prices. State Sen. John

Housing is often considered a local issue, but there is a growing consensus in Harrisburg that state-level action is necessary to combat Pennsylvania’s persistent shortages and rising costs. That shift can be seen in Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s budget proposal, which would put $80 million toward funding public legal defense against evictions

The U.S. Department of Labor's (DOL) final rule regarding how workers are classified under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), issued in January, took effect on March 11. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) met with officials at DOL’s Wage and Hour Division to discuss the recent rule and its impact on the real estate industry. The meeting

As Congress continues to negotiate to avoid a government shutdown by March 22, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) is making every effort to secure a long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). The program was previously set to expire March 8, but Congress passed a short-term continuing resolution funding the government

The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency announced a state mortgage relief program will reopen in March. The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund has been closed for more than a year to resolve a backlog of applications and a series of internal problems. The assistance program first opened in January 2022 with $350 million in federal funding to help

The Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) says that a proposed U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) rule to increase a clean water standard in the Delaware River would cost it approximately $3 billion to comply — a cost customers would bear. “Without significant financial support from the state or federal government, that cost will be passed

Making homeownership more accessible has long been one of the top advocacy priorities of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and Realtors are ensuring it’s top of mind for policymakers too. Since NAR released its groundbreaking report in 2021 revealing America’s underbuilding gap of at least 5.5 million housing units, Realtors have led

Because of many years of underbuilding and homeowners with low mortgage rates deciding not to sell, not enough properties are available for sale to meet demand from buyers. Single-family home builders looking to fill the need are optimistic for 2024 — thanks to lower mortgage interest rates, which are “a promising sign” for new home sales

The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania’s Statewide Eviction Report evaluated eviction filing trends in Pennsylvania from 2018 to 2023, analyzing shifts during pre-pandemic, pandemic and post-pandemic periods, with a specific focus on communities where the changes are prominent. The report provides an in-depth analysis of eviction data, offering insights

Nearly 175,000 more Pennsylvanians are eligible this year for Pennsylvania's Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. The income limit has been increased to $45,000 — the first increase in 18 years. Another change is that the maximum standard rebate was raised from $650 to $1,000. The program benefits eligible homeowners and renters age 65 and older, widows

The U.S. Department of Labor issued the final independent contractor rule assessing how workers should be classified under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) given the department’s concerns with worker misclassification. The FLSA is the law that sets standards for minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, youth employment standards and other rules

In Pennsylvania’s school funding dilemma, there’s a little-known mechanism that pits the western half of the state against the east — the hold harmless provision. The provision dictates how 71% of state funding is spent and prevents districts with shrinking student populations from losing funding. Western school districts tend to benefit

Minneapolis became the first major city to eliminate single-family zoning in 2019, but the city has been chipping away at land-use restrictions for a decade. A new analysis from Pew Charitable Trusts reveals how those efforts are paying off. Between 2017 and 2022, Minneapolis increased its housing stock by 12%, while rents grew at just 1%. Those figures

County property taxes in Bucks, Delaware and Montgomery counties will increase in 2024, but Chester County taxes will stay level. Property tax rates are measured in millage, with one mill being worth $1 for every $1,000 of assessed property value. Bucks County commissioners approved a $486.8 million budget for 2024 that includes a 2-mill tax increase

Pennsylvania’s budget impasse ended after the divided state legislature agreed to send millions of dollars to community colleges and libraries, fund public legal defense, and create a student teacher stipend. Three budget-enabling code bills, plus dozens of other pieces of legislation, passed with broad bipartisan support, marking a sudden end to

The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority was awarded $500,000 and accepted into the Federal Railroad Administration’s program that provides funding to restore passenger rail services. The approval paves the way for a passenger train with stops in Reading, Pottstown, Phoenixville, Philadelphia and New York. Officials said the earliest the service

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing a rule that would require water systems across the country to replace millions of lead service lines within 10 years. The rule would accelerate progress toward the Biden administration’s goal of removing 100% of lead pipes; lead exposure is linked to significant health and developmental

Home buyers in the Philadelphia area have been resilient, continuing to purchase homes even as prices rise and buying has become less affordable. Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at listing service Bright MLS, called the local market’s resiliency “impressive” in the face of elevated mortgage interest rates. In November, the National

PREIT, a real estate firm that owns the Willow Grove Park Mall, Plymouth Meeting Mall, Exton Square Mall and the Cherry Hill Mall, among others, had a loss of almost $64 million in the third quarter, adding to its negative $1.1 billion balance, according to the Philadelphia Business Journal. PREIT has been negotiating a potential debt restructuring package

In many Pennsylvania communities, sewer rates have spiked as private water companies have bought up wastewater systems from local governments. The push to privatize sewer services follows the passage of a state law in 2016 that allows the dollar value of water systems to include not just pipes and plants but market factors, such as their worth to the

The Suburban Realtors Alliance (SRA) has launched a newly redesigned website. The site is more mobile friendly, more visually appealing and has new features. “We invite all 13,000 of our shareholder members to explore our new site and get the most out of the SRA as a membership benefit,” said SRA president Jamie Ridge. “Our website, with

Freddie Mac will adopt the ANSI Z765-2021 (American National Standards Institute) measuring standards as of Nov. 2, following the adoption by Fannie Mae last year. Appraisers will be required to use ANSI standards for measuring, calculating and reporting square footage of properties that require an interior and exterior inspection on loans sold to Freddie

A massive advocacy blitz by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) helped push Congress to pass a last-minute deal to avert a government shutdown and extend the authority of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). But the bipartisan agreement only funds the government through Nov. 17, meaning a new deadline looms for NFIP and other important

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is working to protect the real estate economy as a government shutdown appears increasingly likely by Oct. 1 if Congress does not pass stopgap spending measures. Without a deal to fund the government by the end of the fiscal year on Saturday, an array of government services critical to the real estate sector will

If Congress is unable to agree on the provisions of a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the federal government by the end of September, the result will be a partial shutdown of some government operations. The partial shutdown will include some federal housing, mortgage and other programs of interest to the real estate industry. Essential services, such as

MV Realty, a national real estate brokerage accused of duping homeowners into 40-year listing agreements, has filed for bankruptcy in 33 states. The company filed bankruptcy in Florida Southern District Court to restructure nearly $60 million in debt following a slew of state lawsuits — including in Pennsylvania — over its marketing practices.

According to an Aug. 30 report from Redfin, investor home purchases fell 45% in the second quarter compared to a year earlier. Redfin’s report covered 39 of the most populated U.S. metro areas. The decline outpaced a 31% drop in overall home sales and marked the fewest investor home purchases of any second quarter in seven years. Other data sources

According to an Aug. 30 report from Redfin, investor home purchases fell 45% in the second quarter compared to a year earlier. Redfin’s report covered 39 of the most populated U.S. metro areas. The decline outpaced a 31% drop in overall home sales and marked the fewest investor home purchases of any second quarter in seven years. Other data sources

Pennsylvania has made two “Top 10” lists of states from which more people move out of than move to. Pennsylvania landed on both the United Van Lines list (No. 5 in 2022) and a list published by Forbes (No. 4 in 2022). The United Van Lines study uses its own metrics and shows that employment is the top reason for leaving Pennsylvania. The Forbes

Millions of dollars that help local governments manage stormwater runoff are at stake as the Pennsylvania Supreme Court considers a lower court’s decision that a state-owned university was not required to pay because of its tax-exempt status. The decision also raises questions about whether the charges are even legal. Commonwealth Court ruled the

Three sets of bills in the Pennsylvania legislature would amend the governing laws for boroughs, second class townships and third class cities to allow the local governments to hire professional firms as municipal managers. First class townships have had the option since 2020. Under current law, Pennsylvania municipalities can only appoint individuals as

Philadelphia's suburbs used to have the most housing under construction in the region. Now building is mostly happening in the city. The suburban housing crunch is caused by a shortage of land, campaigns to preserve green space, and a powerful antidevelopment sentiment among incumbent homeowners, say suburban builders and county officials. Those housing

In 2022, the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PHFA) launched a program to help homeowners clear mortgage and utility debt. The program, dubbed the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF), offers individual grants of up to $50,000 to homeowners financially impacted by the pandemic. But of the more than 24,600 homeowners who applied for a grant,

A long-shuttered swim club in Northampton Township could be transformed into Playa Raya, an all-abilities splash and sports park designed to serve individuals with special needs and their families while acting as a potential national model for inclusive recreation. Led by Rabbi Yehuda “Yudy” Shemtov of Chabad Lubavitch of Bucks County, the $6

Newly elected Haycock Township supervisors voted unanimously on Jan. 5 to reopen the previously approved $805,900 budget for 2026. Officials said the township finished about $155,000 under budget last year due to increased earned income tax revenue, unexpected PennDOT winter weather funds and reduced employee benefit costs, a sharp turnaround from last

Solebury Township supervisors unanimously approved a 2026 budget with no increase in municipal taxes, keeping the overall rate at 25.91 mills, though 41 property owners in the Carversville area of town will see a $20 increase in their street lighting assessment. During the meeting, the board also announced the township’s annual electronic waste

Warrington Township officials unanimously approved plans for a new residential development called Valley Ridge, which will bring 32 townhouses to a 4.5-acre site along the 700 block of Easton Road between Georges Lane and Valley Square Boulevard. Proposed by Carlino Commercial Development of Montgomery County, the project includes townhomes built in groups

Telford Borough Council approved a new rental inspection program effective Jan. 1, 2026, requiring biannual inspections and annual rental license registrations. The program is designed to address issues like broken HVAC systems and damaged windows, with inspections requiring the presence of either the tenant or property owner. Exemptions include

Bucks County commissioners voted 2-1 to adopt a roughly $517 million budget for 2026 that includes a 2.2-mill property tax increase. The 8% millage rate increase — from the current 27.45 to 29.65 mills — will close an operational budget deficit of more than $16 million, while adding an extra $72 annually for an average property owner’s tax

Coatesville Area School District is preparing to shutter two elementary schools — Caln and East Fallowfield — at the end of the school year, open a new one, and realign its attendance boundaries. The new Doe Run Elementary — which will open in August on the former South Brandywine Middle School site — will feed to Scott Middle

Middletown Township is proposing a 2026 budget that would raise real estate taxes by 6.08 mills — from 19.025 to 25.105 — and double the earned income tax (EIT) from 0.5% to 1%. If passed, it would mark the first major tax increase in 16 years and result in an average annual cost increase of nearly $500 per household. Residents discussed the

Langhorne Borough Council will consider a draft ordinance that would create a Residential Rental Housing Registration Program, set administrative procedures for registering rental properties, and establish fees and penalties for noncompliance. The public hearing and vote are scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at Borough Hall, 114 E. Maple Ave. A

West Rockhill Township supervisors have advanced a 2026 budget that includes a 34% property tax increase — the first increase in 15 years — raising the millage rate from 7.25 mills to 9.75 mills to help cover a significant rise in Pennridge Regional Police Department costs. The increase amounts to an additional $73 per year for the average

New Britain Township Council will consider ordinances overhauling its sewer and on-lot septic regulations. The proposals would revise Chapter 18 of the township code by deleting two sections, creating a new Chapter 18A with updated discharge standards, sewer connection rules, property-transfer inspection requirements, and regulations for grease disposal and

The preliminary 2026 budget for Northampton Township proposes a 2.75 mill real estate tax increase to support expanded emergency services and public safety. If approved without change, a home assessed at the township median value of $40,000 will see the 2026 real estate tax bill increase by $110 for a total or $1,410 per year. The budget documents and

The Borough of Trumbauersville has released its draft 2026 general fund budget for public inspection. Council will hold a public hearing on Thursday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. at the municipal building, 1 Evergreen Dr., to consider adopting an ordinance that would establish a fire tax and related regulations to support local fire companies, as well as adopting the

A nationwide survey compiled by the National Association of Realtors found that the median first-time homebuyer is 40 years old. Although the broader Philadelphia metro area, which includes Bucks County, has a slightly younger median homebuyer age of 38, In Bucks County, census data show that people buying homes are getting older, mirroring the national

The Nov. 12 Langhorne Borough Council meeting agenda included a motion to advertise a “Proposed Rental Registration Ordinance.” The borough’s current regulations do not require registration of rental properties, only a change of tenant form. Council next meets on Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers, 114 E. Maple Ave. Source:

A failing septic system has forced part of the Haycock Township Community Center to close, halting plans by the Haycock Fire Company to use the space as a banquet hall after investing about $400,000 and extensive volunteer work. The Bucks County Board of Health issued a cease-and-desist order, meaning no events can be held in the banquet hall area until the

Morrisville School District Superintendent Andrew Doster warned families on Nov. 3 that all school operations could be suspended by Jan. 30 if Pennsylvania lawmakers fail to pass a state budget soon. The 850-student district, which depends on the state for over half its funding, has been operating with less than 50% of its annual revenue due to both state

At its Oct. 23 meeting, the Quakertown Community School Board voted 5-4 to temporarily withhold 25% of payments to charter schools due to the ongoing state budget impasse and subsequent delay in state funding. The board’s resolution argues that charter schools should share the financial burden until the 2025-2026 state budget is enacted and funding

The Bucks County Association of Realtors’ has posted a recording of its recent webinar — Housing that Works: Smart Growth & Affordable Solutions for Bucks County. The program was hosted by Jamie Ridge, CEO of Suburban Realtors Alliance, with two guests — State Rep. Jim Prokopiak (D-140), sponsor of a new bill (HB 529) promoting smart

Wrightstown Township supervisors voted to approve advertisement of a proposed ordinance amendment that would require township property owners to maintain trees and vegetation along rights of way. The purpose of the amendment is to prevent trees, vines, shrubs, branches and other landscaping from becoming nuisances or hazards by infringing upon or

About 5,000 acres of land in Bucks County are enrolled in a state program called Clean and Green that gives large landowners significant tax cuts for keeping their property undeveloped. Land designated as "agricultural reserve" under the law is supposed to be open for public recreation, such as hunting, hiking and snowmobiling — but many land owners

Perkasie Borough Council unanimously voted to formally oppose a proposed plan to build 75 luxury apartments on a Light Industrial-zoned parcel next to the Perkasie Square shopping center. The developer, Perkasie Place LLC, is seeking zoning variances to allow residential use on the site, arguing the land lacks viable industrial or commercial potential.

Second quarter sales reports have homes in Levittown selling faster than anywhere else in the Greater Philadelphia region. An analysis of the country’s hottest housing markets from the Business Journals was based on quarterly listing and sales data from ZIP codes with at least 10 sales in the quarter. It shows that the average home in Levittown's

Solebury Township supervisors recently discussed preliminary budget figures for 2026. Although spending will increase by 1.5%, a 3.7% increase in revenue and a surplus of about $57,000 will allow the township to maintain the current real estate tax rate of 25.9 mills. The supervisors will take up formal budget discussions in November. Supervisors also

Middletown Township supervisors approved a plan from W.B. Homes for 34 townhomes at the former Knights of Columbus property at 1492 Woodbourne Road in the Levittown section of the township. The development is the first to be approved using an amended zoning ordinance that allows townhomes in the Professional Zoning District when 20% of the proposed homes

Chalfont Borough Council will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. to consider the adoption of proposed Ordinance No. 476 that will repeal and replace Ordinance No. 335 — Certificates of Occupancy. The public notice states the change in the ordinance is “to address the changing real estate market within the community.”

A Pennsylvania program called Clean and Green (Act 319 of 1974), created to help farmers keep their land by lowering property taxes, now largely benefits nonfarming landowners in Bucks County. More than 5,000 Bucks County property owners pay lower property taxes through enrollment in the state program, an amount that totals about $3 million in tax cuts.

Buckingham Township officials recently announced that the developer of a proposed 150,000-square-foot warehouse near Doylestown Airport is switching gears with a plan to build 40 houses. The warehouse plan has been protested by Buckingham residents and neighboring municipalities, citing truck traffic. Buckingham supervisors rejected the warehouse proposal

New Britain Borough Council recently voted to advertise a proposed noise ordinance. The council is looking to limit disruptive sounds caused by motorized or power equipment, music, repetitive and sustained sounds from business activities, gas-powered vehicles, incessant barking from dogs, and other sounds from domesticated animals. During the discussion,

The last countywide reassessment of Bucks County properties was in 1972 — and current county commissioners say there is no movement to authorize a new one. Standard measures show that Bucks County's property taxes are a bit off, with data from 2023 and 2024 suggesting that people with more expensive properties are paying less than they should, while

The rising cost of housing was the focus of a state House Majority Policy Committee roundtable on Sept. 9 in Bucks County, hosted by state Rep. Jim Prokopiak (D-140). He noted that, since 2017, rents and home prices in the region have climbed 50%, straining families and essential services. “We need to find ways to lower the cost of housing and make

Morrisville Municipal Authority Resolution #24-06 adds inspections of water service supply lines and sewer service collection lines at point-of-sale. The water line inspection is necessary to check that the supply line is not an older iron or galvanized steel pipe, which are no longer approved materials. The sewer line inspection is a video inspection of

Toll Brothers recently opened sales for homes in Lyondale Meadows in Newtown. The developer found overwhelming demand for the homes — receiving 21 deposits for 45 available homes in the first week — and shut down sales temporarily. Lyondale Meadows, located just north of Newtown Township's municipal offices, has a starting price point of $1.6

Doylestown Township officials approved plans to subdivide a property at 405 Edison Furlong Road. Approximately 50 acres will be divided into 11 large residential lots ranging in size from two acres to just over eight acres, and the existing 14,000-square-foot residence will remain on a 17-acre lot. The lots will be sold individually, with the buyer being

Langhorne Manor Borough Council is considering the enactment of an earned income tax (EIT) that will take effect in January 2026 to bolster township revenues. The borough advertised a notice in error on Aug. 13, and noted that a corrected notice will be advertised shortly. Borough officials have posted more information about the EIT on the borough website.

Newtown Township officials recently received plans for the Goodnoe property in the heart of the township’s boutique business district. A mix of apartments and retail show a four-story building and 73 one- and two-bedroom units on the 3.3-acre parcel along North Sycamore Street. The development, called Goodnoe Homestead, is comprised of 90% apartments

Gov. Josh Shapiro visited the Keystone Trade Center in Bucks County to promote the PA Permit Fast Track Program. The program speeds up permitting processes for high-impact economic development projects in the commonwealth and is helping Amazon Web Services rapidly move forward with a data center in Falls Township at the Keystone Trade Center. The $20

Pulte Homes has purchased the former Eisenhower Elementary property in the Levittown section of Middletown Township from the CIBC Foundation for $4.1 million. Westrum Development Co. secured approval for 66 townhomes on the 14-acre site from Middletown Township, but never acquired the land. Pulte Homes will make good on an original plan to donate $200,000

Drivers in Bucks County could soon pay more to cross the Delaware River under a proposed toll increase by the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission. The proposal would raise E-ZPass rates for passenger vehicles by 50 cents and toll-by-plate rates by $2 starting in 2026. Larger vehicles would see increases of $2 to $3 per axle, depending on the payment

Bucks County Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (R, PA-1) has sent a letter to the head of the nation's Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Lee Zeldin, expressing concern over a proposed development in Lower Makefield and its impact on stormwater and the environment. "As the EPA has jurisdiction over the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and other

The Next Step Programs (TNS), a Doylestown Borough nonprofit, recently announced the selection of Union Studio Architecture & Community Design as the lead Vision 2030 architecture firm. Union Studio will help build an inclusive housing and workforce development campus for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in the Doylestown

The Suburban Realtors Alliance (SRA) has formally requested that Warrington Township revise its process for issuing Use and Occupancy (U&O) certificates during real estate transactions. In a letter sent to township officials, the SRA expressed concern that the municipality is withholding U&O certificates due to unpermitted work, such as HVAC or

Middletown Township supervisors granted preliminary plan approval for Farms Edge at Shady Brook after developer Fox Lane Homes reduced the density of the project. The latest plan for the age-qualified neighborhood has 129 total homes — 42 single-family detached homes expected to sell for about $1.1 million each, 14 twin homes to be priced around

A top priority for Tinicum Township officials is the reopening of Headquarters Road bridge — a historic structure closed since 2011. The township sees the span as crucial for reconnecting communities and improving local infrastructure. It took ownership of the bridge from PennDOT and has secured the necessary financing to get the project on track, but

On July 2, the Centennial School Board voted 5-4 to pass a $151.6 million budget for 2025-2026 that includes a 3.75% tax increase. The new real estate tax rate will increase the bill of a home assessed at the district average by $133. The district missed a June 30 deadline to pass an operating budget for the coming school year. Not having a budget approved

At a special meeting on June 26, the Centennial School Board failed to pass a proposed $156.4 million budget for the 2025-2026 school year. The proposed budget included a 4% tax increase that would raise the tax bill for the average property in the district by $144. Outgoing Superintendent Dr. Dana Bedden explained the ramifications of not passing the

The Neshaminy School Board approved a final $226.4 million budget for the 2025-2026 school year. The budget includes a tax increase of 4.7%, the maximum allowed under the state Act 1 index, and it cuts an itinerant music teacher position. Students and residents voiced opposition to the cut to the district’s award-winning music program, arguing that

Bridgeton Township supervisors are considering adoption of a zoning amendment ordinance that would add provisions for the establishment of an accessory short-term rental use in the township, establishing regulations related to the use, permit requirements and other regulations. A hearing will be held on Wednesday, July 9, at 7 p.m., at 1370 Bridgeton Hill

The Pennridge School Board approved a $163.2 million budget for the 2025-2026 school year that includes a 3.65% tax increase. The real estate millage rate will rise from 135.2555 mills to 140.1892 mills. The board also voted to keep the current 1% earned income tax, 0.5% real estate transfer tax and $5 local services tax. Real estate taxes generate about

Perkasie Borough has announced the official acquisition of the Kratz family’s garden property, solidifying its place as a permanent part of the borough’s park system. The Kratz family allowed the borough to use the privately owned land for a seasonal community garden since 2007. Managed by the Perkasie Parks and Recreation Department, residents

Falls Township relies heavily on landfill host fees to support its annual budget — but according to a financial report commissioned by the township but not shared with the public, township officials need to make some tough decisions before that revenue stream runs dry in a few years. The Bucks County Courier Times reviewed the draft financial report

Two neighboring Upper Makefield Township properties, once the center of a court battle over the proposed development of a house of worship, are again the topic of discussion in the township. The current plan has a property at 1458 Wrightstown Road reduced from 13 acres to three acres, with the neighboring property, under the same ownership, increasing from

Amazon has announced it will open a data center for its AI and cloud computing technologies in Falls Township. The company will also build a data center in Luzerne County. The plan, confirmed by Amazon and Gov. Josh Shapiro, is part of a $20 billion facilities investment in Pennsylvania that is expected to create at least 1,250 new, high-skilled jobs in the

Warminster Township has created a new guide for its use and occupancy application process. The guide can be accessed by visiting the township's Residential Use and Occupancy webpage and clicking the link for the "Residential Use & Occupancy Application Process Outline." The new guide includes information on the new sewer lateral inspection requirement

Middletown Township supervisors granted preliminary and final land development for a 42-unit affordable housing apartment building. The project — called Meadow Brook Apartments — will be constructed on the Woods Services property near Route 1 and South Pine Street (Route 413). Phase One of the development includes 42 units — 29

Chalfont Borough Council will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, June 10, at 7 p.m. at Chalfont Borough Hall, 40 N. Main St., to consider the adoption of a proposed ordinance that will allow for the inspection of public sewer connections and set standards for on-lot septic systems. The proposed ordinance will set forth definitions, prohibited discharge

Langhorne Borough Council has been discussing the enactment of several housing- and building-related ordinances. The first proposed ordinance — a residential rental registration ordinance — looks to be heading to advertisement, which is a required step before it can be considered for enactment. The May 29 work session agenda included a line item

Ivyland Borough Council will conduct a public hearing on Wednesday, June 11, at 7 p.m. at the Harold S. Hobensack Municipal Complex, 991 Pennsylvania Ave., to consider the adoption of a proposed ordinance to amend established standards for the keeping of domesticated chickens. The proposed amendments will add definitions for “domesticated

Solebury Township supervisors will hold a hybrid public hearing on Tuesday, June 17, at 6 p.m. to receive public comment and testimony on a proposed tax to support Central Bucks Emergency Medical Services. The hearing will take place at the township building, 3092 Sugan Road. The ordinance would levy an annual tax of 1.2902 mills to fund ambulance, rescue,

Falls Township supervisors reviewed a sketch plan for the latest version of a development at the corner of Trenton and Tyburn roads. Joy Sill-Hopkins is proposing 54 townhouses on the 4.5-acre group of parcels. Supervisor Erin Mullen characterized the location as “a difficult place to build” because it is one of the busiest traffic corners in

Area residents gathered at a recent Bensalem Township Planning Commission meeting to express concern about plans for a new 70-home development next to Resurrection Cemetery. The meeting, however, was canceled just a few hours before it was scheduled to start. The planning commission agenda listed a development from Toll Brothers and a sketch plan for

The Central Bucks school board unanimously agreed to a proposed final budget for the 2025-2026 school year that will raise taxes by 5.9%. If adopted without change, the $432.4 million budget plan will include a property tax increase of about $328 for a market value home of $635,000. It would be the fifth consecutive increase for Central Bucks, having raised

Fox Lane Homes presented an updated plan for age-restricted housing on 53 acres bordering Shady Brook Farm in Middletown Township. The new plan calls for 150 carriage homes for residents 55 and older, which is down from the 161 units proposed in February. Joe Morrissey, founder of Fox Lane Homes, said the changes came after discussions with the township and

The Regal Barn Cinema at the Barn Plaza is slated for demolition and redevelopment — but the vision held by municipal planners for outdoor restaurant seating may differ from what developer Brixmor Development Group planned to propose. Three mixed-use buildings totaling more than 40,000 square feet are planned. Judy Hendrickson, chair of the Doylestown

Langhorne Borough Council is scheduled to vote on the advertisement of a residential rental housing registration program ordinance. Borough officials have discussed the enactment of several housing and building related ordinances since January. Meeting minutes from March 12 have Interim Borough Manager Mary Zimmerman asking council to consider adopting

Bucks County property records show New Jersey-based Greek Real Estate Partners has purchased a more than 141,000-square-foot warehouse on a 10-acre lot along the Delaware River in Croydon. The site at 120 Phyllis Drive has about 3,000 square feet of office space, 20 tailgate doors, one drive-in door, 36-foot clear height, and 260 parking spaces and 31

Yardley Borough Council is considering a draft ordinance regulating short-term lodging. The proposed ordinance sets definitions for bedroom, dwelling, dwelling unit, local contact person, rental and short-term lodging; sets forth regulations for the rental of short-term lodging, restricting it to the C-1 (Pedestrian-Oriented Commercial) and C-2 (Vehicular

About 100 acres of the nearly 300-acre Woods Services campus in Middletown was recently rezoned through an overlay ordinance that includes plans for an affordable apartment building. The rezoning corrects a longstanding zoning error and adjusts the proposal process for the nonprofit’s future developments, according to township officials. The overlay

Doylestown Borough Council adopted a resolution asking Central Bucks School District to abandon plans to close Linden Elementary School. The resolution also asks the district to ensure that both Linden and Doyle elementary schools remain open and operational at their current locations. Councilman Ben Bell introduced the resolution calling on the district to

Two open-air shopping centers in Newtown and Bensalem have been purchased for $28.9 million. Goodnoe’s Corner, at North Sycamore Street and Durham Road, sold for $15.3 million, and Village Center, 2363 Pasqualone Blvd., Bensalem, sold for $13.5 million. Palladino Development Group recently sold the properties to a joint venture — ShopOne Centers

Central Bucks School District has announced that its “Update the Eight” renovation plan has been paused. The district held months of meetings and developed architectural plans for the multimillion dollar renovation proposal for eight of its elementary schools. A letter sent by Superintendent Steve Yanni says the pause is economic: “The

Bucks County commissioners refuted rumors circulating on social media that they plan to convert a former law library in the Administration Building into a homeless shelter. Commissioners Diane Ellis-Marseglia, Gene DiGirolamo and Chairperson Bob Harvie addressed the claims during a recent public meeting. “The space is going to be used by Human

Developer Toll Brothers has finalized the purchase of an 8.6-acre property in New Britain Township near the intersection of West Butler Avenue and County Line Road. The homebuilder paid $2.5 million for the land next to a Wawa at 525 W. Butler Ave., facing the New Britain Village Square. The sale closed recently, but the plans for the development have been

Northampton Township supervisors recently approved plans for the sale and redevelopment of the former police station in the heart of Richboro. The vacant building sits on 1.3 acres between the Bucks County Courthouse and the former Bucks County Courier Times satellite office. Two proposals were received by the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority for the

Members of the Richland Township Planning Commission recently voted to recommend a zoning change for 140 acres east of Old Bethlehem Pike. The proposal would rezone 115 parcels from Rural Agricultural to Suburban Residential Low, paving the way for a future low-density residential development. The neighboring Twin Lakes subdivision would also be rezoned

As of March 10, the Warminster Municipal Authority (WMA) is requiring point-of-sale sewer lateral inspections for property transfers. When the requirement was first enacted, WMA documents stated that, in the event of a failed inspection, repairs needed to be made prior to sale — but that language did not comply with state law, and it has since been

The Warminster Municipal Authority (WMA) is requiring point-of-sale sewer lateral inspections as of March 10. Warminster Township passed an ordinance for sewer lateral inspections to prevent extra water from flowing into the WMA wastewater treatment plant during wet weather. The overflows are believed to originate through inflow and infiltration. Inflow is

The third phase of NorthPoint Development’s Keystone Trade Center in Falls Township is shifting gears. The developer has approval for distribution facilities at the former U.S. Steel property but is now looking at building data centers. The company plans to build 10 different one- or two-story structures across 247 acres, eventually totaling more than

Langhorne Borough Council continued discussion of a proposed rental housing and inspection program ordinance at its Feb. 27 work session. The meeting minutes include a discussion of a fire inspection ordinance and registration of rental properties, including a draft rental property registration form, and review of the Residential Rental and Resale

The Brownsville Road bridge over Neshaminy Creek will close on March 31 to undergo a $12.1 million bridge replacement project. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation announced the closure, which will affect travelers in Lower Southampton and Middletown townships. The bridge will be replaced with a new structure that is 24 feet longer and nearly 10

East Rockhill Township granted final approval for a 24-home development off Three Mile Run Road after a settlement agreement between the township and developer Pennington Property Group. The developer reduced the density of the project by half, added road and traffic improvements on Three Mile Run Road, and must install concrete stormwater basin posts.

Langhorne Borough Council is following the recommendation of a consultant and moving forward with a rental housing registration and inspection program ordinance. The council meeting minutes from Jan. 8 show an approach that requires three new ordinances — the first is the rental housing registration and inspection ordinance, the second would provide

Hilltown Township supervisors approved the preliminary plan for a 17-single-family-home subdivision along South Perkasie Road. The Weidner Tract subdivision would be built on two parcels with four lots situated in neighboring East Rockhill Township. Developers with the project are now moving forward with final permitting and waiver approvals. Final approval

A leak in a Sunoco pipeline off Mount Eyre Road continues to dominate discussion in Upper Makefield Township. The leak from a 2.5-inch crack in a petroleum pipeline was described as a “slow drip” by Sunoco officials. It was discovered in January, but reports of water tasting and smelling of gas came from residents as early as September 2023.

The Solebury Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the purchase of the site of the former New Hope Crushed Stone quarry, now 166 reclaimed acres of land with a 75-acre lake. The township plans to offset the $2.4 million purchase price by seeking outside funding. There is a 45-day review period, during which environmental testing will occur to

The Pennridge School Board curriculum committee recently unveiled a proposal for a full-day kindergarten program at all district elementary schools. The proposal would phase in the program over two years, with a lottery system to select students for the full-day program in the 2025-2026 school year, followed by a universal full-day program in the 2026-2027

The Newtown Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority (NBCJMA) has proposed the construction of a new wastewater treatment plant near the border of Middletown Township at Newtown Bypass and Lower Silver Lake Road, but a decision on whether to move forward with the plan is not expected until all studies and reports are complete later this year. NBCJMA initially

Upper Makefield Township residents have reported that two more wells have tested positive for chemical contamination near a recent pipeline leak in Washington Crossing. The wells are outside the boundaries of the area where pipeline operator Sunoco believed an earlier identified leak could have spread. Complaints of strange odors and tastes from well water

About 75 residents crowded into the Upper Makefield Township supervisors meeting in early February after a jet fuel leak was discovered from a pipeline under Washington Crossing. The meeting was attended by residents and representatives of the township, state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety

Chalfont Borough has received a $225,000 state grant to help complete a crucial segment of the Northern Neshaminy Greenway Trail, a 33-mile recreational route that spans Bucks County. The money will help complete a section of the trail in the Lindenfield Townhomes development, located off Route 152/Main Street. The completion of the trail was not without

The Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania (HECP) and Creekside Apartments in Bensalem Township entered into a conciliation agreement, resolving allegations that the company discriminated against prospective tenants with disabilities who called to request reasonable accommodations. A consumer complaint led to findings of extra fees for emotional support

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has included a contaminated area of Nockamixon to the state’s Priority List of Hazardous Sites for Remedial Response. The Bucks County Health Department first notified the DEP of trichloroethylene groundwater contamination on properties along Brennan Road in 2009. A former farm, the 77

Chalfont Borough Council is considering a proposed ordinance that will amend the borough code in response to new regulations required by Chalfont-New Britain Township Joint Sewage Authority. The proposed ordinance will create new Parts 1-8 of Chapter 327, concerning: definitions, prohibited discharge standards, sewer connections, prohibition of encroachment

Langhorne Borough officials have announced that a revised 2025 budget is available for public inspection at Borough Hall, 114 E. Maple Ave., Monday through Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Langhorne Borough Council will consider adoption of the revised 2025 budget proposal at its meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 12, at 7 p.m. Source: Langhorne Borough

Rhode Island-based Ocean State Job Lot bought the 190,000-square-foot Fairless Hills Shopping Center in Falls Township for $23.6 million, according to Bucks County property records. Ocean State Job Lot, a discount retailer, will act as owner-operator. A Grocery Outlet is planned to open at the shopping center, and other tenants include indoor entertainment

W.B. Homes president Chris Canavan recently appeared before Middletown Township supervisors to request a zoning “tweak” that would allow the developer to build 34 units — more than what is permitted under current zoning — on the former Knights of Columbus property in the Levittown section of the township. The developer has joined

Fort Washington-based homebuilder Toll Brothers purchased a 61-acre property at 107 Twining Bridge Road in Newtown. Toll acquired the undeveloped parcel that sits next to All Saints Cemetery from Philadelphia Catholic Cemeteries LLC, which is affiliated with the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The company plans to build 45 single-family homes at the site that

YWCA Bucks County was awarded $1.24 million in grant funding to advance its work in assisting the homeless. The gift from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund is the largest single donation received in the 70-year history of the YWCA Bucks County. YWCA representatives plan to use the money to increase their capacity to serve more individuals and families

Wrightstown Township supervisors adopted a $4.14 million budget for 2025 that includes a tax increase. The property tax rate for the township will increase from the current 12 mills to 13.5 mills to help cover a deficit in the general fund. The general fund is the portion of the budget that accounts for essential township services like police coverage,

Richland Township supervisors unanimously adopted a $7.8 million budget for 2025 that does not increase taxes. The tax structure will remain the same as 2024, with 10.55 mills dedicated to support the township general fund and a 3-mill “fire tax” to support fire companies. The township’s open space budget supports land conservation

Middletown Township supervisors approved a $45.1 million operating budget for 2025 that does not increase the 19-mill tax rate. Homeowners with a property assessed at the township average of $29,410 can expect a tax bill of $560. Township officials are warning that maintaining the real estate tax rate in 2026 may be impossible, with Supervisor Dana Kane

The Central Bucks School Board approved spending $235 million for renovations to five of the district’s 15 elementary schools. The money will be directed toward improvements including new electrical systems, updated libraries, and new roofs at Barclay, Buckingham, Gayman, Titus and Warwick elementary schools. Discussions continue on the future of

Bucks County released its preliminary operating budget for 2025 that maintains the current tax rate. The $498.7 million budget includes a 2.4% increase in expenditures; however, revenues are projected to increase at the same rate. The current county property tax rate is 27.45 mills. The average residential property in Bucks County has a tax-assessed value

Upper Makefield Township supervisors approved the final budget for 2025 that maintains the current 6.45-mill tax rate. A mill is equal to $1 of each $1,000 of assessed property value, so a property assessed at $70,000 will pay $451 in township real estate taxes. The township’s portion is only one component of a property tax bill, along with school and

The Woods School will appear before the Middletown Township planning commission on Wednesday, Dec. 4, to seek a rezoning of its property in the township to enable the construction of over 200 apartments. Woods wants an overlay zone because the current residential zoning, which allows only single-family homes, “doesn’t make sense,” said an

Durham Township unveiled a preliminary $752,860 budget for 2025 that does not include a real estate tax increase. The township raised taxes by 2 mills in 2024. One mill is equal to $1 of tax for every $1,000 of assessed property value. A mill is worth about $38, and the average Durham property value assessment is $28,800. Supervisor Kathleen Gentner brought

According to Bucks County tax parcel data reviewed by the Bucks County Courier Times, a homeowner’s municipal tax bill can range from $35 to almost $1,600 — with the average coming in around $503. The tax rates are based on the average tax-assessed value of residential properties and current millage rates. A mill is a tax of $1 for every $1,000

Toll Brothers has purchased a vacant 17-acre site in Sellersville. The property is at 716 Lawn Ave., east of Route 309, between Cathill Road and Farmers Lane and just south of the newly expanded Grand View Hospital. The plans for the site include 72 carriage-style townhomes for 55-plus active adults. Named Regency at Rockhill Ridge, Toll Brothers

Central Bucks School District has announced the six elementary schools where a full-day kindergarten pilot program will launch for the 2025-2026 school year: Cold Spring Elementary School Doyle Elementary School Groveland Elementary School Jamison Elementary School Kutz Elementary School Mill Creek Elementary School The pilot program will run in two

Nearly $2 million dollars in state funds have been allocated for projects in Bristol Borough and Bristol Township. Bucks County Technical High School will benefit from a $1 million investment for campus renovations. The funding, which was obtained in partnership with the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority, will be used for extensive structural

Lower Makefield Township General Election ballots included an open space referendum question asking residents if they approve the township incurring $15 million dollars of debt to acquire and preserve environmental areas and open space. Unofficial results show voters approved the referendum with 69% voting “Yes” and 31% voting “No”.

New Britain Borough Council will hold a public hearing to consider adoption of a proposed sign ordinance that will repeal and replace current guidelines. The hearing will be held at the meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 7:30 p.m., at Burkart Hall, 56 Keeley Ave. The draft ordinance sets the purpose of the sign regulations, the scope and applicability of the

A century ago, a bridge carried trolleys over Newtown Creek on their way to Doylestown. A stone abutment remains there today. Soon, a pedestrian bridge will be built at the site connecting Newtown Township and Newtown Borough, with the help of a $1 million state grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority. It came out of a grant application from Newtown

Lower Makefield Township voters will see a ballot question at the polls on Nov. 5. The ballot question seeks voter approval to spend $15 million for “the preservation of environmental areas and open space for passive recreational purposes and benefits within the township,” according to a resolution approved by township supervisors. Township

Bristol Borough Council has approved a roughly $286,800 bid from J and B Construction for the Maple Beach Trail and parking improvements project. The borough received a $250,000 grant that will cover most of the project’s costs. The plan is to extend the trail from the new Maple Beach bridge to the waterfront parking lot and add 10 parking spaces on

The Bristol Fire Company, America Hose, Hook and Ladder Fire Company, Goodwill Hose Company, and Bristol Consolidated Volunteer Fire Company have been moving toward consolidation after the results of a 2021 study by the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. The study recommended that the borough update its fire code, establish a

Herring Properties appeared before the Bristol Township Zoning Hearing Board to introduce new plans for 3113 and 3105 Veterans Highway. The properties are vacant and were once home to the former O’Connor Freightliner location. In 2022, a New Jersey developer had looked to build a hotel, fast food restaurant, automotive repair shop and mini-warehouse

Erin Development Company is planning to build 44 townhomes and six duplex units on the site of the former Oliver Heckman Elementary School, which closed in 2016. The 8.2-acre property spans Middletown Township and Langhorne Borough. Preliminary plans were recently shared with Langhorne Borough officials. The plans include two stormwater basins and about two

The Falls Township Police Department has announced the initiation of a new outreach program to support the homeless population in Bucks County. The program is named Direct Appeal to Support Bucks County’s Homeless (DASH) and it has placed donation boxes in businesses, faith-based entities and civic organizations that have partnered with the police

East Rockhill Township supervisors are considering a proposed ordinance that creates a new Part 5 to Chapter 18 of the municipal code, entitled “Individual and Community Sanitary Sewage Disposal Systems.” The proposed ordinance sets the requirements for permits and maintenance, provides for the right of entry and inspections, establishes proper

The Neshaminy School Board approved a two-phase redistricting of its elementary schools. Superintendent Jason Bowman sent a letter to parents explaining that the redistricting will occur in two phases. The first phase will see nearly 600 students from Pearl S. Buck Elementary School in Levittown move into the new, $51 million Core Creek Elementary School

At an Oct. 7 meeting, Penndel Borough Council will consider proposed Ordinance No. 2024-03, which will create a residential rental inspection program. If adopted, all residential rental properties will be required to register with the borough and be inspected. According to the proposed ordinance, inspections will include electrical components, plumbing,

Bensalem Economic Development Corp. (BEDC) recently met with the new owners of the Neshaminy Mall. Paramount Realty closed on the purchase of the mall in Bensalem Township in mid-July. The BEDC found the new owners are “dedicated to working with community members as plans develop for the space.” Paramount Realty has ties to Bucks County —

Developer J.G. Petrucci Co. filed an appeal with the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas after Buckingham Township supervisors denied an application to build a 150,000-square-foot warehouse. The company wants to build a warehouse with 30 truck bays, two parking areas, an access drive for trucks and another driveway for employees on land known as the

West Whiteland issued a reminder in its summer 2024 newsletter that “for sale” and “open house” directional signs may only be placed on the property for sale. No off-premise signs are allowed. No feather signs are allowed, as they create a hazard if they are caught by the wind. Businesses wishing to display temporary signs to promote

In July and August, New Britain adopted changes to the borough’s residential resale and residential rental laws. Ordinance 428 created a program requiring occupancy permits upon sale of residential properties, with an inspection prior to issuance. The ordinance is in compliance with the Pennsylvania Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act, as

Bucks County Treasurer Kristian Ballerini was elected to her post in 2020, and in the fall of that year, the county commissioners moved to make Ballerini the director of the tax claim bureau as well. The tax claim bureau had previously answered to the county finance department. The bureau is the county agency responsible for tax sales of properties with at

Dublin Borough is considering a proposal to amend Chapter 4, Buildings, of the municipal code to require street numbers and business names on nonresidential buildings. The proposed ordinance requires owners of new and existing commercial buildings to have the street number and business name displayed and visible from the right of way. In addition, for

Middletown Township supervisors approved two separate development plans that will bring a total of 177 new townhomes to the municipality. The first plan for 111 townhomes on 15 acres near the Woodbourne train station has been on the radar since 2006 when a developer succeeded in getting the land rezoned for multi-residential use. The plans stalled but were

Springfield Township supervisors approved the purchase of a decibel reader that will give a provision of the township zoning ordinance some teeth. The move comes after a loud wedding at Kirkland Farm, a township agribusiness. The business had previously been served notice of violation by the township in 2023. The township zoning board denied the same type

Better Living Homes has proposed building 104 townhomes in Richland Township beside a Superfund site. The proposed development would be on about 54 acres at 860 E. Pumping Station Road. The proposal notes that Better Living Homes plans to sell the property to another developer that will build the townhomes. Part of the land sits on the former Watson Johnson

Residents of Middletown Township will pay more for fewer trash collection days next year. Supervisors voted 3-2 to approve a new $28.4 million contract with its current hauler, Waste Management. The new contract will change the current twice-a-week manual collection to once-a-week automated collection. Weekly bulk pickup will change to a monthly bulk

Two developers have proposed new housing along Route 313 in Dublin Borough that — if approved as planned — could add about 205 new homes. Nehemiah Development Company has proposed 127 new homes on the former Moyer Farm, beside the Dublin Town Center, which also was developed by Nehemiah. The plans are in the land development approval process and

Richland Township supervisors heard a proposal from David Caracausa of Cornerstone Premier Homes and Brian Seidel of Seidel Planning and Design to rezone 80 acres of land to build 165 single-family homes. The developers are asking that the parcel be rezoned from a Residential Agriculture District to a Suburban Residential Medium District, with 14 acres left

Richland Township supervisors moved to recommend against a 50-foot height variance for a proposed Quakertown area warehouse. The supervisors will make their recommendation in a letter to the township’s zoning hearing board. Residents urged the supervisors to oppose the variance, saying a larger warehouse would mean more traffic, pollution, noise and

Lower Makefield Township supervisors adopted amendments to the township’s existing short-term rental regulations at their Aug. 7 meeting. The changes tighten requirements for township residents who want to rent out their homes to short-term visitors. Changes to the existing ordinance include requirements that short-term rentals must be licensed and

Doylestown Township will receive $4.4 million in funding from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority to help remove toxic PFAS chemicals from some of its water supply. According to state Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and state Rep. Tim Brennan (D-29), the money will be used to build a water treatment facility to mitigate two PFAS-contaminated

Newtown Borough Council will consider adopting Ordinance No. 801 at its meeting on Tuesday, Aug. 13, at 7 p.m. at the Chancellor Center, 30 N. Chancellor St. The proposed ordinance will regulate the keeping of chickens in the borough and sets forth guidelines for proper care, management and control for the safety of borough residents. A copy of the

Bensalem Township council member Michelle Benitez recently called attention to two state House bills that could impact local zoning decisions if they are passed. House Bill 1976 would revise zoning laws to allow multi-family housing and mixed-use development in urban areas zoned for office, retail and parking with existing water and sewer systems. House

Trumbauersville Borough Council passed a resolution that creates a code of conduct at borough council meetings. The intent of the resolution is to enable a municipal meeting to proceed in an orderly fashion. The code of conduct requires borough council members to act in an ethical manner in order to create public trust. Council members cannot act as if

In 2000, East Rockhill Township instituted a street parking ban on sections of several township roads, including Blue Rock Drive, Boulder Drive, Ridge Run Road, and Stone Edge Road – a ban that was never enforced. Recent complaints about traffic and pedestrian safety prompted the township to send a letter to residents about the parking ban prior to

The new owners of the Neshaminy Mall — Paramount Realty and Edgewood Properties — have big plans for the 108-acre property. The owners acquired the mall for a reported $27.7 million in July from Brookfield Properties. According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, there are plans to demolish about half of the 1 million square feet of retail

Bristol Township Council approved both preliminary and final land development plans from developer JRZ LLC for the construction of six new townhomes in the township’s Croydon section. A zoning change was also approved for part of the property, from commercial to residential. Two existing homes on the property will be demolished, however a two-car

The Bucks County Parks and Recreation Department is in the process of developing a comprehensive recreation, parks and open space plan. To help the department understand how people use the park system, what works well and what can be improved, the department is seeking feedback from residents on the county-owned sites. The county park system spans more than

A 35-acre development site in Bensalem is slated for sheriff’s sale after its owner filed for bankruptcy. The property at 2201 Street Road, formerly the Armstrong Middle School, has been eyed for a large-scale, mixed-use project. It was purchased from the Bensalem Township School District in 2020 for $6.3 million by 2201 Street Rd LLC — a

The Bucks County Opportunity Council (BCOC), the leading anti-poverty agency in the county, recently announced the results of its latest Community Needs Assessment. The needs assessment is conducted every three years to find out what services those in low-income communities need most. The survey determined that 71% of respondents named affordable housing as

The Bucks County Home Repair Program (BCHRP) began accepting applications on July 1. BCHRP is a resource available to low-moderate income homeowners that provides qualifying households with up to $50,000 for home repairs and modifications. Common eligible repairs include roofing, plumbing, electrical systems, heating, and accessibility modifications like

The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority (BCWSA) has successfully utilized innovative treatment technology to remove toxic PFAS, known as forever chemicals, from its drinking water. The new treatment system was recently piloted at two water supply locations that had slightly elevated PFAS levels above the state Department of Environmental

Bucks County Court recently approved the sale of three parcels of land owned by the Quakertown Community School District to developer D.R. Horton. The three parcels along West Pumping Station Road were acquired in 2015 by the district for $1.75 million to be used as a future elementary and middle school. Stagnant enrollment caused the district to scrap the

The annual Point-in-Time (PIT) Count shows the number of Bucks County residents sleeping in emergency shelters, transitional housing or outdoors increased 27% over the previous year. The federally mandated count is conducted by the Bucks County Housing and Community Development Department in the last week of January. For the eighth consecutive year, the PIT

New Britain Borough Council is considering two proposed ordinances that would affect real estate. The borough council will consider the draft ordinances at a public hearing during its meeting on Wednesday, July 10, at 7:30 p.m., at Burkart Hall, 56 Keeley Ave. The first proposed ordinance adds a new Chapter 336, Residential Resale Occupancy Permits, in

The Bucks County Home Repair Program (BCHRP) began accepting applications on July 1. BCHRP is a resource available to low-moderate income Bucks County homeowners that provides qualifying households with up to $50,000 for home repairs and modifications. Common eligible repairs include roofing, plumbing, electrical systems, heating, and accessibility

Newtown Township is considering a zoning change for certain defined residential development in areas of the township currently set aside for light industrial, office and related uses. Officials are considering creating a zoning overlay district in the Newtown Business Commons that would permit mixed-use buildings where commercial and residential uses could

A November 2023 report to Falls Township officials by PFM Group Consulting projected that the township faces a progressive annual revenue decline of more than $20 million due to the impending loss of landfill host fees. The report projected Falls should anticipate seeing annual deficits as soon as 2030 and the financial outlook would only worsen from there.

The Central Bucks School Board adopted the 2024-2025 school year budget that includes a 5.3% tax increase, the most allowed by Pennsylvania Act 1. A homeowner with a home assessed at the district average of $40,000 will see an annual tax increase of $278. The tax increase is the fourth consecutive hike for the district — and the largest in those four

In a 6-3 vote, the Council Rock School Board voted to approve implementation of full-day kindergarten for the 2025-2026 school year. District administrators and board members spent the past six months researching full-day kindergarten and its impact on the community. They held a public forum, issued a community interest survey and visited nearby districts

Bensalem Economic Development Corp. announced Paramount Realty will purchase the Neshaminy Mall. Opened in the late 1960s, the Neshaminy Mall was a popular shopping destination. Current owner Brookfield Properties put the 1-million-square-foot mall up for sale last February — “as is.” No purchase price was given, nor were Paramount’s

Construction of luxury apartments continues at the Oxford Valley Mall in Middletown Township, with move-in dates available as soon as early July. Applications are now being taken for units at Atlee Square, the 391-unit complex now under construction on the site of the former Boscov's. Several apartment designs are available, including a single-bedroom

The existing Orchard Square Apartments in Middletown Township were built in the 1970s. A plan recently approved by supervisors will allow for the expansion of the complex, located at 1801 Old Lincoln Highway near Neshaminy High School. The plan includes 36 one-bedroom, 28 two-bedroom and eight three-bedroom apartments, as well as a clubhouse and pool. As

Representatives for Heritage Properties appeared before the Hilltown Township Board of Supervisors to discuss a sketch plan for a 24-unit townhouse development. The proposed project is off East Walnut Street near the subdivisions of Orchard Hill and County Road, and the township border with Perkasie Borough. The smallest townhome would be about 3,490 square

Last month, Doylestown Borough’s zoning hearing board voted unanimously to allow a developer to exceed current zoning in the central commercial district to build a fourth floor on a proposed “boutique hotel.” At the same time, the board rejected developer Larry Thompson’s application for a parking variance that would allow 61 spaces,

Data recently released by the Bucks County Planning Commission show a decline in proposed residential developments but an increase in nonresidential projects for 2023. The Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code (Act 247) mandates that the county planning commission reviews all land development proposals before local municipalities can approve them. The

State legislators joined Bristol Borough Council members in a tour of ongoing demolition of several row homes along Chestnut Street. The demolition followed the borough’s acquisition of the last privately owned property on the street in a partnership with the Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County that is supported by $1.3 million in state funding.

Bucks County hired a consultant in April 2023 to study blight in the county, and a report was released in February. The first phase report of the Bucks County Comprehensive Blighted Property Study, created by The Gulotta Group, draws on a variety of sources to examine blight and draws conclusions about the levels of blight risk in individual municipalities

Solebury Township supervisors voted unanimously at a May 21 meeting to use open space funds to acquire the former 80-acre Roeser tract at Upper Mountain and Street roads, and several parcels along Route 202 near Reeder Road, the largest adjacent to the former New Hope Diner. The land was purchased under the Open Space Act, which states it cannot be disposed

Doylestown Township supervisors voted 4-1 on May 21 in favor of banning single-use plastic bags. Supervisor Nancy Santacecilia cast the lone dissenting vote, voicing opposition to the 5-cent fee businesses would be required to charge for a recycled or reusable bag, if one is needed. The ordinance includes several exemptions: packaged bulk items, such as

Richland Township supervisors recently gave approvals for two different warehouse proposals to move forward. The first approval will change two properties totaling 1.7 acres from Rural Agricultural (RA) zoning to Planned Commercial (PC). The developer had originally requested a zoning change of seven properties at the location to enable a

The 2023 Neshaminy School District Property Tax Assistance Program, also known as the Irene Boyle Senior Citizen Tax Assistance Program, is now open for applications. The purpose of the program is to provide property tax relief to senior citizens. The program is available to homeowners who reached the age of 65 by Dec. 31, 2023. The program will provide tax

Buckingham Township planners reviewed a revised preliminary land development plan for a proposed 150,000-square-foot warehouse in a PI-2 planned industrial district. Developer J.G. Petrucci Company, of Asbury, New Jersey, outlined the redevelopment of the DiGirolamo Tract for a warehouse with 30 truck bays, two parking areas, an access drive for trucks at

The Bucks County Planning Commission will hold a public open house on Tuesday, May 21, at 6 p.m. at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 89 Pinewood Drive, Levittown, to discuss the Levittown Trail. The multi-use trail is a little over a mile long, but it impacts several municipalities, making resident input a necessity. The county intends to develop a 10-foot-wide

Solebury Township supervisors have scheduled a hearing to receive public comments on a proposed ordinance regarding short-term lodging facilities. The proposed ordinance will amend a short-term lodging ordinance enacted in 2022 by clarifying certain sections to add the words “primary residence” and specific terms, including “single family

A digital billboard at the corner of East Lincoln Highway and South Flowers Mill Road in Middletown Township has been dismantled. The billboard was installed in early 2021 by Premier First Media after the Middletown Township supervisors approved a 25-year lease agreement with the company for the small tract of municipal land. The owners of a nearby auto

The opening of Bridge Street Crossing in Morrisville Borough has filled one of Pennsylvania’s “Top 10 Trail Gaps” and completely connected the 75-mile uninterrupted trail that runs from Bristol Borough to Allentown. The 0.1-mile crossing means trail users will no longer have to take detours to continue their travels. Claire W. Sadler,

Upper Southampton Township supervisors are considering an amendment to the township’s nuisance ordinance. The amendment would add regulations “pertaining to and prohibiting roosters and peacocks within the township,” according to a public notice. A public hearing on the proposed amendment will be held on Tuesday, May 14, at 6:30 p.m. in

Falls Township supervisors rejected a plan to turn the old Lincoln Garage site on Lincoln Highway into a three-story, age-restricted condominium development. It is the second time the supervisors have rejected the plan, for the same reason — supervisors feel the property is too small for the scope of the builder’s plans. Builder Bryan Brzezinski

Pennsbury School District Superintendent Thomas A. Smith announced that the school day at Pennsbury High School will begin at 8 a.m. instead of the current 7:20 a.m. beginning with the 2025-2026 school year. Smith cited “an increasing body of research” that recommends a later school start-time for adolescents. Middle school times “will

Bucks County commissioners recently voted to approve about $20 million in construction contracts for the new Lower Bucks County Government Services Center in the Levittown section of Bristol Township. The project is a culmination of years of planning to replace the current 8,600-square-foot annex that has been in use for 30 years. The new

Springfield Township used Zoom during the pandemic to allow public access to meetings. The practice continued well after pandemic restrictions were lifted — until September 2023, when the Zoom broadcasts were canceled by the township due to cost and minimal online attendance. Several residents opposed the change, and the township now plans to make

Toll Brothers has purchased the 168-acre Stone Meadow Farms property in Middletown Township for $40.5 million from developer Foxlane Homes. A statement issued by Toll Brothers said it will construct homes designed for residents age 55 and older at the Stone Meadows Farm site but did not confirm how many homes are planned. Foxlane Homes had Middletown

Richland Township supervisors are considering a warehouse proposal in the township’s Planned Commercial district just one month after rejecting a proposal for rezoning parts of the Rural Agricultural district to accommodate another proposed warehouse. Supervisors conducted a conditional use hearing for a 167,500-square-foot warehouse on a vacant site

Pennsylvania Senior Judge Richard A. Lewis of Dauphin County has granted an injunction to bar further mulch manufacturing, and to ban continuation of festivals and carnivals, on a 112-acre property on York Road known as Froehlich Farm. The injunction was sought jointly by Buckingham Township and Bucks County, which purchased an agricultural easement from

The Bucks County Housing Group (BCHG), in partnership with Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, recently gave a presentation on the county’s homeless population and how to help families and individuals attain permanent housing and food security. According to BCHG executive director Erik Clare, there are about 313 county residents who are homeless on any

The Newtown Township Planning Commission is slated to review two projects that, if approved, would expand local preschool capacity. Discovery Preschool on Blacksmith Road has a plan to expand its operations into a 2,800-square-foot basement in its current location, add an elevator, and increase the size of an outdoor recreation area. The expansion would

Bristol Township officials announced a groundbreaking ceremony for the Villas at Greenbrook on April 5. The complex will take over much of the Firefighters and EMT Park at the site, which will be reduced to about one acre. Developer DeLuca Homes and Bristol Township officials worked out a land swap — the developer will install new park equipment at

Lower Makefield Township officials repealed an existing Registration of Vacant Properties ordinance and replaced it with a new ordinance, titled Registration of Foreclosure Mortgages and Vacant Property. Township officials believe the new ordinance more fully addresses the negative impact and conditions that occur because of vacancy, absentee ownership, and

Bristol Township is continuing its focus on blighted properties, and the township council voted to approve blight declarations for five more homes. All of the properties are vacant, some for a number of years, and several have safety violations that the township has stepped in to address. Most have delinquent taxes and liens. Since its inception in 2016,

A construction project at the Oxford Valley Mall in Middletown Township is progressing. Developer CornerstoneTracy is working to rejuvenate the former space that once housed a Boscov’s department store and the surrounding parking lot. The development includes more than 600 high-end apartments with a host of amenities. The project is divided into two

The Bristol Township School Board voted 8-0 to approve a letter of intent to sell the vacant Franklin D. Roosevelt Middle School off Veterans Highway. The school has been closed since March 2023 after the opening of the renovated Benjamin Franklin Middle School. The board has agreed to sell the 31.7-acre property to Crystal Window and Door Systems for an

Bristol Borough’s renaissance will continue with the renovation of the former Fidelity Savings & Loan building on Radcliffe Street into a nine-unit boutique hotel. Bristol real estate manager Bernard Mazzocchi is leading the renovation of the 1700s-era historic brick mansion that in the early 19th century was the home of the Spanish ambassador to

Residents that live near the site of the former Levittown Lanes bowling alley received a letter informing them that the property owners are moving ahead with plans for a three-story, 24-unit apartment building. The site, at New Falls Road and Orchard Drive, was left vacant after a fire in 2022 destroyed the bowling alley and bar. The property owners will

Bristol Township voted to rescind its per capita tax in December 2023. Council President Craig Bowen described the per capita tax as a nuisance tax that was a “frequent source of resident complaints.” Even after its repeal, the tax is still a source of complaints and confusion. The township’s tax collection firm, Berkheimer, was not

The Feb. 7 meeting of the Lower Makefield Township supervisors included a short discussion of a proposed ordinance to regulate foreclosed and vacant properties. Township Manager David Kratzer said he expects the final draft will be available shortly. The item is not slated for discussion at the March 6 meeting. Check the township website for upcoming

A slow and gradual decline in Bristol Borough led to a practically dead main street in 2000. According to Borough Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe, “We had over 50% vacancies on Mill Street.” It was around that time borough officials began a concerted effort to repair, renovate and upgrade the town. In 2017, a pair of 250-foot docks opened on

Bucks County plans to build a solar energy farm on land it owns in Bristol Township. The solar energy farm is planned for a piece of open land behind the soon-to-be-constructed, 39,000-square-foot, two-story Lower Bucks County Government Services Center. The solar farm is proposed for an area that was once part of the Morton Thiokol operation at the

Bedminster Township continues its land preservation efforts with the addition of another 17.7 acres of land on Log Cabin Road. The agreement for the sale and purchase of an agricultural conservation easement for the property followed approval of a resolution authorizing the township’s portion of the cost at $8,860, or about 4% of the total cost. The

A boutique hotel has been proposed in Doylestown at the former site of borough hall and the Central Bucks Regional Police station. The property was purchased in 2021 for $2.3 million by borough resident and developer Larry Thompson. The plan submitted by ALOK Investments LLC includes a 41,385-square-foot, four-story building that will house a hotel with 32

Middletown Township supervisors recently approved a plan to consolidate three Jefferson Avenue lots into two. The consolidation will allow the construction of two homes at the site. The homes will connect to the public water and sewer systems, and the developer will contribute a “fee-in-lieu-of” for the cost of sidewalks. In a separate vote, the

Democrat Jim Prokopiak won the special election on Feb. 13 to represent the 140th District in the state House of Representatives by a 67-32 margin. He will serve the final year of the term of former Rep. John Galloway, who resigned to become a magisterial district judge. Prokopiak, a lawyer and Pennsbury School Board member, previously served as a Falls

Buckingham Township residents recently packed a planning commission meeting to speak out against a proposed warehouse plan. Over 150 people attended the meeting to oppose an application submitted by J.G. Petrucci Company proposing the redevelopment of a 58-acre property on Cold Spring Creamery Road. The developer's representatives went over the site plans,

Middletown Township supervisors have reached an agreement on an appeal to a zoning hearing board decision. The agreement will allow the supervisors to settle a zoning appeal with Westrum Development Company. Last year, Westrum proposed developing the former Dwight D. Eisenhower Elementary School into a 70-unit, age-targeted townhome community. The

A special election to select a new state representative for parts of Lower Bucks will be held Tuesday, Feb. 13, and has statewide implications in who controls the Pennsylvania legislature. The balance of the Pennsylvania House, currently tied at 101-101, is on the line for a fourth time in less than a year. Pennsylvania’s 140th Legislative District

The Bucks County Planning Commission recently announced that a Levittown trail project has received a $2 million grant through PennDOT’s Transportation Alternatives Set Aside Program. The trail will be just under a mile and will run along Levittown Parkway, Mill Creek Parkway and Lakeside Drive in Bristol Township, Falls Township and Tullytown

The Neshaminy Mall, located in Bensalem Township, has struggled to retain tenants following the 2017 departure of Macy’s department store. Over half of the stores in the mall are currently vacant. The mall’s current owner, Brookfield Properties, has placed the property for sale “as is,” according to a real estate listing. The 1

The Langhorne Borough Zoning Hearing Board voted down a proposal by Toll Brothers to build 60 townhomes at the 14.7-acre Woods Services site between Pine Street and Bellevue Avenue. The development proposal has been discussed at zoning hearings for two years. Toll requested the zoners consider the townhomes as structures, not buildings, because the zoning

Bridgeton Township is considering a short-term rental ordinance to regulate AirBNB type properties. The draft ordinance is currently under review by the planning commission. The commission has proposed future discussion of the draft ordinance for the February and March meetings. Detailed information is available on the township website. Source: Bridgeton

The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority (BCWSA) has placed 13 municipalities on notice — they must present the authority with the status of development projects and corrective plans for sewer infrastructure repairs or face a potential moratorium on construction. The letter was sent to Bensalem, Langhorne and Middletown — where the sewer

Tullytown Borough Council approved an earned income tax (EIT) late last year, with the tax becoming effective Jan. 1, 2024. The EIT is set at a rate of 1% and impacts both residents of Tullytown Borough and nonresidents who are employed within the borough. The tax applies to earned income and net profits, but it exempts individuals earning $12,000 or less

A Doylestown developer appeared before the Doylestown Borough zoning board seeking several zoning variances to build a 32-room hotel, 70-seat restaurant and 120-person event space to replace the town’s former borough hall and police station at 57 W. Court St. Developer Larry Thompson has already received permission to raze the old building in the

A major Pennsylvania Department of Transportation project is set to reconstruct two busy intersections in Middletown Township — Bridgetown Pike and Langhorne-Yardley Road, and Langhorne-Yardley and Woodbourne roads. Expected to cost $12.9 million, the project is designed to improve traffic flow and safety. The T-intersection at Langhorne-Yardley Road

Bensalem Township Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo issued a seven-page message about the township’s 2024 budget — a budget that includes the first tax increase in 30 years. Township officials attribute the 1.5 mill increase in the tax rate to the need to help fund park improvements during a time when “demand for these programs and facilities is at

Doylestown Township supervisors voted 4-0 to approve a revision to the township’s limited industrial zone that will allow an affordable housing project for seniors and market-rate townhouses to move forward. Township officials were able to reach a deal with the developer and neighboring Doylestown Borough over the plan. The township and borough had

In a series of votes on Dec. 20, Bucks County commissioners approved a $487 million budget for 2024 and raised taxes by two mills. The budget includes $486.8 million in expenses and $487.05 million in revenue, leaving a $250,000 surplus. The two-mill tax increase, from 25.45 mills in 2023 to 27.45 mills in 2024, is expected to raise nearly $17 million

Doylestown Borough Council approved a 2024 budget that includes a three-mill tax increase to fund an increase in police costs to the Central Bucks Regional Police Department. The police department’s budget request was for additional funding to hire two new full-time officers. The tax increase will cost the average borough homeowner about $90. Although

Dublin Borough Council is considering a proposed Ordinance 337 related to the borough’s intention to organize a municipal authority for the purpose of “undertaking improvements and related administrative services for the benefit of the Borough of Dublin.” The ordinance names the authority as the “Dublin Borough Regional

Bristol Township’s proposed $68.3 million budget will maintain the current property tax rate of 23.98 mills. The last time the township raised real estate taxes was 2010. The trash and recycling fee will remain at $340. Bristol Township plans to eliminate its $10 per capita head tax in 2024. Council President Craig Bowen said the tax is a frequent

A groundbreaking is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 19, at 3 p.m. for improvements to Central Park in Doylestown Township. The project has been years in the making. The plan calls for construction of a community recreation center, the installation of new outdoor sports courts, and the addition of a comfort station, including bathrooms. The township expects the

Upper Makefield Township supervisors unanimously adopted the $9.1 million general fund budget for 2024 that maintains the current tax rate of 6.45 mills. A mill is equal to $1 of every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value, so a residential property assessed at $70,000 will pay about $451 in township real estate taxes in 2024. Upper Makefield also

A $61 million refurbishment of the Cornwells Heights Train Station at 799 Station Ave. in Bensalem Township is expected to begin in 2026. Plans include the installation of 600-foot-long, high-level platforms and a pedestrian overpass with elevators to make the site safer and more accessible. Project funding includes $30.5 million from the Department of

Durham Township supervisors announced a 2-mill tax increase as part of the proposed $635,775 budget for 2024. If the draft budget is finalized without change, it will be the first time in seven years the township has raised taxes. Supervisors Chair Bartley E. Millett said the tax increase will cost the average property owner an additional $77 in taxes next

The owners of Shady Brook Farm plan to sell 80 acres to a development partnership. The Fleming family said they will keep 50 acres of land to move into a more event- and entertainment-focused business model while continuing to lease farmland to some neighbors. The property is currently 130 acres, of which the majority is in Lower Makefield Township with a

Wrightstown Township supervisors will consider a proposed ordinance amendment that would zero out the additional tax for open space purposes for 2024. If adopted, the open space tax rate will be set to 0%. The move to zero the tax was made because the township has satisfied its open space debt. The supervisors will consider the proposed ordinance at a

A Montgomery County judge ruled in favor of CBSD Fair Votes, a grassroots organization that petitioned for a new voting map for the Central Bucks School District. The decision means the election maps for the 2025 election in Central Bucks will contain three regions, rather than the nine it currently has. In the ruling, Judge Cheryl Austin called Fair

Bristol Township officials have announced plans to designate seven additional vacant properties as blighted. The program is part of an ongoing collaboration with the Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County to address issues of delinquent taxes, abandonment and property deterioration. Issues with the properties include vacancy, unpaid taxes, squatters and

The Upper Makefield Board of Supervisors recently gave preliminary approval to a 2024 municipal budget that calls for keeping the local millage rate at 6.45. A mill is equal to $1 of every $1,000 of a property’s assessed value. A residential property assessed at $70,000 would pay about $451 in township real estate taxes in 2024 if the millage rate

Bristol Township recently signed a new five-year municipal waste contract with Waste Management. The $34.58 million contract is more than 40% higher than the $24 million paid by the township under the last deal approved over five years ago. The new contract will keep once-per-week trash and recycling pick-up, reduce bulk pickup to once per month, keep yard

A developer has withdrawn its application connected to a three-building, 16-unit townhouse development at a former dance studio in Middletown Township’s Levittown section. Developer Zafar and Arshad Inc. was scheduled to present before the township zoning hearing board on Oct. 25. Proposed plans involve razing the existing building to construct

Hulmeville Borough Council recently gave Superior Holdings LLC permission to develop 45 acres on the Hulmeville Hill. Council approved by a 4-to-2 vote a conditional use to build on the property. Superior Holdings developer Eugene Lorenzetti agreed to 37 conditions as part of the agreement, including that the historic Black farmhouse on the property will be

The Bucks County Association of Realtors (BCAR) received a $7,500 placemaking grant from the National Association of Realtors, which was used for the installation of a shade canopy at Quakertown’s Park at 4th. The new canopy stands over the bike rest area at the corner of Fourth and Mill streets. Incoming BCAR president Stephanie Garomon cut a

The Wrightstown Township Board of Supervisors is considering a reduction in the township’s earned income tax rate for 2024. A final decision has yet to be made, but if it were to occur the rate would likely drop from 1.15% to 1%. The township earmarked 0.15% of the EIT for open space preservation — essentially paying back debt taken on to fund

Richland Township supervisors held a conditional use hearing for a proposal to redevelop a 200-acre shopping center on West End Boulevard (Route 309) as a mixed-use development. First introduced at the end of 2022, the proposal calls for the 206,500-square-foot Richland Plaza Shopping Center, zoned in the Planned Commercial and Arterial Corridor Overlay

Falls Township supervisors recently approved a resolution that would remove Keystone Opportunity Improvement Zone (KOIZ) benefits from 112 acres at the former U.S. Steel property and add benefits to 105 acres, effectively placing about 7.5 acres back on the tax rolls. The KOIZ removal would take effect if Bucks County commissioners, Pennsbury School

Fort Washington-based Toll Brothers bought 21 acres of undeveloped land near Quakertown Borough from Feasterville-based developer Trinity Realty Companies for $3.9 million. A spokesperson for Toll Brothers said site improvements are planned to begin “very soon" for the property along East Paletown Road in Richland Township. Plans submitted to the

Bucks County breaks ground on Lower Bucks Government Services Center in Bristol Bucks County Commissioners recently broke ground at the future site of the updated Lower Bucks Government Services Center, just days after Bristol Township Council approved the project. The two-story, 39,000-square-foot facility is on New Falls Road in the township’s

Patterson Farm was purchased by Lower Makefield Township in 1998 for $7 million to preserve open space. Since then, the Patterson farmstead and the nearby Satterthwaite farmstead, along with barns and other outbuildings, have fallen into disrepair. On Sept. 26, the public got its first look at possible reuses for the buildings in a presentation at the

Bedminster makes changes to zoning ordinance Bedminster supervisors approved a variety of changes to the township’s zoning ordinance, following a review that went on for more than a year. Among the more significant changes, “Commercial Solar Energy Facility” was added to permitted uses, with regulations and criteria applicable to “a

Nockamixon Township voted 3-2 to adopt a new groundwater preservation ordinance. The new ordinance is focused on helping to assure adequate groundwater supplies for all local wells, as individual property owners propose any changes in their use of the common groundwater resource or sell their property to successors. Township officials have emphasized that

Montgomery County Judge Cheryl Austin granted Central Bucks School District’s request to amend its original petition for one that includes a plan that the school board approved Sept. 12. Austin is hearing the case after the Bucks County judiciary recused itself to avoid a conflict of interest. Last month, Austin issued an order stating that she would

The Trenton-Mercer airport in New Jersey sits just over the state line from Bucks County. In May 2022, the FAA approved a project to modernize facilities first constructed in 1975. The airport plans to quadruple the size of its existing terminal and build a parking garage for approximately 1,040 cars and trucks. The FAA forecasts a 51% increase in flights

Nockamixon Township voted 3-2 to adopt a new groundwater preservation ordinance. The new ordinance is focused on helping to assure adequate groundwater supplies for all local wells, as individual property owners propose any changes in their use of the common groundwater resource or sell their property to successors. Township officials have emphasized that

New Hope Borough officials are considering changes to the residential zoning district that would split the district in two. Different rules would dictate what is permitted closer to the center of town from areas to the north and west. According to a draft of the proposed ordinance, the idea behind the move is to ensure development “retains the

Two separate projects will soon be presented to the Falls Township Zoning Hearing Board. In the first, developer Brian Brzezinski is seeking variances to construct two four-story residential apartment buildings, containing a total of 96 units, at 654 Lincoln Highway in the Fairless Hills section of the township. The requested variances include apartments at

Warminster Township is having quite the turnaround on the financial end for a municipality that was “on the verge of bankruptcy,” according to Board of Supervisors Chairman Kenneth Hayes. Hayes and supervisors said the stability over the past year has come from holding the line on finances and putting together an administrative team that is

Aquinas Realty Partners, Bensalem Township, police and fire officials, and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament recently met to discuss security measures to protect the former Shrine of St. Katharine Drexel as it awaits redevelopment. The 44-acre historic property is under agreement of sale to Aquinas, which plans to redevelop the area into townhomes and a

New Hope officials have been working on a proposed parking garage since 2020, after a consulting group’s 2018 report said that inadequate parking was the top threat to businesses and residents in the tiny borough. The multi-level garage was proposed at a site just north of the Union Square complex, and the idea was reportedly supported by business and

Perkasie Borough approved Ordinance 1054 on Aug. 7, amending provisions of Chapter 135 of the borough code to adopt the ICC International Property Maintenance Code, First Edition, 2018, as the borough’s property maintenance code. Source: Perkasie Borough

Lower Makefield supervisors recently delayed a decision on a developer’s plans to build six new homes at Buck Creek Drive and Newtown-Yardley and Creamery roads. The project involves demolishing two existing houses and putting up two new dwellings in their place, constructing four other new houses and preserving an old stone farmhouse. Supervisors

The New Hope-Solebury School Board approved the final budget for the district’s 2023-2024 fiscal year that includes a 2% property tax increase. The $48.4 million budget includes a roughly $402,800 deficit that will be covered by the district’s fund balance. The new millage rate is 111.4187, which translates to about $111 for each $1,000 of

About 600 upscale apartments are under construction at Oxford Valley Mall in Middletown. The first of two large apartment buildings is taking shape on a 20-acre plot of land that was a mall parking lot built 50 years ago. The “Oxford Valley Mall Apartments” are being built by developer CornerstoneTracy, who reports on its website that the first

Investors have turned one of Great Valley’s vacant office buildings into a suburban rarity: 24 studio apartments and eight single-bedroom apartments. The units, located north of the Exton Mall site in West Whiteland Township, are equipped with kitchens, bathrooms and washer/dryers, and they’re being marketed as months-long hotel accommodations

Several factors in West Bradford Township led to residents seeing a reduction in their property taxes in 2026, as other communities in the state see hikes. Township Manager Justin Yaich said the tax reduction was made possible because of “substantial savings” created by the township refinancing debt during the pandemic at record-low interest

A fully occupied Phoenixville shopping center has sold for $7.35 million. Tenants at the 33,093-square-foot retail property at 785 Starr St. include Labcorp, NovaCare Rehabilitation, State Farm, Benchmark Federal Credit Union, Habitat for Humanity and Fresenius Kidney Care. Starr Street Partners, a private investor based in Pennsylvania, sold the property

A largely vacant office building at 52 E. Swedesford Road in Malvern, East Whiteland Township, is slated for demolition and redevelopment into a 10.3-acre, mixed-use campus featuring 250 apartments and about 6,700 square feet of retail and dining space, under a proposal by Downingtown-based TriPoint Properties. The project, which would include a small

The East Coventry Township Planning Commission voted 4-0 Thursday to recommend the rejection of a request by Constellation Energy to amend the zoning code to allow for a data center on Route 724. That recommendation will be forwarded to the board of supervisors, who could vote on it as soon as the February meeting, said Township Manager Eugene Briggs.

The Pennsylvania House Majority Policy Committee convened a roundtable discussion in Phoenixville hosted by state Rep. Paul Friel (D-26) to talk with housing advocates and experts about what can be done to put more Pennsylvanians in homes. "The stark reality of today's economy is working families can no longer afford to buy a home in Chester County, and

A lawyer representing Pennhurst Properties, the company that wants to build a data center at the former Pennhurst Asylum site, told East Vincent Township supervisors that a proposed data center ordinance, in its current draft, would essentially prevent the construction of a data center on the property. He said because a submission to the township has

The West Brandywine Township Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to seek community input on using open space funds to acquire a $385,000 conservation easement and a $12,565 trail easement on the Dyson Tract, a property in the township’s R-1 Residential/Agricultural Zoning District at 153 Gabel Road. The hearing, conducted under the

A Baltimore-area developer is planning a massive, $300 million, mixed-use development on former farmland in New Garden Township. Developer Stonewall Capital will begin work next fall on White Clay Point, a 235-acre project that will include 622 residential units, a grocery store, a Wawa convenience store and additional retail space, according to Stonewall

Chester County commissioners unveiled a $778.6 million preliminary county budget for fiscal year 2026 that holds the real estate tax rate steady while projecting a 4.7% increase in operating revenues to $666.3 million and a capital budget increase of 19.8% to $112.2 million. The proposal zeroes out any new tax hike, keeps the overall property tax rate at

On Sept. 2, the West Goshen Township supervisors approved the filing of a conservatorship petition under the Abandoned and Blighted Property Conservatorship Act for the property at 905 Westtown Road. The petition said the property was unsafe, dilapidated and negatively affecting its neighbors. On Nov. 13, Common Pleas Judge Anthony Verwey granted the

East Coventry Township entered the region’s widening debate over data centers as Constellation Energy asked officials to amend zoning rules to allow the facilities, prompting skepticism from planners and residents during a Nov. 13 meeting. The request follows months of local study and comes as Constellation has quietly purchased five parcels along

Uwchlan Township officials unveiled a 2026 draft budget that proposes the community’s first real estate tax increase in nearly two decades, citing an $854,000 projected deficit driven largely by a steep drop in earned-income tax revenue from one of the township’s biggest employers. The plan raises general, hydrant and utility rates, adds a new

The Oxford Area Recreation Authority unveiled an ambitious master plan for its multi-municipal park, detailing new amenities and upgrades across three 20-acre parcels serving more than 30,000 residents in five local municipalities — East Nottingham, Elk, Lower Oxford and West Nottingham townships, and Oxford Borough. Landscape architect Chuck

Coatesville City Council will consider an ordinance creating the HND Hilltop Neighborhood Development Overlay LERTA District, which would authorize real estate tax exemptions for qualifying properties in designated deteriorated areas under Pennsylvania’s Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act. The measure outlines eligibility requirements, a

Upper Uwchlan Township officials will consider adopting a new ordinance to establish a local services tax (LST). The proposed $52 annual tax, authorized under Pennsylvania’s Local Tax Enabling Act, would apply to anyone employed within the township starting Jan. 1, 2026, with exemptions available for individuals earning less than $12,000 annually.

Coatesville City Council has approved an ordinance raising the city’s real estate transfer tax from 2% to 2.5%, effective Jan. 1, 2026, to generate an estimated $180,000 in additional revenue for general operations in next year's budget. A half-percent of the 2.5% that will be collected by the city will continue to go to the Coatesville Area School

Developer Peter Abrams said he plans to take legal action after the West Whiteland Township Board of Supervisors voted 2-0 to reject his master plan to redevelop the Exton Square mall into a mixed-use project called Exton Town Centre. Supervisors cited density, stormwater and sewer capacity concerns in denying the 75-acre proposal, which includes

Oxford Borough officials shared updates on rebuilding efforts following the devastating 2023 fire that destroyed six properties on South Third Street, announcing plans for a mixed-use development called King’s Cross featuring shops, apartments and public gathering spaces. The project, led by property owner Wilson King and developer Cathy Martin, will

Upper Uwchlan Township, in partnership with the Penn State Extension office, is offering a 2025 Septic System Webinar series. The fourth session in the series is titled “Real Estate and Septic Systems.” Participants will explore what buyers and sellers need to know about septic systems during property transfers. It will take place on Tuesday,

Oxford Borough Council finally approved the land-development plan for the Moran Farm, which will add 91 homes in the borough. Another 39 homes will be going in on the piece of the property that is in East Nottingham Township. The plan has changed over the years from a 55-plus community to now 91 single-family homes. The cost of a home is expected to start

A new plan to convert Pennhurst in East Vincent Township into a massive data center has outraged and mobilized local residents, as well as people in neighboring communities in an area known for rolling hills, farms and an overall rural character. An online petition urging Chester County neighbors and East Vincent Township officials to “work together

Malvern Borough Council will hold a public hearing to consider zoning amendments that would define and regulate short-term rental units and update rules for fences and walls throughout the borough. The proposed ordinance would amend the borough’s zoning code to establish a formal definition of “short-term rental unit” and specify which

Chester County has taken the first step in establishing a human relations commission. The new body will be dedicated to protecting all residents from discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. Ordinance 2025-3 was approved in a two-to-one vote, with Commissioners Josh Maxwell and Marian Moskowitz voting in favor and Commissioner Eric

A municipal planner has asked the Coatesville Area School District to consider a property tax exemption for a planned housing development on the city’s last large undeveloped tract. At a Sept. 9 school board finance committee meeting, consultant David Babbitt said the 75-acre site at 320 Adams Drive is approved for 266 apartments, with a second phase

The redevelopment of the 75-acre Exton Square mall property could begin by late spring 2026. The first phase of the project, which will start before demolition begins on the mall, will be construction of a 50,400-square-foot freestanding Main Line Health building, according to Abrams Realty & Development owner Peter Abrams, allowing an existing Main

New Garden Township purchased the 137-acre property formerly known as Saint Anthony’s in the Hills for $1.5 million in 2018 with plans to convert it into a community park and recreation area called New Garden Hills. The project was originally estimated to cost $18 million, but more thorough estimates later raised the figure to $32 million, far above

East Vincent Township supervisors have delayed the adoption of a new ordinance regulating data centers. Township solicitor Joe Clemente explained that so much feedback had been provided on the draft from consultants, local group East Vincent Advocacy and the office of state Sen. Katie Muth (D-44), that they chose to continue refining the proposed ordinance

The Chester County Board of Commissioners will consider adopting a countywide human relations ordinance that would prohibit discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations. The proposal, Ordinance 2025-03, would bar discrimination based on race, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation,

East Vincent Township officials are rushing to adopt a zoning ordinance for data centers before a formal plan is filed to redevelop the former Pennhurst State Hospital property. According to solicitor Joe Clemente, the property owner recently submitted a sketch plan that includes a data center, offices and a plant that would burn old tires to produce black

The London Grove Township Board of Supervisors will consider acquiring a 2.8-acre portion of land on Wickerton Road for open space preservation. The property, located at 805 Wickerton Road, is part of Chester County Tax Parcel No. 59-11-20. Township officials said the purchase would be funded through the Open Space Earned Income Tax in accordance with the

An office park spanning 111 acres is up for sale in Malvern, East Whiteland Township. The Malvern Green complex includes three office buildings and a data center building that total about 759,900 square feet at 51 Valley Stream Parkway. The four buildings are occupied by tech giant Oracle but are being marketed for mixed-use redevelopment. The campus has a

Upper Uwchlan Township supervisors will consider an ordinance that would revise zoning rules for signs and establish new regulations for short-term rentals. The proposal would update multiple sections of the township’s sign code by amending, deleting or consolidating existing provisions. It would also add three regulations for short-term rentals and

West Chester Borough wants to hear from the public about the stormwater system and how to best protect the water quality and prevent high water levels during flooding, primarily at Goose Creek. In accordance with Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) regulations, the borough is updating its strategies to reduce phosphorus and sediment

The Hankin Group has 373 units set to come online in Chester County by the end of 2026 as part of the second phases of three projects in Downingtown and Exton. In Downingtown, Hankin is building its River Station complex around the future location of the Downingtown SEPTA station, and recently broke ground on the project’s 160-unit, $45 million second

At a recent New Garden supervisors meeting, Stonewall Capital LLC, of Maryland, unveiled its plans for White Clay Point in Landenberg, a 220-acre mixed-use development project consisting of 263 single-family detached homes, 90 20-foot-wide townhomes, 200 24-foot-wide townhomes, 112 stacked townhomes, civic spaces and park land, and 75,000 square feet of

Parkesburg Borough Council is set to consider two proposed ordinances later this month that could affect rental properties and landlords. The first measure would replace the borough’s existing rental ordinance, No. 492, and establish annual licensing and biannual inspections of rental units. It also outlines application requirements, inspection

East Goshen Township officials are reminding residents that solicitation without a permit is prohibited under the township’s peddling and solicitation ordinance. According to Ordinance 169, a township-issued permit is required for anyone selling goods or services, soliciting donations, or distributing printed materials. Permitted solicitors receive a

Chester County commissioners unanimously approved $5 million in 2025-2026 Community Revitalization Program (CRP) grants at a recent meeting. The CRP grants will fund 12 projects in urban centers. The largest grant recipients include: $600,000 to the Borough of Spring City for improvements to Boat Launch Park $550,000 to the Borough of Phoenixville for the

ChristianaCare will open a new 24/7 emergency care facility in mid-August at the former site of Jennersville Regional Hospital in Penn Township, marking the return of localized emergency services to southern Chester County for the first time since 2021. The new ChristianaCare Hospital – West Grove Campus, a $21.6 million investment, will offer a

Plans for a warehouse in East Nottingham Township are drawing questions from bordering municipalities and residents concerned with possible increased truck traffic. Oxford Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen said officials in the borough and nearby West Nottingham Township have concerns. Oxford’s engineer, Pennoni, performed a traffic impact study.

Downingtown Borough Council is set to consider a proposed amendment to its Neighborhood Blight Protection ordinance. According to the public notice, the proposed ordinance would amend Chapter 114, Section 114-13, of the Borough Code by expanding the list of exemptions to include properties that have been actively marketed for sale over the previous 180

Spring City Borough Council plans to adopt a new ordinance aimed at regulating and monitoring vacant commercial properties. The proposed ordinance would establish a regulatory framework for the registration and inventory of all commercial units in the borough. It would also require the registration, inventory, inspection and monitoring of vacant commercial

Kennett Square Borough Council is set to consider three proposed amendments to the borough’s zoning and municipal codes during a public hearing on Aug. 4. The public hearing will take place on Monday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m. on the third floor of Borough Hall at 600 S. Broad St. The proposed changes include: Short-Term Rentals: outlining regulations for

Honey Brook Township supervisors passed a pair of ordinances impacting properties. The on-lot sewage management ordinance requires mandatory inspections and pump‑outs every three years. Guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and Act 537 implementation requires local governments to adopt ongoing operation and maintenance

Sadsbury Township supervisors at their May 6 meeting approved an ordinance creating a registration and inspection program for rental properties. The cost of an inspection is $100, and a reinspection is $50. The ordinance was scheduled to take effect at the beginning of July. Information relating to the application, as well as a checklist of inspection

Chip maker Herr's is under agreement to sell nearly 123 acres in East Nottingham Township to a Malvern developer planning 940,640 square feet of industrial space. Eli Kahn of E Kahn Development Corp. is looking to build three warehouses on vacant land near the intersection of Baltimore Pike and Graves Road. The preliminary land development plan, dubbed

Having a mix of housing options is important to West Whiteland Township, said John Weller, the township’s director of planning and zoning. The township wants to attract residents with good-paying jobs no matter whether they buy or rent, since the township’s principal revenue stream is the earned income tax. “Property tax is a big chunk,

The Honey Brook Township Board of Supervisors will consider a proposed ordinance to define and regulate short-term rentals. Short-term rentals will be allowed on lots that are at least two acres in size. The ordinance also requires one parking space, a contact person who lives within 35 miles of the property, and an up-to-date ledger. The ordinance will be

The Board of Supervisors of East Marlborough Township is considering a proposed ordinance for the purpose of “codifying a complete body of legislation for the township.” Codification is the process of organizing a municipality’s ordinances into a logical structure that is easier to understand and reference. A public hearing will be held on

The Uwchlan Township Planning Commission held an informational public meeting on June 17 to discuss the proposed development of 237 acres of land commonly known as the Lionville Station Farm property. According to the township website, in October 2024, Downingtown Area School District (DASD) announced it had entered into a sales agreement with Rockwell

West Chester University has received its largest ever donation through a unique land partnership with East Whiteland Township. In 2024, the university received a donation of 52 acres of farmland in the township from an undisclosed donor. In the recently announced partnership, East Whiteland will pay $4.7 million to the school to acquire the land. West

Spring City Borough Council will consider a proposal to regulate vacant commercial properties. According to a public notice, the draft ordinance will “create a regulatory scheme for the registration and inventorying of commercial units and the registration, inventorying, inspection and monitoring of vacant commercial units,” as well as

A Chester County jury has awarded a total of $3.25 million to three pairs of homeowners in East Brandywine Township who sued their builder over defects. The families bought houses for between $600,000 and $800,000 in a single-family development called the Estates at Hideaway Farms, constructed by Chester County builder Southdown Homes. In their lawsuits,

East Marlborough Township’s supervisors will hold a work session to discuss a possible earned income tax (EIT). The meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 25, at 6 p.m. at the township building, 721 Unionville Road, Kennett Square. Read the township’s overview and FAQ on the possible EIT here. Source: Daily Local; 6/17/2025

Property taxes are going up in Tredyffrin and Easttown townships with the approval of the Tredyffrin/Easttown School District 2025-2026 final budget. The budget has $190.3 million in revenues, $6.1 million in fund balance allocation, and $196.4 million in expenditures. Officials addressed an $11 million deficit with expenditure reductions, tapping into

The Kennett Consolidated School Board unanimously approved an annual operating budget of $108 million, an increase of $3.5 million over last year. The tax bill to the average property owner will be $6,414, compared to $6,168 last year. The budget numbers presented by district CFO Mark Tracy reflected major increases in salaries, contracts, and expenditures

Landscapes3 was adopted as the comprehensive plan for Chester County in November 2018. Since then, the county planning commission has been tracking 18 metrics to assess implementation of its six goals. Long-term changes in the housing market are also reflected in the metrics. The percentage of new housing units that are apartments continues to be notably

West Sadsbury Township supervisors are considering a draft ordinance that would loosen zoning restrictions regarding the construction of accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The proposal would “provide for accessory dwelling units in all zoning districts to provide for additional housing opportunities in the township.” The ordinance defines an ADU

East Whiteland Township supervisors will consider a draft ordinance to create a new Section 200-13.1 of the municipal code, titled Workforce Housing. It will establish a process for the development of housing in zoning districts where apartments are “permitted specifically designed and subsidized for middle- and moderate-income households.”

The Trestle Bridge, which stands high above the East Branch of the Brandywine Creek at the border of West Bradford and East Caln townships near Downingtown Borough, has a new owner. On May 21, Chester County commissioners unanimously approved the transfer of the bridge structure and its right-of-way from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation to the

Kennett Township supervisors adopted Ordinance 311 that amends Chapter 232 of the township code regarding the growing of bamboo grasses. Under the ordinance, exterior bamboo shall not be planted, maintained or otherwise permitted to exist within 40 feet of the edge of a property, and all existing bamboo within 40 feet of the edge of a property must be

Lori Diefenderfer, director of business administration for the Coatesville Area School District, recommended the board pass a 3.5% tax increase to balance the 2025-2026 budget. The proposed spending plan in the preliminary budget shows $242 million in expenditures and $230.1 million in revenue. Diefenderfer said the $11.9 million gap between income and

Each year, the Chester County Planning Commission analyzes assessment data on sales and construction to understand housing trends in the county. Among the key points and trends from the 2024 Housing Report are: Both raw and inflation-adjusted housing prices have been steadily rising in the county, up to $525,000 in 2024. The number of annual sales in 2023

Abrams Realty and Development, the owner of the 75-acre Exton Square property, has submitted a master plan for redevelopment of the mall property. The plan proposes multiple uses of the land, including retention of Boscov's and the east parking garage at current locations, and relocation of Main Line Health. It adds new office space, commercial space for

London Grove Township supervisors are considering acquiring a property at 200 East Avondale Road for open space. According to Chester County property records, the land — identified as Tax Parcel No. 59-11-19.1 in the township’s legal notice — is nearly 0.66 acres and is adjacent to township-owned land. The township scheduled a May 14

East Marlborough residents packed the township meeting room on April 23 for a preliminary discussion about a possible earned-income tax (EIT). Jayson Lawson, a representative from Keystone Collections, said that 70 of the 73 municipalities in Chester County already collect an EIT, which can be up to 1% of a resident’s or employee’s income. East

Sadsbury Township supervisors will hold a public meeting to discuss proposed Ordinance No. 2025-04, which aims to regulate residential rental units within the township. The ordinance will require rental occupancy permits. Inspections of residential rental units will be performed by the code enforcement officer. Landlords will be required to file reports

Suburbia Shopping Center, a 154,000-square-foot retail property in North Coventry Township, has been sold. The shopping center, located at Glocker Way and Pottstown Pike (Route 100), has been sold by Gambone Management Co., which was represented during the sale by JLL Capital Markets. It was purchased by a High Real Estate Group affiliate earlier this

Downingtown Area School District (DASD) has announced a public hearing regarding the potential sale of district-owned property in Uwchlan Township. The 240-acre property is located along Lionville Station Road and is currently home to three dilapidated homes and four deteriorating farm structures. The property is divided between two zoning districts, with

The West Vincent Township Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to consider draft Ordinance 213-2025, amending the Part 1, Chapter 6, Antidiscrimination, of the township code. The ordinance would amend certain definitions and authorize meetings of the Human Relations Commission for the purpose of education, outreach and training. The hearing will

The POWER Interfaith organization will sponsor town hall presentations focusing on fair school funding and fair housing, and their impact on local taxes. According to a press release from the group, the state’s underfunding of schools leaves students in under-resourced districts without the tools they need to thrive. “The PA General Assembly is

The West Nottingham Township Board of Supervisors held a conditional use hearing to consider the application of West Nottingham CSG 1 LLC and West Nottingham CSG 2 LLC for solar generating arrays at 10 State Line Road. The property is located in the township’s industrial zone, but is currently used for agriculture. Hayley Effler, the senior project

Oxford Borough officials have long discussed upgrades for the wells, water lines and sewer lines for Mt. Vernon Street. Traffic on the street has also greatly increased as the borough continues to grow as an urban center, and a proposed traffic calming bio-retention bump-out project will be located on the north side of the street. The project includes

U.S. Census estimates of Pennsylvania’s total population as of July 1, 2024, show that Chester County is once again leading the state in population growth. The figures reported by the Pennsylvania State Data Center in Harrisburg showed that Pennsylvania experienced an overall population increase of just over 75,800 between 2020 and 2024. Among the 28

A New York real estate firm has added to its suburban Philadelphia holdings with the $96.5 million acquisition of an 18-month-old Main Line apartment building, Chester County property records show. Pantzer Properties purchased the 250-unit Ember at Berwyn from developers Bozzuto and Echo Realty. The deal is believed to be the largest publicly recorded

Abrams Realty & Development closed on its acquisition of Exton Square Mall on March 18, paving the way for a major redevelopment of the struggling retail center. Abrams Realty paid $34.25 million to purchase the 75-acre property in West Whiteland Township from PREIT. Abrams plans to preserve the Boscov’s department store and part of Round 1 arcade

Tower Health sold the campus of its shuttered Brandywine Hospital in Caln Township to Regal Builders for an undisclosed price. Regal Builders, based in Dover, Delaware, said it didn’t have anything to share yet about its plans for the 67-acre property in Caln Township. The campus is located near the Route 30 bypass a few miles north of Coatesville.

Main Line Health is seeking to build a 145,000-square-foot, three-story medical center at the corner of Lloyd and Manor avenues in Caln Township near Downingtown Borough. Services provided would include primary and specialty care, imaging and laboratory services, outpatient surgery and urgent care. Downingtown Health Center would sit on a 14.5-acre site, on

Tredyffrin Township supervisors will hold a hearing on proposed Ordinance No. HR-488 to use eminent domain to acquire a portion of property at 355 Chase Road in Tredyffrin Township for a public park. If passed, the ordinance will go into effect 31 days after passage. The hearing will take place on Monday, March 17, at 7 p.m. at the township building at 1100

West Caln Township supervisors are considering a draft ordinance that would allow for domesticated chickens. The draft ordinance lays out definitions and regulations for residents to keep “a small number of female chickens on a noncommercial basis while limiting the adverse impacts on the surrounding properties.” Supervisors will hold a public

Schuylkill Township announced the successful acquisition of the Sedgley Farm property, located at 930 Valley Forge Road, Phoenixville. The $17 million purchase, finalized in December, marks the culmination of nearly two decades of proposed land development plans. The acquisition of 64.7 acres of Sedgley Farm represents the fulfillment of efforts that began

West Whiteland supervisors unanimously voted recently to approve an ordinance that limits the number of units per acre, and the type of housing units allowed, at the 75-acre Exton Square property. But the new ordinance might be too late to prevent the plans of the equitable owner of the mall property, which call for the construction of 375 apartments and

A land conservation agreement to preserve a 20-acre property on Honeysuckle Lane was announced by the French and Pickering Creeks Preservation Trust. The land sits within the high-quality Pickering Creek watershed and features a mixture of homesteads, steep slopes, agricultural fields and woodlands. Under current zoning, three additional lots could be

Tredyffrin Township proposes to take over Picket Post Swim Club’s former pool-and-racquet facility on Chase Road, a 4.8-acre eyesore, and turn it into a public park. How the park will be used is yet to be announced, but racquet sports seem likely because the property already has six pickleball courts and four tennis courts. At the same time,

The West Whiteland Township Board of Supervisors unanimously approved an ordinance to limit the number of units per acre, and type of housing units, at the 75-acre Exton Square property. The dilapidated mall is located in a 643-acre Town Center zoning district (TC) around the intersection of routes 30 and 100, at what is known as the Exton Crossroads. The

East Goshen Township supervisors are considering a draft ordinance replacing Chapter 182, “Rental Property Requirements.” The new ordinance will require an annual report of the names of tenants, a responsible agent for property within a 50-mile radius of the township, and a rental certificate every three years. East Goshen currently requires

A new development has been proposed at the site of the Phoenixville Area School District's former kindergarten center, potentially bringing 93 new residential units to the borough, according to the developer and borough documents. The proposal, from Toll Brothers, would develop the school's land at 100 School Lane, as well as the nearby Phoenixville

As of Feb. 1, East Goshen Township has reinstated a requirement for point-of-sale inspections. The application for a Residential Property Transfer Application can be found here. The cost of the resale inspection is $150. There is also a separate sewer or septic certification ($15) and trash certification ($15). Applications must be complete, and 15 business

Chester County permanently protected more than 1,200 acres of land in 2024, officials said in a review of their open space programming last year. The county runs two preservation initiatives — Open Lands and Agricultural Preservation — that target at-risk farmland, vital ecological land and areas of public interest for recreation. The investment

West Chester Borough is short a reported $75,000 in rental permit revenue and is looking for a way to recoup. The borough’s Building and Housing Department is tasked with inspecting 4,290 apartment and house rentals. A permit is issued for both new and existing rental units. Borough Manager Sean Metrick said that about 15% of rental units, owned by

Westtown Township inked a deal in December to buy 208 acres of the 319-acre Crebilly Farm from the Robinson Family for $20 million. Four separate properties will cover the rest of the mostly open space. A master plan formulated by stakeholders will define the layout of a preserve. Westtown supervisor and Westtown-East Goshen Police Commission Chairman Dick

French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust and the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference of the United Methodist Church have announced the completion of a voluntary land conservation agreement to preserve Camp Innabah’s 130-acre property along Pughtown Road. The trust worked with the camp to obtain more than $1.36 million in funding, including $861,000

West Chester University professor, Lorenzo Cena Ph.D., who leads the school’s Environmental Health program, delivered his final air quality report to New Garden Township supervisors. The 83-page report measured ammonia, methane and hydrogen sulfide emissions from outdoor fresh mushroom production facilities throughout the township in order to

In late December, the West Chester Borough Zoning Hearing Board started accepting applications for special exception approval to regulate the use of short-term rental properties in the Town Center zoning district. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis, and only 20 will be approved. More information can be found here. Source: West

Phoenixville Borough announced it is among a select group of municipalities to receive a bronze certification through the Sustainable Pennsylvania program, which is managed by the Pennsylvania Municipal League. The program is designed to recognize municipalities that are working to save money, conserve resources and serve vibrant communities. Source:

Upper Uwchlan Township will consider an ordinance enacting a tax credit for township real estate tax and earned income tax for residents who work with a volunteer fire company or nonprofit medical emergency companies. A hearing on the ordinance will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 14, at 4 p.m. at the township building, 140 Pottstown Pike, Chester Springs.

Chester County residents will see a 13.4% increase in the county portion of their property taxes in 2025. The board of county commissioners voted 2-1 along party lines to approve the 2025 budget, including the tax increase, after roughly an hour of public comment from residents urging commissioners to cut costs elsewhere to avoid the hike. County officials

New Garden Township supervisors passed a 2025 budget with an 18% increase in property taxes, from 2.77 to 3.27 mills. A key component of next year’s budget will be to focus on township priorities as spelled out in its 2018 comprehensive plan — including stimulating economic development, investing in infrastructure, addressing the rising costs of

Kennett Township supervisors approved a 2025 budget, which includes a 0.1-mill real estate tax increase. The increase is expected to raise about $82,500 and represent an average $22 per year increase to taxpayers. “The reality though is that many of our expenses are actually increasing greater than our revenue is growing,” Township Manager

Birmingham Township supervisors approved the township’s 2025 budget with a slight millage increase in township property taxes, as anticipated. The increase, from 1.6 to 1.9 mills, is the first increase since 2010, according to Township Manager Quina Nelling. She said during the November meeting that the increase would cost the average property owner

North Coventry Township supervisors will hold a meeting on Friday, Dec. 20, to formally adopt a $7.1 million 2025 budget that will increase property taxes by 5%. According to information provided by Township Manager Erica Batdorf, the budget would result in a 0.16-mill increase, from 3.28 mills to 3.44 mills. For a property assessed at $200,000, the

Westtown Township has closed on the purchase of Crebilly Farm. The $20 million sale was completed on Dec. 9, according to a press release. The closing secures the largest portion of the approximately 308-acre farm. Westtown Township solicitor Patrick M. McKenna, a partner at Gawthrop Greenwood, administered the closing with Westtown Township and the

North Coventry Township has begun the process of designing a new municipal building in a new location. According to information provided in the township’s budget presentation, the current plan is to locate the new building at Hanover Meadows, the 22-acre property the township owns off Lenape Way, between Route 100 and South Hanover Street, where the

Penn Township supervisors approved an increase of 0.25% to the earned-income tax at their Nov. 19 meeting. In previous meetings, the supervisors discussed the needs expressed by the fire company and Medic 94 for more support because of the rising costs that those important organizations face. In addition to the material fees, they considered the need for

East Bradford Township supervisors at their Nov. 7 meeting approved Ordinance 04-2024 to amend the township code — Chapter 99, "Taxation," Section 99-17, "Earned Income Tax" — to add a new article IV, titled "Real Estate Tax Credit to Qualifying Volunteers," and other miscellaneous provisions provided herein. Source: East Bradford Township;

After two years of public discussion, West Chester Borough Council passed an ordinance to regulate short-term rentals. Short-term rental use would be limited to the TC-Town Center District, or mostly within the downtown business district. The total number of rentals is limited to 20, borough-wide. When the 20 units are established, prospective renters will

Chester County taxpayers could see an average increase in their county taxes next year of about $60 a year per each $100,000 of their property’s assessed value if a preliminary budget is approved next month. If adopted, taxes would rise by 0.605 mills, about 13%, from 4.551 to 5.156 mills. The county’s chief financial officer, Julie Bookheimer,

Uwchlan Township will consider an ordinance to authorize the imposition or an additional earned income tax at the rate of 0.25% for the purposes of acquiring open space. A public hearing will take place on Monday, Dec. 9, at 7 p.m. at 715 N. Ship Road, Exton. Source: Daily Local; 11/18/2024

Easttown Township's proposed and preliminary budget features a reduction in the overall real estate millage rate, meaning lower property taxes than in 2024. According to officials, the 2025 real estate tax rate of 5.4 mills is a 10% decrease compared to 2024, when it was 5.99 mills. If the 5.4 millage rate is approved, a property valued at $300,000 would

State Rep. Melissa Shusterman (D-157) said $1 million has been awarded in Community Conservation Partnerships Program funding to Willistown Conservation Trust. The grant will be used to secure the acquisition of 90 acres of green space in Willistown Township to establish the Kestrel Hill Preserve. The preserve will offer hiking, running and horseback trails

Exton Square Mall in West Whiteland Township is under contract to sell to a local developer with plans to overhaul the struggling property, according to sources familiar with the deal. Elkins Park-based Abrams Realty & Development's plans include tearing down a portion of the mall and adding residences along with a variety of other uses to the retail

Kennett Square residents learned about developers’ vision for the old National Vulcanized Fibre Company (NVF) site at a forum held at Kennett Library on Nov. 7. Plans for the 22-acre site along West Mulberry Street call for construction of 294 “for rent” and “for sale” residential units. The complex will include 246

The Penn Township Board of Supervisors will consider increasing the earned income and net profits tax to 0.75%. The estimated revenue to be derived from the tax increase during 2025 is $355,000. If adopted, the tax ordinance will be effective on Jan. 1, 2025. A public hearing will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 6 p.m. at the Penn Township Municipal

Ballot measures to increase taxes in Uwchlan and East Whiteland townships for the purposes of open space preservation won. Approximately 57% of voters in Uwchlan Township voted for an increase in the earned income tax — raising it from 1% to 1.25% — for securing open space. The new tax will be paid by township residents only, and the township

A Trader Joe’s grocery store is coming to the former CVS/Acme space in Berwyn, Easttown Township. The new store will be about 10,000 sq. ft., slightly smaller than the nearby locations in Tredyffrin and Ardmore. A new Trader Joe’s is also opening in King of Prussia, at the old Bed, Bath & Beyond store. Read more at Savvy Main Line. Source:

West Chester Borough Council will consider a short-term rental ordinance, amending Chapter 112, Zoning Code, and, Chapter 66, Property Maintenance Code, of the borough code. A hearing will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 20, at 6:30 p.m. at 401 East Gay St. Source: West Chester Borough; 11/2024

A historic, 24-acre farm has been preserved as the result of a voluntary conservation agreement between Raymond and Kathleen Nester and the French and Pickering Creeks Conservation Trust. The property, located along Halteman Road, boasts a mature hardwood forest and 1,200 feet of Pigeon Creek. Chester County granted French & Pickering $128,300 for the

Voters in Uwchlan Township will have a referendum question on the ballot to determine whether the township should impose an increase in the earned income tax at a rate not to exceed 0.25% for securing open space benefits. If approved, the tax will rise from 1% to 1.25%. The new tax would be paid by township residents only, and the township estimates it

East Marlborough Township supervisors are looking at raising the township’s general real estate taxes for the first time since approximately 1997. It is one of three separate tax increases the township is considering in its 2025 budget. One possibility is for the supervisors to raise the general fund tax to 1.75 mills, from its current 1.05 mills.

Hankin Group has completed the first phase of its $150 million, 360-unit residential community in Chester County and has begun leasing for its newest building. Hamilton Passive House, opened to residents last week, is a 32-unit, net-zero, luxury apartment building that caps the initial 10-building, 150-unit phase of development. It is part of Hankin Group's

East Whiteland Township is considering a blended tax increase — adding 0.05% on residents' earned income tax and 0.45 mills on the property tax. The funds would be used for open space preservation, acquiring properties, ensuring wildlife habitat protection and maintaining recreational lands. Residents will be asked on Nov. 5 to vote on a ballot

Downingtown Borough Council will consider for adoption an amendment to the violations and penalties section of the property maintenance and housing standards for rental housing. The draft ordinance states: “Any person who fails to comply with the provisions of this chapter or who fails to carry out an order made pursuant to this chapter or who

Elk Township will consider an ordinance to reduce its open space tax from the current rate of 0.5% on earned income down to 0.01%. The estimated revenue to be derived from the open space tax during 2025 is $47,500. The proposed ordinance would be effective Jan. 1, 2025. All other provisions of the existing Earned Income Tax Ordinance No. 2007-07 would

The Kennett Township Board of Supervisors recently reviewed a 2025 budget presentation that raises taxes 0.1 mills, equaling a 2.86% increase. The current millage rate in the township is 3.5 mills. In 2024 the two biggest sources of revenue for the township were the earned income tax (44% of revenue) and property taxes (32%). The real estate millage rate

Westtown Township’s 2021 Master Park Plan called for improving the most utilized area of Oakbourne Park, which provides active recreational opportunities. On Oct. 1, after three years of planning, grant applications, engineering and construction, township supervisors held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of $6 million of

Oxford Borough has been awarded a state grant for more than $854,000 that will ensure completion of strategic improvements to Niblock Alley, a rebuilding effort that followed the devastating fire in Oxford’s downtown in September 2023. The money comes via PennDOT’s Multimodal Transportation Fund Program and also provides funds to rehabilitate

On Aug. 26, the North Coventry Township Board of Supervisors adopted a peddling and solicitation ordinance to establish new standards and enhance regulations for solicitors. The purpose of the ordinance is to repeal the existing, older provisions, and enable improved measures to protect the safety and privacy of residents by regulating the behavior of

Chester County commissioners and staff from the county Department of Community Development attended the official opening of The Willows at Valley Run in Caln Township, the county’s newest and largest affordable housing development. Chester County invested $2.4 million in The Willows, which has 120 one-, two- and three-bedroom rental units that are

The Chester County Planning Commission is hosting a free, virtual roundtable series for leaders and residents of homeowners associations (HOAs) that will feature examples, guidance and discussion on how to make their communities more sustainable. “Creating a Sustainability Action Plan for HOAs” is the theme on Thursday, Sept. 26, at 6:30 p.m.

In summer 2022, New Garden Township responded to complaints about odors being emitted from nearby mushroom composting facilities by commissioning a scientific study. The one-year study conducted by Lorenzo Cena, Ph.D., of West Chester University, measured the air quality near the mushroom farms — specifically whether ammonia, methane and hydrogen

Easttown Township supervisors voted on Aug. 19 to enact an earned income tax (EIT) of 0.5%. The tax will be levied on earned income or net profits derived from individual residents of the township, and from nonresidents of the township from any business done in the township. The EIT will take effect in 2025. The 0.5% rate equals about $925 per year for a

In December 2021, after several years of negotiation, New Garden Township acquired 305 Penn Green Road to be preserved in perpetuity and be accessible to residents. Shortly after the acquisition, a “no trespassing” sign was placed across the driveway, and the open space has remained inaccessible to the community. The property, which encompasses

As Hankin Group opens a new 113,000-square-foot life sciences building at 240 Sierra Drive to tenants, the developer is planning its next lab building as part of its massive master-planned Eagleview development in Exton. Hankin Group is scheduled to break ground on a 63,000-square-foot life sciences building this fall at 100 Arrowhead Drive in Upper Uwchlan

According to the Economic Policy Institute’s Family Budget Calculator, Chester County is the most expensive place overall to live in southeastern Pennsylvania — and housing is at the top of the list. It costs residents $10,738 every month to maintain a modest standard of living. The Family Budget Calculator was used to determine the local cost

The court-appointed receiver for the City of Chester, Michael T. Doweary, plans to solicit bids for monetization of the water, wastewater and stormwater operations. “I am excited to propose an innovative approach that, if done properly, could not only help Chester address its financial situation, but also result in a publicly owned regional entity

Oxford Borough Council held a public hearing to adopt Ordinance No. 965-2024, updating Chapter 27, Zoning, of the municipal code of ordinances to change the maximum building height in the PD-1 and R-1 zoning districts for lot clustering. The decision doesn’t affect how many houses would be allowed under the guidelines, just the maximum height.

More than 200 Chester County residents filed into a public hearing in New Garden Township on Aug. 8 to voice opposition to Aqua Pennsylvania’s proposal to increase its water service rates by nearly 19% and its wastewater rates by more than 20%. Aqua filed the request with the Public Utility Commission (PUC) on May 24, which ordered an investigation to

West Chester Borough Council will consider amending Chapter 112, Zoning, to add a short-term rental as a permitted use in the town center district by conditional use. It also adds a requirement for one off-street parking space per bedroom in a short-term rental. The ordinance will be considered for adoption at a public hearing on Wednesday, Aug. 21, at 5:30

The North Coventry Township Board of Supervisors will consider for adoption draft Ordinance No. 02-2024, which would repeal and replace Chapter 259, Peddling and Soliciting. The draft ordinance establishes regulations for transient retail businesses requiring licenses, including relevant definitions, regulations regarding the conduct of transient retail

The Suburban Realtors Alliance recently heard from a Realtor whose client was given 30 days to complete repairs as a condition of receiving a temporary certificate of occupancy in Spring City Borough. The Realtor provided the borough with information about Act 133 — which mandates a minimum of 12 months for the completion of repairs — and the

About 30 Penn Township residents attended a July 24 planning commission meeting to express fears that a patch of rural open space was in danger of having its zoning changed. Environmental scientist Dennis Newbold said he was concerned because the land is owned by the Catholic Archdiocese and is up for sale. Citing the township’s comprehensive plans,

The Oxford Borough Water Department is responsible for providing potable drinking water to the borough’s residents, which is no small task these days. The borough sources its water from a combination of the Chester Water Authority and local wells and owns a water treatment plant and a transmission, production, storage and distribution system serving

East Coventry Supervisors voted to take the first step required to file a lawsuit against the North Coventry Municipal Authority (the Authority) and North Coventry Township in connection with the township’s efforts to sell its sewer system to Pennsylvania American Water for $7 million. At issue is the fact that East Coventry does not own a sewer

A recent West Chester University analysis calls for spending a minimum of a half billion dollars to build a new residence hall and renovate several others. Jeffrey L. Osgood, Jr., WCU executive vice president and provost, said that students have shifted priorities, and many would now prefer to live on campus rather than nearby. The university would like as

The Board of Supervisors of West Sadsbury Township will hold a public hearing to consider the adoption of the West Sadsbury Township Comprehensive Plan of 2024. The draft comprehensive plan is available here. The plan describes the community as one “that takes pride in its agrarian history and promotes a rural quality of life while balancing the

Natural Lands announced the permanent preservation of the Painter farmstead in Warwick Township. The 14-acre property is now protected by a conservation easement that will ensure its meadows and woodlands will remain forever. The easement — which is a voluntary, legally binding and permanent land protection program — allows the farm to stay in

East Caln Township recently completed an update to its comprehensive plan. The township was awarded an in-kind grant of $37,000 — 60% of the project cost — through Chester County's Vision Partnership Program to update the 2011 comprehensive plan. The plan update process began in 2022 and the final update was adopted in March. The plan is divided

West Vincent Township supervisors voted unanimously to adopt a plastic bag ban for businesses that has been under discussion for more than two years. In previous discussions, the most unpopular aspect was the requirement that merchants charge customers for providing a paper bag. Supervisors Chair Dana Alan said the board decided to keep it in, but lowered

A Fort Washington homebuilder purchased a 73-acre undeveloped property in Chester County for nearly triple what it sold for last year and plans to build dozens of single-family homes. Foxlane Homes recently bought the four parcels in Glenmoore, Wallace Township, for $6.8 million — 15 months after the land sold for $2.3 million, according to property

Upper Uwchlan Township has been drafting a short-term rental ordinance that would amend the zoning section of the municipal code. The proposal would delete the definition of “Hotel/Motel/Motor Inn” to add definitions of hotel, motel and short-term rental. It would amend section 200 of the code to allow a short-term rental in the R-1 and R-2

A public hearing on the future of the Big Elk Creek watershed drew more than 160 people to the auditorium of Avon Grove High School on July 9, along with local, county and state elected officials. The event was organized by the Republican Policy Committee of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Many residents called for the 1,800 acres of state-owned

The East Goshen Township Board of Supervisors approved new sewer rates that took effect on July 1, with a fixed rate of $60.61 and $12 per thousand gallons. It’s an increase over the old rates of $55.61 fixed and $9.70 per thousand gallons. Residents should expect to see a change in the July 2024 bill. To calculate sewer consumption for any given

New Chester County homeowners have reached out to the Chester County Recorder of Deeds (ROD) office with concerns about potential scam mail. Potential victims receive a letter in the mail that offers a fee of around $100 dollars to receive a copy of their deed. The tone of the letters implies a sense of urgency for new homeowners to quickly pay the fee so

West Chester Borough now has an online service to make it easier to apply for new rental licenses and renew existing licenses. Visit the borough’s new permitting and licensing portal for more information. Source: West Chester Borough; 6/2024

United Way of Chester County offers assistance to mobile home owners in Chester County to file for property tax reassessment appeals. The fees are paid by donors on behalf of the homeowners in the program. Since 2019, the United Way Mobile Home Tax Reassessment Program has assisted in 1,014 successful appeals and saved each mobile home owner an average of

West Chester Borough Council voted to change the rules on how many parking spaces a builder should incorporate into new housing developments. Builders will need to supply more spaces than were required in 2021, the last time the ordinance was changed, but not as many as were required by zoning ordinances set prior to 2021. Councilwoman Nicole Scimone said

Unionville-Chadds Ford School District directors passed a budget with a tax increase levied on property owners in the district. Unlike most years, however, the vote wasn’t unanimous. The lone “no” vote came from School Board Member Brian Schartz, who motioned to approve the 2024-2025 academic year budget. The budget calls for revenues of

The millage rate in Tredyffrin-Easttown School District will be 28.3372 mills in the 2024-2025 school year, up 1.5788​ mills from the current rate, after the school board adopted its budget. The budget includes $181.1 million in revenues, $185.7 million in expenditures, and a $4.61 million fund balance allocation. Source: Tredyffrin-Easttown Patch;

Natural Lands announced the preservation via easement of a 95-acre forested landscape in East Nantmeal Township. The Keen property represents the last, largest remaining unprotected woodland tract surrounding the historical Village of Nantmeal. The dense forest provides essential habitat for songbirds and other wildlife and helps to filter rainwater before

The Uwchlan Township Board of Supervisors has approved an ordinance to hold a referendum on introducing an open space tax. The referendum question will be included in the November general election ballot. If voters approve it, the open space tax would add 0.25% to the earned income tax (EIT), raising it from 1% to 1.25%. The new tax would be paid by

East Whiteland Township supervisors, after a public hearing on May 8, approved an ordinance placing a referendum question on the November ballot. The question asks residents if they favor the imposition of a tax on earned income at a rate not to exceed 0.05% and an increase in the real property tax at a rate not to exceed 0.45 mills ($0.45 per $1,000

Overnight from Jan. 24 to 25, the Chester County Department of Community Development conducted its annual Point-in-Time Count of homeless people. The department just released the results, which revealed that 213 people were experiencing homelessness in Chester County that night — a significant reduction compared to the 2023 figure of 436. Several

The Kennett Consolidated School District broke ground on its upcoming New Garden Elementary School in a ceremony on May 24 that took place behind the existing elementary school. The original building, which opened in 1957, is destined for demolition, with the opening of the new structure planned for 2026. The new building will cost $58.2 million. New Garden

Nearly $6.7 million in open space preservation and park improvement grants were announced by the Chester County commissioners. The grants are made available through Chester County’s Preservation Partnership Program, which offers funding to municipalities and nonprofit land preservation organizations. A total of 16 grants are included this year,

West Chester Borough Council authorized solicitor Kristin Camp to rewrite a borough ordinance that will loosen the rules for keeping chickens in backyards. The borough has issued two permits to residents who are currently raising chickens. Camp will craft language that will allow a five-foot setback from a property line, rather than the current 10 feet.

The Uwchlan Township Board Of Supervisors will hold a public hearing to receive comment and public testimony regarding a proposed ordinance to add a new Article V, “Open Space Tax.” The ordinance would authorize a referendum pursuant to the Open Space Lands Acquisition and Preservation Act, known as the Open Space Act. If passed, the ballot

Downingtown Area School District (DASD) will host a community meeting on Wednesday, May 29, at 6 p.m. to discuss the future of the Siemens Property, also known as Lionville Station Farm. All DASD residents are invited to hear about potential uses for the property and share their thoughts. The district purchased the property in Uwchlan Township from Siemens

The Tredyffrin/Easttown School Board voted to adopt a $185.7 million proposed final budget for 2024-2025. The budget proposal would increase the property tax rate by about 6.3% from the current 26.7585 mills to 28.4472, according to the April 29 school board agenda packet. The district successfully filed for state approval to exceed its Act 1 cap of a 5.3%

Unionville-Chadds Ford School District’s proposed final budget for 2024-2025, which will be up for a vote on June 17, calls for revenues of $105.81 million and expenditures of nearly $105.84 million. It also calls for property tax increases of 2.07% for Chester County property owners and 11.06% for property owners in Chadds Ford Township, the only

As of April 1, East Goshen Township changed its requirements for the issuance of a Certificate of Residential Re-Occupancy. An inspection is no longer required, and the fee was reduced from $100 to $50. The township will review the property for open permits, open violations and any change of use. A signed affidavit is required for automatic garage door

The Phoenixville Area School Board held off on a scheduled adoption of a $113 million proposed final budget, deciding instead to review it one more time with an eye toward raising the new tax rate higher than the 1.89% being proposed. School Board President Susan Turner said the planned opening of the Seven Stars Elementary School in the 2025-2026 school

A nonprofit advocacy group for the area's homeless is opening up a new brick-and-mortar location in Phoenixville at 145 S. Main St. The group, Better Days Ahead, distributes food, clothing and survival gear directly to area homeless and at-risk individuals. The group has been in operation for the past five years, active in Phoenixville, Pottstown and

The Suburban Realtors Alliance was recently made aware that West Vincent Township has started conducting point-of-sale inspections of existing residential properties. The Alliance requested a copy of the enabling ordinance and was referred to the building permit section of the zoning chapter in West Vincent’s municipal code, which mainly concerns new

Toll Brothers has acquired 22 acres in East Brandywine Township with plans to build 89 townhomes, further expanding the company’s presence in the Philadelphia suburbs. The Fort Washington-based homebuilder paid $6.23 million for the parcels at 1130 and 1136 Horseshoe Pike, according to property records. Toll bought the land, which is located two miles

West Chester Borough Council continues to discuss whether and where to allow short-term rentals in private homes. The public conversation has been ongoing for about a year. Councilwoman Lisa Dorsey said there are already 60 operating short-term rentals in the borough, and she favors allowing short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, in all neighborhoods.

Oxford Borough Council continues to discuss who should pay for improvements to sidewalks and curbing — individual property owners or the borough itself. Seeking grant funding is one possibility, but such funding is very competitive. A planned project on Mount Vernon Street will not include sidewalks, but it does have curbing, which could cost upwards

At a West Chester Borough Council work session, residents and officials alike rejected a plan to bring affordable housing to a parking lot that hosts the West Chester Growers Market. After a long discussion on the agenda item “Consider entering into a housing development proposal agreement with Pennrose Properties on Lot 10 Chestnut and Church

A proposed affordable housing development is stirring controversy in West Chester Borough, as community members say it would impact the site of an ongoing farmers market. The proposal would bring a building of anywhere from one to five stories to the corner of Church and Chestnut streets, and would include the parking lot where the West Chester Growers

The Avon Grove School Board voted to approve Fair Funding Resolution #24-10 in support of constitutional funding of public schools and opposed to funding of nonpublic schools. The resolution follows recent statewide developments related to school funding. Pennsylvania Commonwealth Court in February 2023 decided that the state’s method of funding

The Londonderry Township Board of Supervisors adopted the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) at its March 12 meeting. The full ordinance can be accessed here. The IPMC applies to all buildings within the township. Source: Londonderry Township; 4/2024

The Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT), owner of several malls in the Philadelphia suburbs, is emerging from its second bankruptcy in four years after a private company controlled by a small group of investment firms purchased its debt. In recent years, the company identified Exton Square Mall as a potential redevelopment site, and it remains

Honey Brook Community Library recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for an expansion project that will nearly double the size of the library. The project, funded in part by a $1.14 million state grant, will expand programming and community space, improve ventilation, and add additional dedicated learning space for children, teens and adults. Construction

The Kennett Township Board of Supervisors gave approval at a March 20 meeting to the preliminary-final land development plan for the Parkside real estate project in the township, with six conditions. The project, which will be developed by North Walnut Holding Company L.P. will be 16 acres and located on Walnut Road just to the south of Route 1. The

The Willistown Township Board of Supervisors will consider amendments to the peddling and soliciting ordinance. The changes will eliminate the curfew for peddling and soliciting and amend the rules of conduct. The amendments will be considered at a public hearing on Monday, April 8, at 7 p.m. at Sugartown Elementary School, 611 Sugartown Road, Malvern.

West Nantmeal Township supervisors will consider amendments to Chapter 140 of the township code, Property Maintenance Code and Use and Occupancy Certification. The township has had a property maintenance code, rental inspection and point-of-sale inspection ordinance in place since 2010. The changes incorporate language from Act 133, the state Municipal Code

The City of Coatesville will receive a grant of nearly $960,00 to implement the Ash Park Master Plan Phases I and II. The 9.3-acre park is situated between Walnut and Kersey streets. U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D), partnering with U.S. Rep Chrissy Houlahan (D, PA-6), helped procure funding for 14 projects through the Community Project Funding grant, which

In 2021, New Garden Township supervisors authorized the $1.4 million purchase of the 106-acre Loch Nairn Golf Club site from the Smedley family. At a township meeting in March, Kate Raman, a conservation project manager at Natural Lands, spelled out the future for the park that will include forests, trails and pathways, restored streams and acres of meadows

Moody’s Investor Service, S&P Global (formerly Standard & Poor’s), and Fitch Ratings recently verified that Chester County‘s financial picture had allowed it to maintain its top-level AAA ratings. The county is the only one in Pennsylvania with three AAA ratings — the “triple-triple” — and is one of just a

Ann's Heart, a nonprofit organization in Phoenixville, has received a grant of more than $977,000 that will allow it to purchase and renovate its existing downtown campus. The nonprofit provides numerous critical services, including shelter, housing case management and food programs to vulnerable populations. The grant money comes via the recent Community

Under Chapter 145 of the Municipal Code of East Whiteland Township, property owners are required to file a "Rental Occupancy Report" within 30 days of becoming a landlord of any business unit or dwelling unit by agreement of sale, deed or by any other means. Under the code, a "business unit" is a parcel of real estate or any unit thereon, utilized by any

The Chester County Recorder of Deeds office often receives questions from submitters about how to re-record a deed or mortgage that was recorded with mistakes. Mistakes can range from forgetting to attach a legal description to the mortgage or misspelling a grantor or grantee’s name. A re-recorded mortgage, re-recorded deed or deed of correction can

In August 2023, the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors adopted Ordinance #261 authorizing inspection of all rental properties, effective Jan. 1, 2024. The ordinance provides the ability for the township to inspect residential rental units, requiring landlords to file reports listing all residential rental units, and authorizing the code enforcement

The Chester County Department of Community Development was recently awarded more than $2 million in fiscal year 2023 Continuum of Care (CoC) Competition Awards by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The funds are allocated for projects focused on ending homelessness. The Chester County commissioners applauded the funding, saying,

Tredyffrin Township announced in its February 2024 newsletter that it will no longer send street light bills to residents. “By upgrading our street lights to more efficient LEDs, we reduced costs dramatically,” the newsletter said. Tredyffrin also recently posted a comprehensive roadway report. Last year, the township contracted engineering firm

Plans for a new Greenwood Elementary School moved a step closer to reality after the Feb. 7 Kennett Township supervisors meeting. The supervisors approved the conditional land development plan to build a new 105,000-square-foot building on the same property as the current school at 420 Greenwood Road. The township’s planning commission voted to

East Coventry’s plan to sell its sewer system has prompted opposition from North Coventry Municipal Authority. In August 2023, the East Coventry Board of Supervisors voted to sell the sewer collections system to Pennsylvania American Water for $7 million. The decision was prompted by the urging of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental

With local inventory at historically low levels, homebuilders are eyeing Greater Philadelphia's most affluent and land-rich county for new construction homes, which now account for nearly half of the properties currently available in Chester County. In 2023, applications to build 4,366 new single family, apartment and townhome units were filed with the

Penn Medicine has canceled plans to buy the Brandywine Hospital campus in Caln Township near Coatesville from owner and former operator Tower Health. The proposed acquisition was intended to be part of Penn Medicine's efforts to work with the Department of Veterans Affairs to improve health care delivery to military veterans. “After an intensive due

West Chester Borough will now collect its own property taxes instead of having the Chester County Treasurer’s Office do it. “The borough will save cash and receive tax income sooner by collecting property taxes on its own,” Borough Councilman Bernie Flynn said. The county treasurer is currently contracted to collect property taxes for 23

Tredyffrin Township was awarded a $112,842 state grant to help fund a bike/skills pump park, state Rep. Melissa Shusterman (D-157) said. The supervisors applied for a $250,000 grant following several meetings in which residents in the Chesterbrook community expressed an interest in having a bike track in the township. The proposed location for the bike park

Property owners in the Kennett Consolidated School District will face a 4.8% tax hike for the 2024-2025 school year if the preliminary budget is approved as is. The numbers, calculated by district CFO Mark Tracy and announced by board treasurer Michael Finnegan, reflected an increase from the current $98 million operating budget to $104 million. Finnegan

Unionville-Chadds Ford School District’s preliminary 2024-2025 budget estimates revenues and expenditures of approximately $106.7 million, with a $12,000 deficit between them. The budget proposes millage rates of 33.17 mills for Chester County property owners and 18.89 mills for properties in Chadds Ford, the only Delaware County municipality in the

On Dec. 27, 2023, Westtown Township supervisors voted to deny Fox Clearing LLC’s conditional use application to construct 85 single-family detached homes on the Stokes estate on Shiloh Road. The Stokes Estate 2023 Application page on the township website includes a complete copy of the application, planning commission recommendations and hearing

The West Sadsbury Township Board of Supervisors on Jan. 2 voted to increase property taxes by 55% in 2024. The increase brings the new property tax rate to 5.6 mills. There is an additional 1.4-mill fire tax to cover fire and ambulance services. The new total tax rate is 7 mills, up from 5 mills in 2023. For a resident with a property assessed at $100,000,

The Tredyffrin-Easttown School Board voted 7-1 to proceed to authorize an agreement to purchase a 15-acre property at 1200 W. Swedesford Road, Berwyn, for $15.9 million for a possible sixth elementary school. The district has 60 days to determine if the site is usable as an elementary school. The closing date would follow within 30 days after the review

South Coatesville Borough residents will see an increase in trash fees for 2024, affecting approximately 560 households. Borough council voted unanimously to increase the annual trash fee from $250 to $375, effective Jan. 1. “The normal resident of the borough may be shocked when they see a $375 trash bill,” resident Tina Floyd said. In January,

Chester County commissioners approved a 2024 consolidated budget of $683.4 million that keeps the county property tax rate at 4.551 mills. The consolidated budget includes a $613.3 million operating budget and a $70.1 million capital budget. The operating budget reflects a decrease in federal and state COVID and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) grants, but

West Chester Borough Council raised property taxes by 5% as part of its $35.7 million 2024 budget. The budget covers police, fire, emergency services, trash, recycling, streets, recreation and other services. The average taxpayer living in a house assessed at about $178,600 will pay an additional $70 a year in real estate taxes. Sean Metrick, borough

Kennett Square Borough Council approved a 2024 budget that will raise taxes by 1.2 mills. The increase comes, in part, from the library tax that was approved by residents in a referendum during the November election. The remainder of the tax increase is for the new fire and EMS contract with Longwood Fire Company, which will provide services for 2024. The

Chester County commissioners approved $5 million in grants to municipalities in urban centers throughout the county for community revitalization projects. Commissioners Chairwoman Marian Moscowitz said the grants help the county’s urban centers encourage growth and ensure that crucial infrastructure needs are maintained and improved. Oxford Borough:

Toll Brothers has purchased a 21-acre property in Spring City Borough near Phoenixville, where it plans to build 33 single-family homes. The Fort Washington home builder paid $2.64 million for the land at 25 Seven Stars Road. The land was previously owned by the Soltys family since at least 1947, according to property records. The undeveloped site is just

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) has laid out its plans for the new Big Elk Creek State Park, and some neighbors and stakeholders aren’t happy. Located along the Maryland border, the 1,700-acre Big Elk Creek property in Elk and Franklin townships contains 800 acres of farmland, 600 acres of woodland, 100 acres

About 50 Malvern area residents and state officials on Nov. 29 celebrated the opening of the Great Valley Community Organization’s community center at 5 N. Bacton Hill Road in East Whiteland Township. “This center has been a dream of ours for the last 15 years and today we open the doors to a bright future ahead,” said Tom Curran, founder

Tredyffrin supervisors approved an inter-municipality agreement between Tredyffrin and Easttown townships that will see the construction of a new fire station, which will combine fire and EMS services. “This is the culmination of two years of work to fund and move forward with Easttown to ensure our residents are delivered the highest quality of

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court issued an order Tuesday denying Tower Health’s bid to appeal its loss of a property tax exemption for Phoenixville Hospital. Phoenixville Area School District said the decision will allow it to keep nearly $5 million in property taxes paid by Tower since the company acquired the hospital in 2017. “This ruling is a

Oxford Borough officials are grappling with a perfect storm of financial challenges that include rising costs, lingering impacts from the pandemic, and unfunded mandates from the state and federal government. Budget discussions are ongoing, but Oxford Borough Manager Pauline Garcia-Allen told the public at a finance committee meeting that there are no

West Whiteland’s 2023 millage rate is 0.714 mills, which means the municipal portion of the average real estate tax bill is $127. The township’s proposed millage for the 2024 budget is 2 mills — a 180% increase — which would raise the average residential real estate tax bill to $354 and the average commercial real estate tax bill to

Maryland developer Elm Street Communities is beginning site prep on a new development in Caln Township near Coatesville, with 175 townhomes and 87 single-family homes planned. After the development was fully approved a month ago, Elm Street bought the 119 acres for $6 million, according to Chester County property records. The vacant site is at 201 S. Caln

The Chester County Department of Community Development has received an Award of Excellence from the National Association for County Community and Economic Development (NACCED) for the creation of its Affordable Housing Developer Collaborative. NACCED cited the efforts of the county’s Partnership to End Homelessness initiative to bring together

Westtown Township will consider enacting an ordinance to increase its earned income tax (EIT). The EIT would be increased for the purposes of securing open space by an additional 0.04%, for a total of 0.08% for open space and an overall total of 1.08% EIT split between the township and West Chester Area School District. The township was allowed to exceed

The Kennett Greenway is about to add another link in what is envisioned as a 14-mile multi-purpose trail loop throughout Kennett Borough, Kennett Township, New Garden Township and northern Delaware. Representatives from the greenway project held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Chandler Mill Trail, which will include paved pathways, a scenic overlook

North Coventry Township amended its stormwater management ordinance in 2023 to comply with new provisions of the Chester County and Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection. The changes provide for updated criteria for regulated activities, such as grading, excavation, swimming pool construction and other building construction. Learn more about

West Goshen Center owner Chris Robbins announced that a Target and Chick-fil-A are coming to the property. An almost 120,000-square-foot Target will occupy the space vacated by K-Mart, and a free-standing Chick-fil-A will sit in the southeast corner of the center. The Target is expected to open in spring 2025, and Chick-fil-A will likely open in the third

Citing several threats to the viability of New Garden Township, Township Manager Christopher Himes proposed a real estate tax increase beginning in 2024 that would raise tax rates for homeowners as much as 120%. During a supervisors meeting on Oct. 16, Himes proposed a scenario that would raise millage rates from 1.72 mills to 3.9 mills. In a 57-page

Downingtown Area School District had agreed to sell 237 acres of farmland in Uwchlan Township to Audubon Land Development for $96 million — but the deal appears to have been called off. The district bought the Lionville Station Farm property for $22 million in 2006, and planned to use the sale proceeds to finance full-day kindergarten and other

Tredyffrin Township supervisors have tabled a plan to implement a stormwater fee to help with ongoing flooding issues throughout the township. Instead, the supervisors decided to implement a separate fund for stormwater management in the annual budget. Joseph F. DiRocco, finance director, said the township is adding tax increases for the stormwater fund.

The West Fallowfield Township Board of Supervisors will consider an ordinance that would impose a requirement that property owners post reflective address signs on their properties. The ordinance will be considered by the board for adoption on Wednesday, Oct. 18, at 6:30 p.m. in the West Fallowfield Township Building, 3095 Limestone Road, Suite 1,

Last month, Longwood Gardens, the botanical garden and former du Pont estate that sprawls over 1,000 acres of meadows, woodlands and rolling Chester County countryside in Kennett Square, repurchased the former Galer Estate Vineyard and Winery, which adjoins its campus in East Marlborough Township. A Longwood Gardens’ spokesperson would not disclose

On July 27, the Chester County Court of Common Pleas, Orphan’s Court Division, approved a settlement agreement providing for the transfer of the 220-acre Swiss Pines property from its current owners, the Bartschi Foundation and Estate of Henriette Bumeder, to Charlestown Township. “Over the coming months we will begin the planning to meet our