News Briefs Archive August 1, 2022
General News
NAR chief economist addresses Senate Banking Committee
Lawrence Yun, chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, recently told the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs that he does not foresee a nationwide decline in home prices despite indications that price growth is set to slow. Yun testified that the potential for weaker sales should increase available inventory in some markets, but not enough to diminish persistent affordability constraints which, for many Americans, have kept homeownership out of reach over recent years. "In the near term, I do not expect the situation to change appreciably," Yun said. "Historic undersupply in the market, combined with continued demand, will likely drive ongoing issues with affordability for many Americans.” The hearing, titled Priced Out: The State of Housing in America, comes as the nation confronts a 6-million-unit housing shortage. This decades-in-the-making phenomenon has helped sustain year-over-year price growth for a record 124 consecutive months.
Source: Nar.Realtor; 7/21/2022
PA releases app to connect students and families experiencing homelessness with resources
The Pennsylvania Department of Education announced the creation of Finding Your Way in PA, a mobile and desktop app developed by the Center for Schools and Communities to help connect students and families experiencing homelessness. The app allows users to search for and request assistance from services and resources in their current location, local community and throughout Pennsylvania. The program provides children and youth experiencing homelessness with wrap-around services and enables them to attend school and fully participate in school activities.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 7/26/2022
The Justice Department announced one of the largest redlining settlements in its history, targeting a tristate area mortgage company that it accused of engaging in discriminatory lending practices that denied conventional loans in low-income and minority neighborhoods. Under the terms of the agreement, Trident Mortgage Company has agreed to invest more than $20 million in communities of color in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. According to the complaint, Trident’s offices were almost entirely concentrated in majority-white neighborhoods, and from 2015 to 2019, loan officers were specifically directed not to serve neighborhoods of color, marketing materials included almost only white faces and almost all of Trident’s lending staff were white.
Source: Inquirer; 7/27/2022
Bucks County
Bristol Township to take action on four blighted properties
Bristol Township Council recently approved designating four homes as blighted. All four are behind on taxes, with three being vacant for a year or more. Bristol Township’s efforts to fight blight in the community started several years ago with a list of 204 properties. In partnership with the Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County, the township has brought the list down to 54 vacant homes. Properties approved to be blighted are often behind on taxes, abandoned, eyesores, badly damaged, or have owners who have died or otherwise vacated the property.
Source: LevittownNow; 7/26/2022
Doylestown Dart provides low-cost transportation around the central Bucks area
Bucks County Transport provides public transportation around the Doylestown, New Britain and Chalfont area, offering connections to the SEPTA Doylestown Rail Line and Route 55 Bus. There are two bus lines: the Doylestown Dart and the new Dart West. The Dart West provides weekday service along Business Route 202 on Butler Avenue through New Britain Borough, Chalfont Borough and New Britain Township. The Dart West will connect with the Doylestown Dart at Delaware Valley University, allowing riders to access the bus route into the Doylestown area. See details here.
Source: Doylestown Borough; 7/20/2022
Pennsbury free speech settlement could have far-reaching effect
The impact of a lawsuit the Pennsbury School Board settled last week with four district residents over their right to comment at board meetings could reach far beyond Bucks County. Judge Gene Ellen Pratter, of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, heard the case and issued a preliminary injunction stopping the district from enforcing regulations that the court found prohibited free speech, as well as a requirement that speakers state their home address. The injunction led to a settlement agreement that was unanimously approved by the school board. The school district's insurance carrier will pay the $300,000 settlement to cover the plaintiffs' attorney fees and nominal damages, and the district or its insurer will pay another $17.91 to each of the four plaintiffs. That amount was selected in recognition of the year 1791 when the First Amendment guaranteeing the right to free speech was ratified. Read the full article from the Bucks County Courier Times.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 7/20/2022
Wrightstown welcomes new manager
Wrightstown Township supervisors appointed Stacey Mulholland as township manager at the July 11 meeting. Mulholland, now the third manager in township history, replaces Joe Pantano, who just retired after 13 years in the role. Mulholland began work in Wrightstown on July 12. Mulholland’s resume includes 14 years as a supervisor in Plumstead, six years as deputy chief of staff and district director for the late former Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick, leadership of the Bucks County Bar Association as its executive director, and most recently, more than four years as a public affairs specialist at the Delaware River Basin Commission.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 7/14/2022
Chester County
Pennsbury passes regulations for solar systems
Pennsbury Township supervisors approved an amendment to the township’s zoning ordinance related to solar panels. Planning Commission Chairman Dennis Smith said the major factor in the amendment is that some residents who want to install rooftop solar systems might not need to go through a conditional use hearing for approval. The key element, he said, is that the solar panels are not visible from the road.
Source: Chadds Ford Live; 7/2022
East Pikeland to adopt 2018 IPMC
East Pikeland Township supervisors have scheduled a public hearing to consider an ordinance adopting the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code. The public notice with more details is available on the township website. The hearing will be held on Monday, Aug. 1, at 7 p.m. at the township building, 1158 Rapps Dam Road, Phoenixville.
Source: Mercury; 7/26/2022
West Chester council favors restoring rail service
West Chester Borough Council approved supporting a proposal by the borough’s rail restoration committee that favors investigation of rail service between the borough and Philadelphia on existing SEPTA right-of-way and tracks. Borough council also asked the committee to strive to coexist with the West Chester Railroad that carries 13,000 tourists per year on a round trip from Market Street to Glens Mills. Read more about the West Chester Rail Restoration Committee here.
Source: Daily Local; 7/22/2022
Chesco officials approve contract to bolster tourism
Chester County commissioners recently approved a $156,000 contract with Luzerne County-based Heritage Strategies LLC to bolster historic tourism in the county. “Our historic tourism sector of the economy was damaged by the pandemic,” said Commissioners Chair Marian Moskowitz. “The plan here calls for our consultant to help us rebuild the lost tourism, especially as we lead up to and prepare for Chester County’s celebration of our nation’s 250th anniversary in 2026.” The Delaware Valley Regional Finance Authority is providing the funding as part of the county’s Vista 2025 economic development strategy, a public-private partnership based on the idea that progress and preservation are complementary elements that support economic health while maintaining the county’s “sense of place.”
Source: Daily Local; 7/20/2022
Chester County warns residents about mailed surveys
Chester County sent out a notice about a potential scam arriving in the mail as a trifold “Chester County Opinion Survey,” sent by Sequoia Research. The survey is not connected with Chester County government. The Better Business Bureau entry on Sequoia Research advises “extreme caution in completing this and similar survey offers.”
Source: Chester County; 7/25/2022
New regional rail authority submits letter to compete for funding
The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority — a joint effort by Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties to help restore passenger rail service between Reading and Philadelphia — announced this week that it submitted a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration declaring its desire to be included in a grant program that will help make the project a reality. The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for distributing dollars from the federal infrastructure bill enacted last fall to build new corridors. Authority members said at its first meeting that they believe the Reading-to-Philadelphia corridor is a strong candidate for securing some of that funding. Scott France, director of the Montgomery County Planning Commission, said at that meeting that there are 14 criteria a proposal must meet in order to increase its chances. While a perfect score using that criteria would be ideal, he stressed the project may not check all the boxes, but it will likely check most.
Source: Daily Local; 7/24/2022
Delaware County
Delaware County buys Media office building for $15.4 million
Delaware County may soon have offices on Baltimore Avenue in Media. Earlier this month, Delaware County Council unanimously approved a $15.4 million agreement of purchase and sale with J&T Building Company LP for the Flagship Corporate Center at 2 W. Baltimore Ave. The sale is anticipated to be completed by the end of September. County officials said the planning and housing departments, as well as the commerce center, would locate there. There is a possibility that VisitDelcoPA could move there, as well. County officials are expecting to realize a cost savings in the endeavor, but they point to multiple reasons for the purchase. “We’ve got people who are pretty spread out across distances across the county, and to have folks in a very easily walkable location is a great benefit,” County Councilman Kevin Madden said. In 2018, the planning department, park police, community services and public defender’s offices had to be relocated after the Sweeney and Toal buildings were closed and eventually demolished.
Source: Daily Times; 7/27/2022
Radnor considers renovation of historic stables at Fenimore Woods Park
Plans to renovate a historic horse stable in a Radnor Township-owned park are moving forward a year after the demolition of the building was put on hold. Consultants from Gannett Fleming recently completed a study on the feasibility and conceptual renovation of the stables at Fenimore Woods Park. Located on Eagle Road in Wayne, the park is named for Francis Fenimore, a prominent landowner in Radnor in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Radnor purchased 11.5 acres in 1973 for the park. The township commissioned the latest feasibility study after members of the public objected to a previous plan to demolish the stables. Radnor officials hired Gannett Fleming to find options for preserving the building. The possibilities include converting the stables into restrooms, an education space, a gathering space, or storage space for park and recreation equipment. The design is focused on preserving the key elements, such as stone walls and entry columns, and maintaining the view of the lake and the streetscape. Tammy Cohen, director of parks and recreation for Radnor township, said about $1.7 million has been earmarked for the park’s renovation.
Source: Main Line Times and Suburban; 7/25/2022
Folcroft to begin repaving shared driveways
Folcroft Borough intends to begin paving shared driveways in the near future, funded by revenue generated via the permit parking program. To complete the work — at no additional cost to the property owner — residents must return a completed, notarized temporary construction easement form, no later than Sept. 5 to Borough Hall, 1555 Elmwood Ave. A notary will be available at Borough Hall to notarize the forms at no cost to residents beginning Aug. 1. Eligible applicants are those who have shared driveways and are in the permit parking area. Visit the borough website for more information.
Source: Folcroft Borough; 7/27/2022
Concord Township has moved forward with its goal of updating its Comprehensive Recreation, Park and Open Space Plan. The township council voted 6-0 to adopt the plan after a brief presentation by Marc Morfei, a landscape architect with Pennoni Engineers. The goals of the plan are to conserve natural resources, provide for future recreational needs, find opportunities to expand walking and cycling trails, and provide activities for all ages and interests, among others. Morfei said the plan is “just the latest in a series of plans that have been done over the years that help document what the values of the population are, what the goals of the council are, and what plan actions are.” He added that the township has been “aggressive” in getting grants for preservation, recreational and open space projects. In the past seven or eight years, he said, the township has received more than $5 million in grants for those purposes. A 12-page executive summary of the plan can be found here. The full, 176-page plan can be found here.
Source: Chadds Ford Live; 7/13/2022
Montgomery County
Collegeville Borough adds rental inspection
Collegeville Borough now requires an inspection of rental properties in addition to an existing license requirement. This program requires owners of residential rental properties to register their properties with the borough, and to arrange for regular inspections of each rental unit on the property. Rental units will be inspected for compliance with safety and property maintenance codes. After a rental unit has been inspected and no violations of borough code are found, a rental license will be issued for the unit. The license will be valid for a period of three years, or until the time of a change in occupant, whichever occurs first. A valid rental license must be obtained and continuously maintained to rent, lease or occupy a residential rental unit. More information is available on the borough website’s rental properties information page.
Source: Collegeville Borough
Advocacy fueled school funding windfall for Montco districts
The recently passed $45.2 billion state budget includes a $1.8 billion statewide hike in school funding — the largest school funding increase in 10 years. Montgomery County schools will receive more than $33.7 million, and about one-third of that money will go to Norristown and Pottstown school districts, two of the most chronically underfunded school districts in the region when viewed through the lens of Pennsylvania’s Fair Funding Formula. The formula was enacted in 2016 to steer more state funds to poorer districts in order to provide resources similar to wealthy districts, but it is still not fully utilized by Harrisburg. Rather than use the fair formula to distribute all education funding, Harrisburg invented a whole new vehicle, “level-up funding,” to accelerate more state dollars going to underfunded schools. About one-third of the financial boost going to Norristown and Pottstown schools in the coming school year is “level-up funding,” and a growing coalition of activist groups and school districts credit steady pressure on the state legislature for the financial boost. The groups expanded and coordinated their efforts, selecting which legislators to target and when. “We wanted to be strategic and persistent,” said Laura Johnson, a Pottstown School Board member and co-founder of Pennsylvanians for Fair Funding. The extra funding has other benefits too, according to state Rep. Joe Ciresi (D-146), “This product of bipartisan negotiations delivers help for our underfunded schools, relief for our property taxpayers, and investments in boosting our economy and creating high-quality jobs for years, paying dividends for many years to come.” Read the full article with local school budget impacts here.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 7/15/2022
Apartments proposed in Cheltenham
Cheltenham commissioners viewed a presentation from Ingerman Development Company for a proposed multi-use community land development application for 1900 Ashbourne Road in Elkins Park. Ingerman is proposing 119 apartments on the mixed-use zoned property that is about 7.9 acres in size. View the Cheltenham posting about the proposal here.
Source: Cheltenham Township; 7/26/2022
Montco 2040 grant program awards $2.5M to 18 municipalities
Grants totalling roughly $2.5 million were recently awarded to projects in 18 municipalities in Montgomery County. The funding is part of the Montco 2040 Implementation Grant Program in the county’s comprehensive plan, “Montco 2040: A Shared Vision.” The grant program is intended to assist municipalities in making targeted physical improvements that achieve real progress toward the goals of the plan. Initiatives were chosen based on themes of connected communities, sustainable places and a vibrant economy. County officials received more than $4 million in project proposals. View the list of 18 projects receiving grants in 2022.
Source: Montgomery County; 5/2022
New regional rail authority submits letter to compete for funding
The Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority — a joint effort by Berks, Chester and Montgomery counties to help restore passenger rail service between Reading and Philadelphia — announced this week that it submitted a letter to the Federal Railroad Administration declaring its desire to be included in a grant program that will help make the project a reality. The Federal Railroad Administration is responsible for distributing dollars from the federal infrastructure bill enacted last fall to build new corridors. Authority members said at its first meeting that they believe the Reading-to-Philadelphia corridor is a strong candidate for securing some of that funding. Scott France, director of the Montgomery County Planning Commission, said at that meeting that there are 14 criteria a proposal must meet in order to increase its chances. While a perfect score using that criteria would be ideal, he stressed the project may not check all the boxes, but it will likely check most.
Source: Daily Local; 7/24/2022
Philadelphia hires new nighttime economy director
As Philadelphia’s first director of nighttime economy, Raheem Manning plans to spend time on the bar scene. He will also meet with hospital workers, SEPTA employees, police officers, nighttime security and cleanup crews while they’re on the job. Manning wants to bring their concerns to the city commerce department. “I’m the advocate liaison between Philadelphia’s nighttime businesses and City Hall,” said the 33-year-old Overbrook High School graduate. “I’m here to make sure that life after 5 is inclusive and innovative.” Manning’s first duty is to create a strategic plan that will outline how government officials and business owners can work together to make Philadelphia as dynamic at 2 a.m. as it is at 2 p.m. The goal is to get it done by the end of 2023. The city announced Manning’s job on the same day Philadelphians learned about the 76ers’ plan to build an 18,500-seat stadium on Market between 10th and 11th streets. If the plan is approved, it will take nine years to develop and build the stadium to be ready for the 2031-2032 NBA season. It also will take that long for the city to clean up the east of Market Street corridor and make SEPTA into a 24-hour transportation hub — all things the city needs to do if the project has any chance of succeeding.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 7/23/2022
A new Sixers arena in Center City is not a sure shot
The ownership of the Philadelphia 76ers has teamed up with a real estate developer to try to bring a new $1.3 billion NBA arena to 10th and Market streets. The proposed development, dubbed 76 Place, would sit steps away from Chinatown, a neighborhood that has a history of sparring with developers in the name of community preservation. There, opposition and skepticism appear to be building. “This is not the first time that big developers proposed to build something without our input: the baseball stadium, the casino, to name a few,” said Wei Chen, civic engagement director at the Chinatown-based nonprofit Asian Americans United. “We have defeated each one of them. We are ready to fight to protect our community.” Read more here.
Source: PlanPhilly; 7/21/2022
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