State relief program not fast enough for some homeowners
An investigation by Spotlight PA found that the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund — launched in February 2022 to help homeowners recover from the pandemic — is instead causing extra frustration and anxiety for applicants. Average wait times have extended to twice the program’s internal goal of 60 days due to difficulty confirming applicants’ debt with their mortgage or utility companies. Pennsylvania received $350 million from the federal government to help homeowners recover from the pandemic, and as of Jan. 16, $87.6 million has been paid out. Read the full investigation from Spotlight PA here.
Source: Spotlight PA; 1/23/2023

Are you a Realtor running for local office?
If you are a Realtor actively running for a county, municipal or school board position in 2023, we would like to hear from you. Contact Suburban Realtors Alliance today by emailing grassroots@suburbanrealtorsalliance.com or calling 610-981-9000.

Falls to host information session on new EIT
Falls Township will host an information session on the recently enacted earned income tax (EIT) on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. at the Falls Township Municipal Complex. The meeting will be in-person and also live streamed via Zoom, televised and posted to the township website. Residents will have the opportunity to ask questions. Falls Township has created a dedicated email address, eit@fallstwp.com, for residents to send EIT-specific questions. The township expects to bring in $7.2 million in new revenue from the EIT in 2023. A consultant for the township said the majority of working Falls residents are already paying an EIT to other municipalities. That money, with the exception of those who pay a similar tax to the City of Philadelphia, will be brought back to Falls instead of going to the other municipalities. The consultant said that only 32%, or $2.3 million, of the $5.7 million to $5.9 million derived from EIT on Falls Township residents would constitute new taxes. Falls officials are aware that the EIT meeting is scheduled at the same time as a meeting discussing a possible merger between Pennsbury and Morrisville school districts, and it may hold a subsequent EIT meeting, if necessary.
Source: Levittown Now; 1/24/2023

Hulmeville Hill developer wants to revert to original plan with more homes
Developer Superior Homes planned to build 84 single-family homes on a hill overlooking Hulmeville Borough. The developer had requested zoning variances to build only single-family homes — a change that nearby residents opposed. Superior Homes then withdrew its request for the zoning variances and now wants to revert to an earlier plan. That plan includes more homes with a mix of housing — including single-family, townhomes and multi-unit buildings — and does not need the zoning variances. The 111-home plan is permitted as a conditional use and therefore must be approved by the council, said Township Manager Bill Wheeler. The 45-acre property is zoned for Traditional Neighborhood Development. Borough Councilmember Jim Pio said it would be “unrealistic and unfair” for residents to expect the property to remain open land, and he hopes the town and developer can come to an agreement.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 1/23/2023

Falling property values at Neshaminy, Oxford Valley malls may impact taxes
Every year, Bensalem Township and the Bensalem School District, Middletown Township and Neshaminy School District receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in property taxes from Bucks County's two largest malls — Neshaminy Mall and Oxford Valley Mall. The malls were once the commercial epicenter of the area, and also among the largest sources of property tax income. A decrease in the assessed property value of the malls could eventually result in higher property taxes for residents of the school districts and municipalities, or even lead to cuts in local services. Neshaminy Mall’s assessed value has dropped 42% since 2020, from $6.3 million to $3.6 million. The annual property taxes amount to about $646,000, with about $506,500 going to the school district — constituting a significant portion of the school district budget. Bensalem Mayor Joseph DiGirolamo said the township has taken notice and is seeking solutions with the mall owner, Brookfield Properties. Oxford Valley Mall owner Simon Properties has taken a different course. In September 2022 the former Boscov’s department store was razed to make way for some 600-plus luxury apartments at the mall complex in Middletown. Cornerstone Tracy is developing the project that will include two apartment buildings on a 20-acre site. The project was first proposed by Simon and Cornerstone Tracy in the fall of 2019.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 1/23/2023 & 9/16/2022

Pennsbury-Morrisville merger feasibility study presentation planned for Jan. 31
The Pennsbury School Board will hold a special meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 31, at 7 p.m. at the Pennsbury High School East Auditorium to present the Pennsbury-Morrisville Merger Feasibility Study. Public comment is welcome at the meeting. Pennsbury School District received a state grant for an independent review of a potential merger or other tuition arrangement between Pennsbury and Morrisville school districts. The study is available for review on the webpage of the Pennsbury-Morrisville Merger Feasibility Committee. No decisions will be made at the Jan. 31 meeting.
Source: Pennsbury School District

Hankin Group set to open $80M first phase of River Station in Downingtown
The first phase of River Station in Downingtown Borough is nearing completion, and residents could move in as soon as late January or early February. Situated on the site of the former Sonoco Products Company paperboard mill, the project is just west of the Boot Road and Brandywine Avenue intersection, near the Downingtown train station and next to trails that traverse the adjacent woods. Neil Fisher, Hankin Group’s vice president of development, described the project as “true transit-oriented development.” A pedestrian bridge in Johnsontown Park puts the development within walking distance of the train station, and a new train station is set to be built even closer. Once complete, the three buildings comprising the $80 million first phase will have 203 total apartments with 9,300 square feet of retail space. The first building has 64 apartments and 5,100 square feet of retail, while the second has 72 apartments and 4,200 square feet of retail. The third building has 67 apartments. Of all the apartments, 91 will be one-bedroom units starting at $1,920 per month; 107 will be two-bedroom units starting at $2,475 per month; and there will be five three-bedroom apartments starting at $3,500 per month. The next phase of River Station is planned to consist of 60 apartments and 5,000 square feet of retail on the east side of Brandywine Avenue. An additional phase will consist of a fourth apartment building with 154 units. In the middle of the buildings will be a boulevard that will eventually have pedestrian-friendly space and trees. Fisher said Hankin Group plans to make such space accessible for public events by closing the street to cars. The goal is to make it an amenity for all of Downingtown, not just the residents who live in the new buildings.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 1/20/2023

Oxford Borough to receive Community Pride award
Oxford Borough officials will receive the Community Pride Award from Keep PA Beautiful. The borough was nominated for the honor by state Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-19) for creating a native plant garden adjacent to its new parking garage. The garden helps manage water runoff and provides a habitat for pollinators.
Source: Daily Local; 1/25/2023

Chesco Recorder of Deeds offers free fraud-prevention program
In 2012, the Chester County Recorder of Deeds first launched Operation Fraud Guard, a simple web-based tool that notifies participating citizens by email when any land documents under a pre-registered name are recorded. The service generates an email that allows the user to click a link to view the recorded document in question. The free service provides an early warning of potential property fraud. Emails registered for Operation Fraud Guard will not be used for any purpose other than notification regarding potential fraud. Read more and sign up here.
Source: Chester County; 1/2023

Funding will improve watersheds in the West Chester area
Willistown Conservation Trust will receive $127,000 in funding to improve local watersheds from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection’s Growing Greener Grant Program. The organization will use the funding for the Rushton Woods Preserve Okehocking Run Watershed Enhancement project to construct a bioretention basin and vegetated swale. The Rushton Woods Preserve is one of three preserves owned and managed by Willistown Conservation Trust. The 86-acre property includes woodlands, open meadows, a creek and a farm. The preserve also hosts two miles of walking and riding trails leading to a broader network of local trails.
Source: Daily Local; 1/21/2023