News Briefs Archive June 12, 2023

General News

Realtors advocate for homeownership at capitol
Nearly 230 Pennsylvania Realtors headed to the Capitol in Harrisburg on Wednesday, June 7, to meet with legislators and their staffs and advocate for homeownership in the commonwealth. Housing inventory is down nearly 60% from 2020, leaving homebuyers struggling to find properties. Realtors explained to their local legislators what issues are contributing to the lack of housing. For example, antiquated zoning laws have created obstacles to new home construction. Restrictions on accessory dwelling units deprive older citizens of housing solutions and limit the creation of new housing. Zoning restrictions can drive up costs, making communities even more marginalized. The rising cost of construction is also contributing to the housing crisis. Higher permit costs, supply chain issues and labor shortages are all leading to costs rising for homebuyers as well. The National Association of Home Builders reported that less than half of new and existing home sales are affordable to the average household income. Less than 25% of home purchases were made by first-time buyers in 2022, and the age of first-time homebuyers reached an all-time high. More than 90% of would-be first-time buyers said they cannot afford a mortgage. The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors will continue to advocate for homeownership to be accessible and attainable for all Pennsylvania residents.
Source: PAR JustListed; 6/8/2023

Changes announced by federal task force will affect appraisal industry
The federal Interagency Task Force on Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity (PAVE) announced several important changes that will affect the appraisal industry. The announcement includes:

a proposed rule for quality control of automated valuation models (AVMs)
collaboration between the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Federal Housing Administration on a new reconsideration of value (ROV) process
additional data to be released on appraisals and made public later this year
a dashboard to highlight state-level overlays or barriers to entry for new appraisers

The National Association of Realtors had urged regulators to look at AVM oversight, a cross-regulator ROV and expanded data sharing.
Source: NAR; 6/2/2023

Bipartisan anti-blight legislation advances in state House
The Pennsylvania House of Representatives Housing and Community Development Committee unanimously approved a bill that would help state municipalities fight blight. House Bill 255 would allow local governments to cooperate with one another to address blight and establish a fund to support enforcement efforts. To fund new code enforcement programs and the hiring of enforcement officers, HB 255 would create a grant program administered by the Department of Community and Economic Development. HB 255 is heading to the House chamber for consideration. The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors is monitoring the proposed legislation.
Source: Central Penn Business Journal; 6/1/2023

Bucks County

Bucks housing rehab program offers up to $15K to qualified homeowners
The Bucks County Redevelopment Authority runs an ongoing, successful housing rehabilitation program for homeowners with no other alternative to rehabilitating and saving their homes. The Bucks County Owner-Occupied Housing Rehabilitation Program is used for bringing homes up to code standards, performing heater and roof replacements, and in some situations modifying homes to make them accessible for people with a permanent disability. Under the program, the maximum assistance amount is $15,000. Funding for rehabilitation work is typically provided to qualified homeowners in the form of zero-interest loans, which is not due for repayment until the home is either sold or refinanced, or the deed is transferred. Find out more here.
Source: BCRDA

Water authorities urge conservation
The Bucks County Water and Sewer Authority and the North Wales Water Authority are requesting their customers conserve water usage due to low streamflow conditions and lack of rain. May was the third-driest on record at the Trenton-Mercer Airport, the closest recording site to Bucks County. The water authorities are asking residents and businesses to conserve water by avoiding washing vehicles and to follow these tips to limit water usage:

Run the dishwasher and clothes washer only when fully loaded.
Defrost frozen food in the refrigerator or in the microwave instead of running water over it.
When washing dishes by hand, use two basins — one for washing and one for rinsing, rather than let the water run.
Reduce the amount of water an older toilet uses by placing a half-gallon plastic jug in the tank.
Cover your spa or pool to reduce evaporation. An average size pool left uncovered can lose as much as 1,000 gallons of water per month.

Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 6/2/2023

Delco, Bucks receive grant for rail crossings
Delaware and Bucks counties will receive a $375,000 grant from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act as part of a national effort to reduce congestion, avoid delays and improve safety at railroad crossings, U.S. Sens. Bob Casey and John Fetterman announced. “This is yet another example of the infrastructure law improving passenger and freight rail throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania and across our nation,” Casey said. PennDOT will contribute an additional $375,000 to the project, which will study how best to alleviate congestion and train delays while improving safety and travel time for passengers and freight at the Meetinghouse Road rail crossing in Delaware County, as well as the Township Line and Woodbourne Road crossings in Bucks County.
Source: Daily Times; 6/5/2023

Two age-restricted communities coming to former Bristol school properties
A 55-and-older housing development by McGrath Homes is coming to the heart of Levittown. The Villas at Brookwood will be on land formerly occupied by the John Fitch Elementary School, where the Stonybrook, Greenbrook and Farmbrook sections converge. There are almost 200 residences planned, split between apartments, flats (first- or second-floor condos with two or three bedrooms), and quads (four units beneath one roof). The Villas is one of two age-restricted communities McGrath is building on sites formerly occupied by neighborhood schools in the Bristol Township School District. A second development is planned for the old Abraham Lincoln school site in Levittown.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 6/2/2023

Terrain café set to open in Doylestown on June 29
The grand opening of “outdoor lifestyle garden center and café” Terrain is set for Thursday, June 29, at Delaware Valley University in Doylestown Township. Opening weekend festivities include live music in the Terrain outdoor nursery, live planting demonstrations, and seasonal packaged food tastings. The new Terrain is the result of a partnership deal between URBN and Delaware Valley University to transform the property at 2100 Lower State Road — formerly The Market at DelVal — and includes an internship program to provide students with opportunities in event planning, culinary, hospitality and agricultural fields.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 6/1/2023

Chester County

PennDOT plans open house for Downingtown train station project
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) invites the public to an open house meeting for the Downingtown Station Project. The project plans and pertinent information will be on display on Wednesday, June 21, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at the Annex at Downingtown Borough Hall. The Downingtown Station Project proposes to construct a new train station that meets the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act along Brandywine Road (Route 322) between Boot Road and Chester Alley in Downingtown Borough. The new station would include two high-level platforms with canopies for inbound and outbound trains that would be accessed via elevator/stair towers to the parking areas, a new railroad bridge, improved pedestrian access to cross under the tracks, retaining walls, bike racks, sidewalks, surface parking lots, and an above-ground stormwater management system. Additionally, access roads providing internal circulation would be included for drop-offs north and south of the railroad tracks. New access to parking lots is proposed via Logan Avenue and Brandywine Avenue, south of the railroad tracks.
Source: Downingtown Borough; 6/2023

Spring-Ford School Board delays vote on $190M budget
The Spring-Ford Area School Board cast a 5-3 budget vote on May 22, but it was not to adopt or reject the proposed $190 million budget for the 2023-2024 school year. Instead, the board voted to avoid taking a final vote. The board has not been able to agree on how large a tax hike to impose. As it stands, the proposed $190.6 million budget would raise property taxes by 4.02%. Several board members would like the hike to be below 4%, which would require $35,000 to be cut from expenses. The board decided to have further budget discussion at the next finance committee meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 13.
Source: Mercury; 5/31/2023

Willistown Township comprehensive plan hearing planned
The Willistown Township Board of Supervisors will have a meeting to consider adopting an updated township comprehensive plan. The amended plan draft was prepared by the township planning commission, with the assistance of Gaadt Perspectives, Pennoni Associates and Yerkes Associates. The public hearing will take place on Monday, June 19, at 7 p.m. in the Willistown Township Municipal Building, located at 688 Sugartown Road, Malvern.
Source: Daily Local News; 6/5/2023

Former Sikorsky Heliplex in Coatesville acquired by Delco-based company
Essington-based Piasecki Aircraft Corporation (PiAC), a pioneer in advanced rotorcraft technology, has acquired the former Lockheed Martin Sikorsky Heliplex facility in Coatesville. PiAC will transform the 219,000-square-foot facility into an advanced research and development center for next-generation vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, unmanned aerial systems, and related enabling technologies. The company’s forthcoming PA-890 helicopter, the world’s first zero-emission hydrogen fuel cell rotorcraft, will be built and tested there. The facility — which includes engineering development, aircraft assembly, paint and finishing facilities, and a well-equipped production flight test and delivery center — will open its doors to employees in the fall and is expected to attract about 400 workers by 2028. “Chester County is home to some of the most talented manufacturing and tech workforces in the country,” said U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D, PA-6). “Piasecki’s expansion into Coatesville is further testament to what many of us have known for years — Chester County is a great place to grow your business. It’s incredibly exciting to see a company like Piasecki, a long-time aviation industry innovator, continue their commitment to developing new technologies like the PA-890 hydrogen fuel cell-powered helicopter right here in Pennsylvania’s Sixth District. These advancements have the potential to transform vertical lift flight and help eliminate carbon emissions.”
Source: Vista Today; 6/1/2023

Delaware County

Convenience store proposed for 10^th and Main in Darby Borough
The owner of a 1.7-acre dirt lot that sits adjacent to the Darby transportation center at 10^th and Main streets has plans to turn the property into a convenience store. But a resident and former mayor of the town, Paula Brown, contends that the construction will disturb a sensitive floodplain, jeopardizing the area and those downstream. The state Department of Environment Protection issued a field order on May 18 ceasing earth-moving activities for permit and planning issues. The property owner, Aminah Shabazz Perez of Property Management Group, said that permits are not needed for movement in areas less than an acre and also said the project, which could benefit the community, is being subject to harassment. The lot has been vacant for approximately 10 years. Perez’s vision is to bring a business that would be an asset to the community, hiring 30 to 40 people. Brown remembers the damage from Hurricane Floyd, which caused flooding in the borough that killed one person, damaged 330 homes and 59 businesses, and she is concerned about flooding happening again.
Source: Daily Times; 6/2/2023

Newtown Township plans two information sessions on 2024 budget
Newtown Township's leadership will begin discussing the 2024 budget soon. The public is invited to attend two informational sessions regarding the budget. Sessions are being held on Tuesday, June 13, at 3 and 6 p.m. in the first floor meeting room of the Newtown Township Municipal Building, 209 Bishop Hollow Road.
Source: Marple-Newtown Patch; 5/30/2023

Radnor school board approves 2023-2024 budget
The Radnor Township School Board voted 8 to 1 to approve a final budget of $115 million, amounting to a 4.5% increase over last year’s spending plan. The budget calls for a 2.78% millage increase, which amounts to an increase of $286 for a house assessed at about $723,000. The district is expected to receive $16.8 million in state funding and $2 million in federal funding.
Source: Radnor Patch; 6/1/2023

Crime-reduction partnership sparking interest outside Delco
Representatives from Pine Bluff, Arkansas, visited the Delaware County District Attorney’s Office to glean tips on violent crime reduction following the success of the Chester Partnership for Safe Neighborhoods. The partnership was launched by District Attorney Jack Stollsteimer in October 2020 to reduce gun violence in the city by bringing together local stakeholders for a data-driven, all-hands-on-deck initiative that employs a carrot-and-stick approach to gun violence. According to figures previously provided by the DA’s office, there had been a 60% decrease in nonfatal shootings, a 66% reduction in shooting homicides, and a 55% decrease in gun violence incidents as of Sept. 30, 2022. The partnership recently received a $2 million grant from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency. It works with partners throughout Delaware County to provide services to high-risk individuals while also engaging with youth and other community members in positive activities.
Source: Daily Times; 6/4/2023

Montgomery County

Ambler Borough discussing residential resale inspection ordinance
Ambler Borough is considering a proposed residential resale inspection ordinance. The proposed ordinance includes required inspections of certain items prior to the transfer of a property, including:

sewer laterals
electrical certification
curb, sidewalks, and alleys, when the home includes such improvements
backflow prevention
exterior property maintenance
house numbers

The draft ordinance was discussed by the borough Finance and Planning Committee at a June 6 meeting, and it will be reviewed and discussed again at the Tuesday, June 20, meeting. Currently, Ambler requires a Residential Resale Letter stating certain items are installed and working correctly prior to settlement.
Source: Ambler Borough; 6/6/2023

Lower Merion survey asks residents’ opinions on services
The Township of Lower Merion is asking residents to participate in an online survey about township services. Township Manager Ernie McNeely expressed his hope that every citizen would participate. “Lower Merion is a great community, and the results will help to guide priorities to make the township even better,” McNeely said. Residents will be asked for an email address and zip code to confirm where they live, which allows the township to be sure they are hearing from each person only once and to see which general area the respondents live in. Responses will remain anonymous, and personal information will be securely stored by the survey company, Polco. The survey is open until Sunday, June 18.
Source: Lower Merion Township; 6/2023

Montco notes decrease in Point-in-Time homeless count
The 2023 Point-in-Time Count for Montgomery County revealed 357 people experiencing homelessness in the county on Jan. 24. The count is mandated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and it covered areas in and around Abington, Ambler, Ardmore, Bridgeport, Cheltenham, King of Prussia, Lansdale, Lower Merion, Norristown, Pottstown, Souderton and Willow Grove. Although the current figures represent a 37% decrease from the prior year’s count, a change in the reporting procedures resulted in finding more unhoused people living outside. Read more detail about how the count was conducted here. Recently, rumors have swirled that Norristown was planning a city-wide sweep of unhoused people who occupy encampments in the municipality. Norristown Municipal Council released a statement about the rumors and homelessness in the municipality, saying, “there has never been a discussion of a city-wide sweep.” Lack of housing affordability remains a large factor in housing instability in Montgomery County and nationwide. Montgomery County Board of Commissioners Chair Kenneth E. Lawrence Jr. said, “We need to work together at all levels of government, including with our municipal partners, to ensure we more fully address this issue.”
Source: Montgomery County; 6/1/2023 & Norristown Municipality; 6/6/2023

Multi-regional greenway and stewardship study available
The Montgomery County Planning Commission, in collaboration with Natural Lands, recently completed the Multi-Regional Greenway and Stewardship Study for the county’s four regional planning organizations — Central Perkiomen Valley, Indian Valley, Pottstown Metropolitan Area and Upper Perkiomen Valley. The goal of the study was to create an interconnected greenway system throughout the multi-regional area, focusing on land stewardship and supporting the area’s ecotourism strategy for economic development. Additionally, audits were conducted for the Main Streets within the region’s 13 boroughs and villages to identify opportunities for making them more walkable, greener and sustainable. As part of the study, Natural Lands completed stewardship assessments for 38 municipal parks totaling 1,500 acres. The assessments provide land management recommendations for each park and serve as a template for strategies that can be used in the remaining public parks and open spaces.
Source: Montgomery County Planning Commission; 6/2023

Philadelphia

Bank set to settle lending discrimination lawsuit alleging ‘redlining’ in Philly area
A Pennsylvania-based bank has agreed to pay $3 million to settle a federal lending discrimination lawsuit alleging the company refused to provide credit services to people in majority Black and Hispanic neighborhoods. From at least 2017 to 2021, investigators say ESSA Bank & Trust intentionally “engaged in a pattern of unlawful redlining” in the Philadelphia area. Redlining, which is barred by federal law, dates back to the 1930s and occurs when lenders discourage people from applying for home loans and other credit services, deny equal access to them or avoid providing them, based on the race, color or national origin of the neighborhood’s residents. A judge must still approve the proposed consent order, filed along with the complaint. If approved, ESSA will invest $2.92 million in a loan subsidy fund designed to increase access to their credit services in majority Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, including home mortgages and home improvement loans. The bank will also spend $125,000 on community partnerships and $250,000 on advertising, outreach, consumer financial education and credit counseling. There were no civil penalties. ESSA agreed to settle the case despite the fact the bank “categorically denies” the allegations filed by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Source: PlanPhilly; 6/1/2023

Philly nonprofit to help small businesses buy property
The Enterprise Center, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit organization that helps promote small business development, has a new $500,000 revolving loan pool for minority-owned companies. The goal is to increase building ownership along commercial corridors, which enables small businesses to build equity instead of renting, and helps stabilize neighborhoods. “One of the biggest pain points is lack of capital,” said Della Clark, president and CEO of The Enterprise Center. The short-term loans will cover up to 75% of business expenses related to due diligence. That includes things like attorney fees, closing costs, or even building appraisals. The Enterprise Center also runs a Community Development Financial Institution that connects small businesses with financing options, such as Small Business Administration-backed loans. But there are closing costs associated with building purchases that can add up. “If they have any kind of dollars saved up to acquire their building, we want them to keep that and use our funds for the due diligence to make that decision,” Clark said. As interest rates for loans remain higher than in recent years and the economy slows down, it’s more expensive and riskier than ever for a small business to borrow, according to Clark. “You can’t go to a bank because a bank makes primarily asset-based financing,” she said. “And most minorities have very little assets for collateralization of a loan.” As businesses repay the nonprofit’s short-term, low interest loans, the pool would be replenished. If the small business doesn’t purchase a building or make capital improvements after a year, the loan will be converted into a three-year note with a 3.5% interest rate. The Enterprise Center was tapped last year to distribute $1 million to revitalize the 52nd Street business corridor in West Philadelphia. “When you own your building, you go out and sweep every day,” Clark said. “If you have to depend on a landlord for repairs, oftentimes they do not happen as quickly as you would like to. And it impacts your sales.” The nonprofit organization expects to make about 30 loans each year.
Source: PlanPhilly; 6/7/2023

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