News Briefs for February 27, 2026
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The Painter Library, located on the grounds of the 650-acre Tyler Arboretum in Middletown Township, houses books and archival materials. A bit south of the arboretum, a planned loop road at Baltimore Pike and South Pennell Road appears to be off the table.
Photo: Daderot (CC0)
Regional wealth trends ranked in U.S. Census community survey
A recently released U.S. Census American Community Survey tracked median household income for municipalities across the region. Chester County municipalities claimed six of the top 10 spots and dominated the top 50, reflecting the county’s concentration of high-income towns. While Bucks County has lagged in population growth, adding about 4% from 2010 to 2020, it posted notable income gains, with seven municipalities ranking among the top 20 for median-income growth over the past decade. In Montgomery County, communities near the Blue Route were among those posting substantial income growth over the past decade, reflecting ongoing development near the I-476 corridor. In Delaware County, income trends were mixed, with some municipalities reporting significant gains over the past decade while others experienced declines. Read more and view an interactive map at the Inquirer (gift link).
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/22/2026
NAR webinar: Understanding the FinCEN Residential Real Estate Rule
The National Association of Realtors’ advocacy and legal teams will host a webinar to walk real estate professionals through the new FinCEN Residential Real Estate Rule. The session will cover an overview of the rule, best practices, and compliance under the rule for real estate professionals. The virtual event takes place on Wednesday, March 11, at 2 p.m. Register for the webinar here.
Source: NAR; 2/24/2026
Penn State Extension encourages springtime walking with online program
Penn State Extension is offering a free statewide virtual fitness initiative, “Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania,” running April 6 through June 1, designed to help participants build healthy habits and stamina through social support and regular activity. Individuals or teams of up to five can walk anywhere at their convenience while aiming to average 10 miles per week for eight weeks, with weekly motivational emails and nutrition tips provided. The noncompetitive program emphasizes the long-term health benefits of moderate exercise. Register at the Penn State Extension website by April 3.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 2/19/2026
Pennridge School Board reviews elementary redistricting plan
Pennridge School District is considering its first elementary redistricting in more than a decade to address uneven enrollment, with rising student numbers in areas like Bedminster and Sellersville and declining counts in schools serving communities like West Rockhill. Two draft options are on the table, and a final proposal is expected in March, with implementation planned for 2026-2027. Officials are also studying departmentalized teaching for grades 4 and 5 to deepen subject expertise and save about $40,000 in science materials, eyeing a possible rollout in 2027-2028, while a new hands-on STEM+M middle-school curriculum (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and medicine) — largely funded by a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Navy — could launch in 2026-2027.
Source: The Reporter; 2/9/2026
Council Rock High School South will get a stadium
After a 20-year wait, Council Rock High School South in Northampton Township will finally get its own stadium following a unanimous 9-0 vote by the Council Rock School Board to approve contracts for the $7 million phase two project. Before a standing-room-only crowd that erupted in applause, the board awarded $313,700 to Boyle Construction for project management and $540,000 to Marotta/Main for the design of a new, 3,000-seat stadium featuring bathrooms, a concession stand and a press box. The work will complete a project that began in 2021 with installation of a turf field, a track and bleachers, and will give South — currently the only high school in Bucks County without a stadium — a home venue for sports, band competitions and outdoor graduations. Since opening in 2002, its teams have played home games at rival Council Rock North. District officials said the project can be funded within existing debt service without raising taxes, and board members cited strong community support, including a 1,000-signature petition, as a key factor in advancing the long-awaited plan.
Source: Newtown Patch; 2/20/2026
Bucks rising in list of region’s wealthiest areas
A new income analysis of Philadelphia-area municipalities shows that while Chester County still dominates the region’s wealth rankings, Bucks County has emerged as a major riser, posting strong gains in local incomes over the past decade despite relatively slow population growth. Bucks had seven municipalities rank among the region’s top 20 for median-income growth, more than any other county, led by sharp increases in places like New Hope, where inflation-adjusted median income jumped 58% to about $175,000, and nearby Solebury, where incomes climbed nearly 30% to roughly $196,000 — among the highest in the region.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/22/2026
Amazon launches community fund in Bucks County
Amazon has launched a $100,000 community grant program in Bucks County to support local schools, nonprofits and community groups. The announcement comes as Amazon expands its regional presence, including construction of a major data-center campus at the Keystone Trade Center in Falls Township. The new Amazon Bucks County Community Fund — administered by ChangeX — will offer up to $10,000 for nonprofits and $5,000 for individuals or grassroots projects, prioritizing initiatives focused on education, STEM, health, sustainability, culture, digital skills and hunger relief. Applications are open through March 30 and a virtual informational session is scheduled for Friday, March 6. The announcement comes as Amazon’s growing footprint brings jobs and investment but also sparks local discussion about environmental and energy impacts in Pennsylvania.
Source: Levittown Now; 2/17/2026
North Coventry rejects data center plan before formal application
The developer of a “boutique data center” will look elsewhere after public outcry and a preemptive board of supervisors vote showed no appetite for the facility in North Coventry Township. The data center, informally proposed by Envision Land Use, would have been situated adjacent to Route 100 at 299 W. Schuylkill Road, in an industrial lot sitting near a Peco utility substation and a residential development. But swift and early public discontent — and the township’s leadership — stopped the data center before a formal application was even submitted. Supervisors voted that they would reject a proposal for the site eyed by Envision Land Use, said Erica Batdorf, the township manager. It was the first data center proposed in North Coventry.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/24/2026
48-unit affordable housing project proposed for Oxford Borough
A 48-unit affordable housing development called The Phoenix at Oxford has been proposed for 651 Lincoln St. in Oxford Borough, as Church Housing Corp. and New Jersey-based Walters Group presented initial plans to borough council. The project would include two 24-unit buildings with amenities like a gym, a playground, a picnic area and a basketball court, along with in-unit washers, dryers and energy-efficient appliances, and 24-hour supportive services for residents. Church Housing Corp., which has provided housing and services for seniors, families and people with special needs for four decades, said the development aligns with years of work by the borough’s housing committee to expand affordable housing options. Read more at the Chester County Press.
Source: Chester County Press; 2/18/2026
Judge to decide fate of deteriorating house in West Goshen
A three-story fieldstone house at 905 Westtown Road in West Goshen with a private bridge and a stonemason barn has been deteriorating for more than 20 years and is now an “attractive nuisance” constituting a safety threat, according to court documents. The property owner, who purchased it in 2003, was found to have violated property maintenance codes in recent years. The property went into foreclosure and was listed for sheriff’s sale several times. In September, West Goshen officials submitted a 350-page petition to Chester County Court seeking conservatorship, arguing the house was neglected and in need of substantial rehabilitation. A judge approved the petition and appointed BDP Impact Real Estate as the conservator, which was tasked with creating a plan for abatement. Its final report will be heard in court on March 16, and the judge will determine what path should be followed, such as rehabilitation or demolition. To retain ownership, Kravitz can reimburse the conservator and pay a fee, township officials said.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/24/2026
Chesco towns are among the Philly area’s wealthiest
Chester County towns dominated the top 50 list in an analysis of incomes in the region’s municipalities — compiled from self-reported American Community Survey data — calculated for the five-year period that ended in 2024. Chester County towns held six of the top 10 spots — including Pocopson Township, which had a median annual household income of $230,000 during the five-year period ending in 2024. It’s followed by West Pikeland ($226,100), Birmingham ($215,000) and Easttown ($214,900). West Vincent ($202,600) and Charlestown ($202,200) were the other two Chesco spots in the top 10, ranking No. 7 and 8, respectively.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/22/2026
Nonprofit helps to strengthen Kennett Square
After building global risk advisory firm Chatham Financial into an 850-employee company headquartered near Kennett Square, founder Michael Bontrager has turned his focus — and much of his fortune — to reshaping Kennett Square Borough through a public-private partnership model that blends business investment, nonprofit work and municipal cooperation. Through his Square Roots Collective, Bontrager and his allies have backed restaurants, hotels and community projects, purchased roughly 2% of the borough’s housing stock for redevelopment, and partnered with local institutions on initiatives like the Kennett Trails Alliance and Voices Underground, while donating more than $1 million last year to area efforts.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/23/2026
Turnpike construction town hall in Berwyn rescheduled
Officials with the Pennsylvania Turnpike Project Team have rescheduled a public meeting for updates on the Turnpike 320-324 Construction Project in Tredyffrin Township. According to township officials, the town hall event will now be held on Thursday, March 5, at 7 p.m. at the Tredyffrin Township Building, 1100 Duportail Road in Berwyn. Officials will discuss the project overview, progress updates, upcoming construction phases and major milestones. Read more at the Tredyffrin Township website.
Source: Tredyffrin-Easttown Patch; 2/25/2026
Wallingford-Swarthmore schools to cut nearly 20 positions
The Wallingford-Swarthmore School Board approved a plan that would eliminate nearly 20 positions as it tries to reverse what officials have called a trend of unsustainable spending in the affluent suburban district. The reorganization plan, which was approved by the board 8-0 and takes effect on July 1, will save the district about $2 million, said Superintendent Russell Johnston. Five administrative positions will be eliminated, along with positions for instructional assistants at the middle and high schools, a high school special education teacher, a high school secretary and a high school part-time guidance counselor, among other roles.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/25/2026
Community info session held in Eddystone on proposed LNG terminal concerns
A community information session at Joe Hughes Memorial Hall in Eddystone, hosted by the Delaware Riverkeeper Network and Chester Residents Concerned About Quality Living, focused on environmental and safety concerns surrounding a proposed liquefied natural gas terminal, with advocates warning of potential pollution and public safety risks. The project remains speculative, and neither Eddystone officials nor the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development have commented, as broader regional debates continue over balancing economic development and environmental impacts in Delaware County and neighboring areas, including Chester County and Philadelphia, amid shifting federal policies.
Source: Daily Times; 2/21/2026
Middletown nixes long-discussed loop road
Middletown Township Council voted to not move forward with a long-proposed loop road project in Lima at the intersection of Baltimore Pike and South Pennell Road. The plan has been under discussion since as early as 2018. In 2023, the township acquired three properties at a cost of approximately $1 million. Costs of the project in 2022 were estimated at approximately $4 million, supported by a $2 million state multimodal grant awarded. Recently a nearby community association voiced opposition to the construction of the loop road. The project is independent of PennDOT’s planned improvements for that area of Baltimore Pike. Those improvements include widening the road and adding turn lanes, and would effectively make the proposed loop road obsolete, according to critics of the project.
Source: Daily Times; 2/20/2026
Upper Darby launches Small Business Empowerment Hub
Upper Darby has launched its Small Business Empowerment Hub, allocating $4.8 million for small businesses in the township. Director of community and economic development Rita LaRue said the funds will go to small businesses through technical assistance, small business grants and business corridor revitalization to repair signage and beautifying business areas. The hub will provide expert support in business planning, financial systems, marketing and sales, staffing operations and whatever businesses need to find success, she said. The funds come from federal American Rescue Plan Act money that rolled over into capital funding.
Source: Daily Times; 2/20/2026
Willow Grove Shopping Center to undergo $105M transformation
A $105 million redevelopment project in Upper Moreland Township is set to transform the Willow Grove Shopping Center across from Willow Grove Park Mall into a mixed-use complex with 261 apartments and 35,000 square feet of new retail. Demolition of about 130,000 square feet will begin in the summer with completion expected in 2028, according to developer Federal Realty Investment Trust. The project reflects a broader regional trend of building housing near strong retail hubs — similar to growth seen around King of Prussia — as demand rises among people leaving cities or downsizing, who want walkable, transit-accessible living near destinations served by SEPTA and major routes like the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Existing shopping-center tenants will remain open during construction.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/20/2026
Johnson & Johnson announces $1B investment in new Lower Gwynedd facility
Johnson & Johnson announced plans to invest more than $1 billion to build a next-generation cell-therapy manufacturing facility on a 154-acre site in Lower Gwynedd’s Spring House section. The project is expected to create about 4,000 construction jobs and 500 permanent skilled positions while expanding U.S. production of advanced treatments for cancer, immune-related and neurological diseases. The company already employs roughly 2,500 people locally, and officials, including Gov. Josh Shapiro, praised the investment as evidence of Pennsylvania’s growing strength in life-sciences manufacturing, workforce development and innovation. Supporters say the project will boost the regional economy and accelerate development of life-saving medicines.
Source: Around Ambler; 2/18/2026
Montco officials cut ribbon on supportive short-term housing facility in Lansdale
Officials in Montgomery County cut the ribbon on Todi’s Place of Hope, a new, 20-bed, short-term supportive housing facility in Lansdale that will serve adults experiencing homelessness in the North Penn region. The opening marks the county’s first brick-and-mortar site of its kind in nearly four years. Operated by Resources for Human Development, the site will provide stays averaging 60 to 90 days along with meals, mental-health care, job training and access to benefits. The project was funded with about $2.6 million in county support plus a $1 million donation from philanthropist Nand Todi. It is part of a broader regional strategy that includes planned shelters in Norristown and Pottstown and reflects a coordinated push by local government and nonprofits to expand housing options and stabilize vulnerable residents.
Source: The Reporter; 2/20/2026
Towamencin announces comprehensive plan update
Towamencin Township supervisors will hear an update from representatives of Simone Collins on the township’s comprehensive plan at the monthly meeting on Wednesday, March 11, at 7 p.m. at the township building, 1090 Troxel Road, Lansdale. A comprehensive plan is the roadmap that guides public and private decisions about growth, development and long-term community goals. The meeting will be an opportunity for residents to stay informed and ask questions. Read more on the township website.
Source: Towamencin Township; 2/2026
Montco commissioners pledge ‘collaboration’ at State of the County address
At the State of the County address in Montgomery County, commissioners emphasized bipartisan collaboration while highlighting accomplishments and new initiatives. Chair Jamila Winder, Vice Chair Neil Makhija and Commissioner Tom DiBello stressed cooperation despite political differences. Leaders pointed to progress on homelessness and efforts to combat food insecurity including a new Share Food Program warehouse serving dozens of pantries. Officials also outlined upcoming programs like a “No Wrong Front Door” service system to streamline access to county services and cited recent actions like raising the county minimum wage and planning a behavioral health crisis center.
Source: The Reporter; 2/12/2026
PHA’s first private acquisition draws mixed reviews from tenants
The Philadelphia Housing Authority’s (PHA) first purchase of a private, market-rate apartment building has produced uneven results, as residents of The Dane in Wynnefield report a rocky transition. Since 2025, PHA has spent $280.6 million to acquire 17 multifamily properties totaling 1,515 units as part of CEO Kelvin Jeremiah’s strategy to expand affordable housing by buying struggling buildings and introducing Section 8 voucher-holders alongside market-rate tenants. At the 233-unit Dane, about 86 tenants have moved out over the past year, roughly half the original occupants, amid complaints about trash pickup, maintenance delays, security concerns and communication issues following the troubled exit of former owner Cross Properties. While many residents say PHA is an improvement over prior management and note upgrades since Maryland-based operator HH Redstone took over in August, others — particularly unsubsidized renters — say they plan to leave, highlighting the challenges PHA faces as it pushes a high-profile, mixed-income expansion model.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/20/2026
1973 deed restriction could complicate proposed closure of Lankenau High
A 1973 deed restriction could complicate the School District of Philadelphia’s proposal to close Lankenau Environmental Science Magnet High School and repurpose the site for affordable housing or job creation. The neighboring Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education asserts it holds a right to repurchase the 17-acre property if it is used for anything other than school purposes. In a letter to Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr., the center’s attorney said the district must provide advance notice of any sale or change in use, citing language in the Oct. 4, 1973, deed when the center conveyed the land. District officials declined immediate comment. Lankenau, a high-performing environmental science magnet with a 100% graduation rate, was included in a list of 20 schools slated for closure in a facilities plan. Erin Mooney, executive director of the Schuylkill Center, said the organization opposes the closure and hopes the deed restriction will factor into the school board’s decision as it considers Superintendent Watlington’s recommendations.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/24/2026
Philly’s Greyhound station is one step closer to finding a permanent home
The Philadelphia Department of Planning and Development has identified three possible locations for a permanent intercity bus station. Officials sifted through 208 possible locations over the past two years before zeroing in on the three sites: a pair of parking lots at 8th and Arch streets; Philadelphia Gateway Garage at 1540 Vine St., along with an adjoining parking lot; and a parking lot just north of 30th Street Station at 2931 Arch St. The city planning department is conducting an online survey seeking public input on what the intercity bus station needs and where it should be located.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 2/25/2026
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