News Briefs for November 29, 2024
Jump to:
[ General ] [ Bucks ] [Chester] [ Delaware ] [ Montgomery ] [ Philadelphia ]
Lindenwold Castle in Ambler, circa 1890, is the former estate of asbestos magnate Richard Van Zeelust Mattison. The 24,000-square-foot castle is up for auction.
Photo: Google Street View
NAR offers compliance webinar on FinCEN beneficial ownership rule
Certain businesses have until Jan. 1, 2025, to comply with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting rule. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is offering a webinar to help people understand what entities are covered under the BOI Reporting Rule and what resources exist to help ensure timely reporting. NAR’s legal and advocacy team will host the webinar on Tuesday, Dec. 10, from 2 to 3 p.m. Register here.
Source: NAR; 11/21/2024
Where the fight to protect property rights goes in 2025
Nearly 70% of Americans said they were “very concerned” about the cost of housing, according to pre-election polling, and many indicated the issue would factor into their ballot decision. Housing groups like the American Property Owners Alliance (APOA) — a nonprofit formed in 2020 and focused exclusively on advancing private property rights and the interests of property owners — are looking to leverage momentum and consumer attention to turn it into action. While Washington is often criticized for its inability to overcome partisanship, APOA works across the aisle on commonsense policies that help Americans build generational wealth through property ownership. Read more here.
Source: NAR; 11/22/2024
Buckingham proposes slight tax increase for fire service
Buckingham Township supervisors authorized the advertisement of a $13 million budget for 2025 that includes a 0.75-mill tax increase dedicated to fire service. The township is served by the Midway, Doylestown and Lingohocken volunteer fire companies, which also provide rescue services. If approved without change, the total municipal tax rate for Buckingham Township homeowners will be 4.75 mills. The breakdown of the millage rate is 3 mills dedicated to open space referendums; 1.5 mills to fire companies; and 0.25 for emergency services. Buckingham has not supported its general fund with a real estate tax millage since 1998, instead using the township’s half of the 1% earned income tax to fund 72% of the general fund. Other revenue sources include real estate transfer taxes, fees, licenses and permits, interest and other miscellaneous sources. View the budget presentation on the township website.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 11/24/2024
Woods School property in Middletown eyed for development
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 attorney that appeared before the supervisors in November. Simon Kimmelman, senior executive vice president/chief operating and legal officer for Woods, said the overlay would allow future development without requiring the need for zoning variances. Land use approval would still be required. An overlay zone would also need to be approved by the Bucks County Planning Commission. According to Kimmelman, Woods is “re-envisioning” all of its property, saying the “status quo” for its vocational day services, medical services and housing for the disabled cannot be maintained and that on-campus living for the disabled is becoming a thing of the past. Woods property comprises 285 acres, 90% of which is in Middletown and the remaining 10% is in Langhorne Borough.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 11/24/2024
Preliminary Durham budget holds the line on taxes
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 up a new state law which authorizes Bucks and other suburban counties to increase annual contributions to fire companies up to 10% of their budget, and up to 5% to ambulance squads. Prior to the new law, municipal contributions to those organizations were capped at 3.5 mills. Gentner warned that a tax increase may be likely in 2026 due to the law. The board voted to advertise the draft budget and adopt it at its December meeting. The draft budget can be viewed at the township office or website.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 11/19/2024
Bucks County Home Repair Program info session scheduled for Dec. 6
State Sen. Steve Santarsiero (D-10) and state Rep. Tim Brennan (D-29), in partnership with Habitat for Humanity of Bucks County, will host an information session on the Bucks County Home Repair Program (BCHRP). BCHRP is a construction-based resource for low-moderate income Bucks County homeowners, and provides qualifying households with necessary health, safety, accessibility and energy-efficiency related home repairs and modifications. Approved homeowners are eligible to receive up to $50,000 in qualified repairs to their home. The event will be held on Friday, Dec. 6, from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Central Bucks Senior Center. RSVP to learn more about the program and receive application assistance.
Source: Sen. Santarsiero District Update; 11/2024
West Chester approves short-term rental ordinance
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 need to sign up for a waiting list. For each bedroom rented, one off-street parking space will need to be available either on the property, adjacent to the property, or in a public garage or lot. Renters will need to obtain an annual borough permit that is transferable to a future property owner. Borough solicitor Kristin Camp said the annual permitting process would be similar to the long-term rental system and only actual costs would be charged. No student home may be used as a short-term rental. Short-term rental owners shall obtain and maintain at least a $1 million general liability insurance policy. Special events, such as wedding receptions, will not be allowed in short-term rental units. Fire safety plans informing guests of escape routes are also required for each unit.
Source: Daily Local; 11/25/2024
Chester County taxes could rise 13% if budget is approved
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, noted that the increase in taxes is the first since 2021 and is in the middle of taxes levied by neighboring counties such as Montgomery, Delaware, Berks and Lancaster. “The county’s intent is to present a budget that responds proactively to internal and external financial environments, provides a blueprint for operations, and continues to provide essential services and plans for long-term growth,” she said. The county will have to pay more for electricity, trash collection, supplies and services, she said. The budget vote is set for Wednesday, Dec. 18, at 10 a.m.
Source: Daily Local; 11/22/2024
Uwchlan Township to consider increase of earned income tax
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
Delaware County property taxes set to increase by 23%
Delaware County Council is planning to vote on a $396.5 million county budget that would significantly increase property taxes in 2025. According to a public notice, the proposed budget includes a total property tax rate of 3.873 mills — 3.268 for general purposes and 0.605 mills for debt service — which is a 22.9% increase over last year. In 2024, the total millage was 3.149 — 2.616 mills for general purposes and 0.533 mills for debt service. The proposed 2025 county budget can be viewed on the county's Budget Management webpage. A public hearing regarding the budget will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 3, at 1 p.m. at the County Council Meeting Room, Government Center, 201 W. Front St., in Media. The first reading of the budget ordinance will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 6 p.m. at the same location. The second reading and adoption vote will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 11, at 6 p.m.
Source: Daily Times; 11/25/2024
Swarthmore budget proposal includes 4% increase
The Swarthmore Borough 2025 preliminary budget includes a 4% increase in taxes. The full, zero-deficit budget can be found here. The total millage for 2025 would be 3.996 mills, up from 3.843 mills. For trash collection and disposal, $562 will be collected per dwelling unit annually. The budget will likely be up for a vote at the Monday, Dec. 9, meeting at 7 p.m.
Source: Swarthmorean; 11/15/2024
Tentative agreement reached on oversized Marple home
The zoning hearing over a supersized Marple Township home ended with a tentative agreement between the neighbors, the township and the owner. The home at 2 Willowbrook Road has a footprint of 3,900 square feet in a neighborhood where most homes are split levels with a third of that. Work began to enlarge the existing home, but a stop work order was issued after zoning violation issues came to a head. John McBlain, representing Marple Township, said the agreement includes having an engineer present a revised plan and fulfill two requests of the neighbors. McBlain said the revised plans need to show three changes: removing a structure over the basement steps, reducing the rear porch to conform to setbacks and fit within the building envelope, and reducing the garage to conform to the building envelope requirements. McBlain said the township wouldn’t oppose a variance for the corners of the building that remained outside the building envelope. He called it a small amount. He said the last issue was the building coverage percentage that was still being negotiated. He said they will either achieve compliance or come to an agreement on what to recommend to the zoning board. Lee Stivale, representing the property owners, said they believe all parties have suggested a reasonable agreement and it will be put in writing.
Source: Daily Times; 11/22/2024
Ambler’s Lindenwold Castle is up for auction
The 134-year-old Lindenwold Castle in Ambler is being auctioned off with a reserve price of $1.5 million. It was built in 1890 for the "Asbestos King" Richard Mattison, who was head of asbestos manufacturer Keasbey & Mattison. The property was designed to replicate Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom by Lansdale architect Milton Bean. The castle was originally built in the center of a 400-acre estate, and over time, was reduced to fewer than 50 acres in 1936 when it was sold to the Sisters of the Holy Family of Nazareth. In 2013, Leonard Poncia of Bensalem-based Aquinas Realty Partners purchased the remaining nearly 50 acres off of Bethlehem Pike. Two parcels were sold to developers, and those new developments surround the castle. Poncia maintained ownership of the 24,000-square-foot castle, and has spent about $3 million updating its systems and preserving the stone exterior. The property is approved for conversion to 11 residential units and three ground-floor office spaces, or it could be used as a single-family home. The sealed-bid auction for the historically designated property ends on Dec. 19.
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal; 11/22/2024
Norristown Municipal Council posts at-large vacancy
Norristown Municipal Council has an immediate vacancy of one at-large seat with a term set to expire Dec. 31, 2025. An at-large council member — of which there are three — is elected by all voters of the municipality and serves all residents. Norristown residents who are interested in being appointed to the seat should apply by Dec. 6. Find out more here.
Source: Norristown Municipality; 11/2024
West Pottsgrove moves to take sliver of land from Pottstown Airport property
West Pottsgrove Township plans to use eminent domain to acquire a small strip of land located within the township but owned by Pottstown Borough. The township is planning to construct a small park on land adjacent to the Pottstown Municipal Airport, converting a former township pool property into a park with a Veterans Memorial, pickleball court, inclusive playground, walking trail and additional parking. To further the plan, West Pottsgrove officials asked Pottstown Borough to sell them a sliver of land at the airport. Pottstown Borough officials refused, saying the land is planned for additional hangars at the airport. West Pottsgrove Township Manager Deborah Roesner said the borough’s plans for the airport are almost 16 years old and the township is asking Pottstown to consider “minor modifications” that would “accommodate both plans.” During a Nov. 20 work session, West Pottsgrove Township commissioners voted unanimously to use eminent domain to take a parcel that is 33,336 square feet — or 0.765 acres — for the park expansion. Township solicitor Jamie Ottaviano explained that the parcel is less than the original 40,130 square feet sought from the borough because the law no longer allows a municipality to take property located in another municipality. He said although the borough owns the property the township intends to take, the 33,336 square feet are located in West Pottsgrove, allowing eminent domain to be used. The vote by West Pottsgrove is just the first step, and Ottaviano said the next is filing a Declaration of Taking at the Montgomery County courthouse.
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 11/22/2024
For the first time in 10 years, Philly school enrollment is rising
After years of declining enrollment, the Philadelphia School District has grown. Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. said the school system’s official student count for 2024-2025 is 117,956 — 1,841 students more than in 2023-2024, an increase of a little under 2%. Officials said the enrollment gain was due to students transferring from charter schools and from elsewhere outside the district. Of those students, many are English-language learners, a booming population in the city, particularly in the Northeast. Still, Philadelphia is a much smaller district than it once was. In the 2004-2005 school year the district enrolled 187,547 students. The district’s student count began to slip significantly after Pennsylvania, in 1997, authorized charter schools, which are publicly funded and authorized by local school boards but managed by independent boards. Today, 64,119 students attend Philadelphia charter schools. Watlington credited teachers, principals and school support staff with the recent gains.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 11/25/2024
Shapiro asks businesses what they need — for many, it’s SEPTA
Governor Josh Shapiro recently spent time with small business owners in Philadelphia to get a sense of their priorities. Three key topics emerged during the public discussion: state level deregulation with extra support ideas for small businesses; what Shapiro can do to save SEPTA from decline; and ways the governor can shield vulnerable residents from federal policies. Since being sworn into office in January 2023, Shapiro has pushed some bureaucratic tendencies of state government aside — from an emergency no-bid construction contract to rebuild a collapsed section of I-95 to streamlining state permits — to improve the economic competitiveness of the region. “The commonwealth has a focused effort in not just driving dollars out to small and large businesses. But making it easier for them to do business here is something the private sector is taking note of,” Shapiro said.
Source: PlanPhilly; 11/22/2024
Email grassroots@suburbanrealtorsalliance.com to receive our weekly News Briefs. It's as simple as submitting your contact information so we can create a user profile.