Thousands of rentals in PA could lose affordability restrictions
Pennsylvania could lose more than 43,000 federally supported affordable rental units between 2027 and 2036 as affordability restrictions expire, according to a new report from the Housing Initiative at Penn and the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. Philadelphia could be particularly affected, with 7,951 units across 135 properties at risk of losing their affordability protections. Many of the units were developed through the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which requires properties to remain affordable for a specified period but does not automatically provide permanent affordability. Researchers say many properties will likely renew or refinance, but the potential losses come as Pennsylvania faces a broader housing shortage and more federally assisted units are approaching the end of their affordability restrictions than were created through similar programs between 2013 and 2022. The state’s Housing Action Plan estimates Pennsylvania needs 450,000 new housing units by 2035 and projects a shortfall of nearly 185,000 units at the current construction pace.
Source: WHYY; 10/1/2026

PAR releases RPAC Election Guide
The Pennsylvania Association of Realtors has released its RPAC Election Guide for the 2026 General Election. It highlights candidates endorsed by the Pennsylvania Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC) ahead of the election on Tuesday, Nov. 3. 
Source: PAR; 10/5/2026

Federal court keeps housing counseling funds from expiring
A federal judge required the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to keep $57.5 million in housing counseling funds available while a lawsuit challenging the administration's request to cancel them moves forward. The funds, which Congress provided for fiscal year 2025, would otherwise have expired at midnight after Sept. 30. The National Urban League and nine other housing counseling organizations filed the suit on Sept. 29, four days after the White House asked Congress to cancel nearly all of the program's funding. The groups argue that the administration cannot withhold money Congress directed HUD to spend unless Congress votes to cancel it, and that the request penalizes grantees for their advocacy in violation of the First Amendment. They are also challenging the limits HUD placed on the funding earlier this year, including the exclusion of prepurchase counseling and the restriction of post-purchase counseling to homeowners with federally backed mortgages. The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has long supported housing counseling as a way to help buyers enter and stay in the market and is engaging with Congress on the rescission request and its effect on access to counseling services. NAR will continue to monitor the litigation as it moves forward.
Source: NAR; 10/1/2026

SRA urges Upper Southampton to improve proposed U&O ordinance
The Suburban Realtors Alliance (SRA) has urged Upper Southampton Township officials to make changes to a draft ordinance that would amend Chapter 134 of the township code, which governs sales of real estate and the issuance of certificates of use and occupancy. After reviewing a draft of the ordinance, the SRA sent comments to the township, noting two provisions may not comply with state law — namely, a section that requires correction of all violations and open permits before a certificate is issued (instead of providing 12 months to do so, as required by the Municipal Code and Ordinance Compliance Act), and a section that requires specific statements in every agreement of sale (contrary to the PA Real Estate Seller Disclosure Law’s restrictions on municipal disclosure and agreement-of-sale requirements). Upper Southampton supervisors are scheduled to consider the draft ordinance for adoption at a public hearing on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at 6:30 p.m. at the township library, 947 Street Road.
Source: Upper Southampton Township

Owners say Neshaminy Mall plan making the rounds online is outdated
A redevelopment concept for the Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem Township that has been circulating on Facebook and local blogs is "outdated," according to Paramount Realty CEO and president Maurice Zekaria. Zekaria said that very little on it is still accurate and that a new plan will be presented "very soon." The document, dated May 9, 2025, reportedly appeared in a 147-page "Leasing Availabilities 2026" brochure on Paramount's website, and depicts two office buildings, a four-story hotel, roughly 500 residential units (including apartments, age-restricted housing and townhouses), more than 3,000 retail parking spaces, and spots designated for Whole Foods, Dick's Sporting Goods and Ulta Beauty, though it's unclear whether any of those retailers have signed leases. The brochure is now listed as “temporarily unavailable.” Speculation has grown since the township confirmed last month that most of the mall's roughly dozen remaining businesses were told to vacate by the end of October, with only the AMC 24 theaters, Boscov's, Barnes & Noble, and the Jean Madeline Aveda Institute staying put. No plans had been submitted to the township as of Oct. 5, though officials expect a proposal could reach council next month, and Mayor Joe DiGirolamo said demolition is expected to begin in December.
Source: Bucks County Courier Times; 10/5/2026

State flags gaps in jet fuel cleanup in Upper Makefield 
A pilot test of the multiphase extraction process used to clean up 6,500 gallons of jet fuel that leaked from an Energy Transfer/Sunoco pipeline and contaminated seven private wells in Upper Makefield Township's Mount Eyre Manor neighborhood is expected to wrap up in November. However, two new developments have complicated the situation. A Sept. 29 letter from the state Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) cited "deficiencies," noting that the work plan doesn't specify which residential wells will be monitored or the technical criteria that DEP and the public can review. Meanwhile, township supervisors wrote DEP Secretary Jessica Shirley on Sept. 22 asking for an in-person meeting with affected residents, arguing it would show DEP's commitment to holding the company accountable. No meeting date has been set. Once the pilot ends, its effectiveness will be assessed and a full-scale system installed. Supervisors Chairman Ben Weldon has said the cleanup has moved “too slowly" and that securing a long-term water source would speed progress, acknowledging that part of the delay stems from the difficulty of cleaning an aquifer.
Source: The Reporter; 10/4/2026

Falls approves scaled-down senior housing project on former garage site
After three years of planning, public hearings and a court appeal that ended in a settlement, Falls Township supervisors granted preliminary and final land development approval for an 84-unit, age-restricted (55-plus) residential building at 654 Lincoln Highway in Fairless Hills, the site of the long-abandoned Lincoln Garage. The project was originally proposed as two four-story buildings with 96 units, but after the zoning hearing board denied it in 2024, the developer appealed to the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas, resulting in a court-approved settlement that cut the plan to a single two-story building capped at 50 feet, and required a six-foot solid fence along the shared property line with neighboring homes and compliance with municipal lighting standards. The plans include 148 parking spaces, downward-directed lighting and underground conduit for future electric vehicle chargers. Supervisors approved eight zoning waivers covering issues like separation distances, grading, tree replacement and woodland disturbance.
Source: LevittownNow; 9/30/2026

Newtown Township residents press for answers on DeLuca land deal
As of Sept. 27, Newtown Township supervisors had not received a sketch plan from DeLuca Builders for the 17.5 acres on Lower Silver Lake Road that it plans to buy from the Newtown-Bucks County Joint Municipal Authority. The land was once intended for a wastewater treatment plant. Chairman Edward Merriman told the audience there is nothing the board can do until something is submitted, stressing that the sale is strictly between the authority and DeLuca, and the township has no role in it. He reiterated that the board seems inclined to keep the current zoning, which allows up to five single-family homes, though many assume DeLuca would prefer townhouses. Residents pushed for transparency on the status of the sale agreement and whether any applications have been filed, asked what has changed since an earlier multifamily proposal was denied, voiced opposition to rezoning land of that size, and raised concerns about traffic, stormwater, school enrollment, water and sewer capacity, and who would pay for needed improvements. The meeting ended without any zoning or project-specific action.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 10/5/2026

Warminster's Five Ponds Golf Club to get $25M clubhouse
Spirit Golf Management, a division of The Sports Facilities Companies, announced a $25 million project to build a new, 27,000-square-foot clubhouse at Five Ponds Golf Club, a township-owned course in Warminster that Spirit manages. Funded by a $25 million loan Warminster supervisors approved last August, the building will include an event space for up to 250 guests, a 1,400-square-foot pro shop, a new bar and grill, multiple kitchens, covered patios for both the event space and the restaurant, and an indoor teaching studio with four golf simulators for year-round instruction by PGA professionals. Golf operations will continue during construction. Officials framed the project as a long-term investment, with Supervisors Chairman Kenneth Hayes calling it a step toward a modern, welcoming destination that strengthens Five Ponds as a premier recreational asset.
Source: Bucks County Herald; 10/2/2026

BCAR webinar will focus on housing affordability 
The Bucks County Association of Realtors (BCAR) will host a webinar for members focused on housing affordability and its effects on first-time buyers, move-up buyers and communities. The webinar, organized by BCAR’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, is part of the association’s Zoom Power Hour series. It will feature a panel of experts, moderated by SRA president/CEO Jamie Ridge, who will discuss rising home prices, limited inventory, barriers to homeownership, and the latest market and policy developments affecting affordability. The webinar will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 20, at noon. BCAR members can register for the event at the association website.
Source: BCAR; 10/2026

East Marlborough advances 1% EIT plan
East Marlborough Township supervisors voted to advertise a proposed earned income tax (EIT) for 2027 that the township estimates could generate about $1.7 million annually, advancing a new revenue source intended to help fund roads, public safety, capital projects and other municipal costs. The proposed ordinance would impose a 1% tax on the earned income and net profits of township residents and on nonresidents working in the township. Township officials have identified an immediate annual revenue shortfall of about $2.57 million across capital improvements, road paving, public works, police and municipal buildings. Township figures show about $1.41 million in EIT paid in 2025 by East Marlborough residents was collected by other Pennsylvania taxing jurisdictions. Supervisors are scheduled to make a final decision at a special meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 4, at 6:30 p.m. Collection would begin Jan. 1, 2027, if supervisors approve the ordinance.
Source: MyChesco; 10/2/2026

Toll Brothers faces pushback on proposed 237-unit community
Toll Brothers’ proposal to build a 237-unit, age-restricted community in West Brandywine Township has met opposition from residents during several conditional use hearings. The development would include 163 single-family homes and 74 twin units across 116 acres between Hibernia and Manor roads. Township Manager Noah Stribrny said the Toll project is generating the most public engagement he's seen for a proposal. Some nearby residents have formed a limited liability corporation with attorney representation to voice concerns about the plan, and about 100 residents packed a middle school auditorium for a recent hearing. Residents have raised concerns about the 55-and-over community lacking proximity to a medical center after the 2022 closure of Brandywine Hospital, as well as the project's potential impact on public water and traffic, and its location near an abundance of age-restricted projects already in the works in the township, according to Stribrny.
Source: Philadelphia Business Journal; 10/1/2026

Auction postponed for St. Peter’s Village in Warwick
The auction of roughly 80 acres encompassing historic St. Peter’s Village in Warwick Township, including more than 100 planned home sites and several businesses, was postponed on Sept. 30 just before it was scheduled to begin. Piazza Management said the delay was caused by technical issues with online bidding and on-site phone communications. No new auction date has been announced. The property’s sale has drawn significant interest and concern over future development, including the potential buildout of two planned neighborhoods and upgrades needed to the site’s wastewater treatment plant. St. Peter’s Village, which grew around French Creek and flourished in the Gilded Age due to its natural resources, became a place of recreation and leisure in the 1880s. Since then, it has continued to draw tourists to its quaint shops, rocky shores and hiking trails.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 10/2/2026

Chester County proposes eliminating one magisterial court district
The Chester County Court of Common Pleas is proposing to eliminate Magisterial District 15-1-02 and redistribute its municipalities among three other districts following the vacancy created when Judge Mackenzie Smith moved to the Court of Common Pleas. Under the plan, East Goshen and Willistown townships would join District 15-2-03 with West Goshen, Westtown and Thornbury; Easttown would move to District 15-4-01 with Tredyffrin and East Whiteland; and Malvern would join District 15-4-03 with West Whiteland and part of East Whiteland. The changes would eliminate longstanding splits in several municipalities, but increase annual caseloads in the affected districts to roughly 7,000 cases each. The county is accepting public comments through Oct. 25. Learn more and view maps of the current and proposed district boundaries at the Chester County website.
Source: Chester County

HACC plans end of public housing program
The Housing Authority of the County of Chester (HACC) is moving to convert its remaining public housing properties to project-based vouchers, a change that would formally end its Section 9 public housing program. Executive director Paul Diggs said the transition is needed because the authority’s public housing stock requires repairs and federal capital funding is limited. HACC said relocation may be necessary during rehabilitation and construction, but that no permanent displacement of families is anticipated. The Sept. 22 meeting drew questions about public access after the West Chester Chronicle reported that building doors were locked, the livestream link was inaccessible and meeting information was not publicly available. Diggs disputed the reported Sunshine Act violations, saying visitors could enter by using a doorbell, the boardroom was accessible during the public session, the Zoom link remained available, and meeting notices and agendas were posted as required. HACC’s next board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 27.
Source: West Chester Chronicle; 9/22/2026

HACC to host NSPIRE webinar
The Housing Authority of the County of Chester (HACC) will host a virtual landlord webinar on the transition from Housing Quality Standards (HQS) to the National Standards for the Physical Inspection of Real Estate (NSPIRE). The session will cover updated inspection standards, expectations for participating landlords and property managers, and tips for preparing units for NSPIRE inspections. The webinar will be held via Zoom on Thursday, Oct. 22, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Registration is required.
Source: HACC; 9/2026

Honey Brook Township moves toward data center, battery-storage zoning changes
Honey Brook Township supervisors will consider an ordinance that would allow data centers and battery energy-storage systems only as conditional uses in the Business Industrial District. The proposal would establish zoning standards for the uses as the township weighs how to accommodate emerging development while imposing local requirements. Hyperscale data centers — defined in the proposal as facilities exceeding 75,000 square feet or 25 megawatts of power capacity — would be excluded from the permitted data-center use. The ordinance would represent a significant expansion of the township’s zoning rules for infrastructure-intensive development. It describes data centers as potentially imposing noise, vibration, water, environmental and utility burdens while stating that the township intends to accommodate appropriately designed facilities rather than prohibit the use outright. The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. in the Honey Brook Township Building at 500 Suplee Road.
Source: Daily Local; 10/6/2026 and MyChesco; 10/2/2026

West Sadsbury considers ECHO cottages
West Sadsbury Township supervisors will hold a public hearing on an ordinance that would amend the township’s zoning ordinance to allow Elder Cottage Housing Opportunity (ECHO) dwellings in all zoning districts. The proposed ECHO cottages would be accessory dwelling units temporarily placed on a property for occupancy by people age 60 or older who are related to the occupants of the principal dwelling. The ordinance would establish requirements for cottage size, parking, rental use, permitting, removal and an application process, with ECHO dwellings subject to conditional-use approval. The hearing is scheduled on Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. at the township offices, 6400 N. Moscow Road, Parkesburg.
Source: Daily Local; 9/30/2026