A weekly roundup of real estate news, compiled by Suburban Realtors? Alliance-10/29/2021
Weekly News Briefs
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General
Realtor??resources for Nov. 2 election
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 2, and polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Find your polling place and check your registration status?here. To learn more about how local elected offices affect real estate,?click here. As a member of the Realtor Party, the Suburban Realtors Alliance encourages you to vote for candidates and issues that build strong communities, protect property interests and promote a vibrant business environment at the local, state and national levels.
Panel OKs data for drawing district maps
The five-person commission redrawing Pennsylvania General Assembly district lines gave its approval to adjusted and validated census-based data they will use to craft preliminary maps over the coming months. “Even though we have 90 days to develop a preliminary plan under the provisions of the state constitution, we’re all hopeful that we can get it done much sooner than that,” said former University of Pittsburgh chancellor Mark Nordenberg, who chairs the Legislative Reapportionment Commission. The commission voted 4-1 to certify census data that shift just under 27,000 state prison inmates back to their home districts for the maps that will be used for state legislative elections during the coming decade.
Source: Daily Local; 10/26/2021
NAR Myth Buster: FEMA Risk Rating 2.0
On Oct. 1, the Federal Emergency Management Agency began implementing a new flood insurance pricing methodology called Risk Rating 2.0: Equity in Action. Realtors have been calling for these changes since Congress passed the Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance Reform Act in 2012. Changes won’t take effect for existing policies until April 1, 2022, but many misconceptions about the new rating system are already circulating. The National Association of Realtors has produced a?myth-buster document?to provide the facts.
Source: Nar.realtor; 10/25/2021
LIHEAP applications open for 2021-2022 season
The application period is now open for the 2021-2022 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). LIHEAP is a federally funded program administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services that provides assistance for home heating bills, so low-income Pennsylvanians can stay warm and safe during the winter months. Assistance is available for renters and homeowners. The LIHEAP application period has been extended for this season and is open through May 6, 2022. Pennsylvanians can apply for LIHEAP or other public assistance programs online at the?PA Compass website?or by phone at 866-550-4355.
Source: LevittownNow.com; 10/19/2021
Advocates call on PA to spend $40M to fight lead poisoning in children
During National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Oct. 24 to 30, a coalition of advocates and statewide law enforcement groups are calling on Pennsylvania officials to spend $40 million in American Rescue Plan funds to help prevent lead poisoning in the commonwealth’s children. The groups argue that reducing childhood lead poisoning has a public health benefit and also improves public safety. The law enforcement coalition, including the Pennsylvania Chiefs of Police Association and the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association, pointed out that people exposed to lead in early childhood had an average of nearly five more delinquent acts as adolescents than their peers who were not similarly exposed.?Read the full commentary?from the Pennsylvania Capital-Star.
Source: Pennsylvania Capital-Star; 10/25/2021
Bucks
Upper Makefield approves budget with tax decrease
On Oct. 19, Upper Makefield Township supervisors unanimously approved a budget for 2022 that includes a property tax decrease. The millage rate for 2022 will be 7.25 mills, a decrease of 0.3525 mills from 2021. The budget “allows Upper Makefield Township to continue to provide a high level of service to residents while maintaining a comfortable fund balance, continuing paydown of debt and reducing taxes,” according to the?township newsletter.?Since 2011, Upper Makefield’s real estate tax has been reduced from a high of 13.3525 mills to the current level.
Source: Upper Makefield Township; 10/2021
Perkasie Borough Council restricts ATVs
Perkasie Borough Council recently voted 7-0 to amend the borough’s “Peace and Good Order” ordinance to regulate the use of all-terrain and off-road vehicles in the downtown area. The new ordinance amendment defines Class 1 and 2 ATVs, motorized dirt bikes and snowmobiles under an umbrella term “off-road vehicles.” Some of the regulations in the ordinance include: the use of off-road vehicles is not permitted on lots of less than two acres; they may not be used within 100 feet of an adjacent property lot line; no more than two riders unrelated to the property owner’s household may operate on the property; daily hours of operation are set, as are the number of hours allowed on any given day; off-road vehicles may not be used on designated wetlands or in the floodplain; and various other items, including penalties for violation and exemptions for government employees conducting official borough business, such as snow removal.?
Source: Bucks County Herald; 10/14/2021
Falls Township supervisors appoint new member
Falls Township supervisors have appointed Erin Mullen to fill a vacancy on the board after the resignation of longtime Supervisor Jeff Rocco. Mullen, a paralegal, has been a resident of Falls since 2008. She said her appreciation of Falls Township has only grown stronger while watching her two children grow up in the community and her goal “is to uphold the community that has gifted me so much while increasing its availability to others.” Mullen will fill out Rocco’s term that expires at the end of 2023.
Source: LevittownNow.com; 10/19/2021
Help name Doylestown Borough’s newest park
Doylestown Borough's newest park, across from the new Borough Hall and Central Bucks Regional Police Headquarters on Broad Street, is almost complete. Community input informed the park's design, and now the borough is asking community members help in naming the park. The names on the survey were proposed by the borough's parks and recreation board and borough council’s environment and recreation committee.?Participate in the survey here.
Source: Doylestown Borough; 10/2021
Visit Bucks County reports record-breaking rebound in hotel occupancy
Visit Bucks County, the county’s officially designated tourism marketing agency, reported that hotel occupancy was strong in June, July and August at 74.4%, 77.3% and 74.6%, respectively. Demand in the summer also drove room rates up, with average daily rates setting records at $117, $123 and $123. Revenue per available room also saw record numbers. Final numbers for September could indicate the best September on record. Read the?press release here.?
Source: The Reporter; 10/16/2021
Chester?
Gov. Wolf attends groundbreaking for Coatesville train station
Gov. Tom Wolf, along with several office holders and officials, shoveled and tossed dirt at an Oct. 22 groundbreaking ceremony for the new Coatesville train station. Lancaster-based Wickersham Construction and Engineering Inc. won the general work contract with a bid of $38.5 million, as part of the proposed $65 million station at the intersection of Fourth Avenue and Fleetwood Street. The target date for completion is the fall of 2025. The station will feature two platforms, at 536 feet each, and elevators. A pedestrian tunnel will connect one side to the other. The station will be 100% ADA-compliant. A 320-space parking garage will be built with monies from the PennDOT Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program, the City of Coatesville, the Chester County Community Revitalization Program and the state Department of Community and Economic Development. The $13 million garage is not yet fully funded. Justin Chan, of the Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce, said that the changes will allow for affordable transportation, reduce congestion on the Route 30 Bypass, increase property values and improve the quality of life.
Source: Daily Local; 10/23/2021
Applicants deemed ineligible by FEMA for Ida aid can appeal at Downingtown site
People who applied for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) assistance related to Hurricane Ida but were not approved have 60 days from the date of the determination letter to file an appeal. According to Chester County’s director of emergency services, Michael Murphy, the problem may be a simple missing document, such as an insurance determination letter, estimates or receipts. Murphy advises people to read the determination letter carefully to find the reason?for FEMA’s decision and recommended actions. To file an appeal, call FEMA at 800-621-3362 or visit the Disaster Recovery Center, located at the Ashbridge Square Shopping Center, 545 E. Lancaster Ave., Downingtown, weekdays from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. or on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information on the appeal process, visit?Chester County’s Disaster Recovery Center website
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 10/24/2021
Trails added to Eagleview in Exton
Eagleview, a mixed-use community in Exton spanning 800 acres, includes an extensive, 10-mile network of trails for its 4,000 residents and 6,000 employees. Hankin Group recently announced its plans to expand the community with a new path. Eagleview’s trails connect to Hickory Park athletic fields, Marsh Creek State Park, and Uwchlan and Struble trails. Eagleview’s first phase of trail expansion is set to be completed by the end of the year and will be open to the public soon thereafter.?
Source: Daily Local; 10/26/2021
Southern Chesco community seeks to save Jennersville Hospital?
Tower Health announced in late September an unexpected decision to close Jennersville Hospital, and residents and leaders have taken swift action in hopes of saving the sole hospital in southern Chester County. “The Jennersville Emergency Room sees over 1,000 patients every month,” said state Rep. John Lawrence (R-13). Lawrence said he is working with local and state elected officials, as well as the Pennsylvania Department of Health, to evaluate options to keep the hospital open. Besides operating a 24/7 emergency department, many private physicians run practices from rented space at the facility. One solution to keep the facility running for locals would be for another entity to purchase Jennersville Hospital from Tower Health, but no potential buyer has been announced. The lack of an emergency room will directly impact senior citizens, individuals and families in the surrounding 16 townships and boroughs.
Source: Daily Local; 10/25/2021
Two Chester County farms preserved by state
Nearly 100 acres of Chester County farmland will be preserved thanks to state and county investments for agricultural land preservation. The Cole farm, a 42-acre crop and livestock operation in Cochranville, and the Lehrer farm, a 56-acre crop operation in Warwick Township, were awarded roughly $18,800 in state funds and $497,700 in county farmland preservation investments. “Preserving local farms helps conserve open space, protect our environmental resources, and ensure access to healthy, nutritious, locally grown food,” said state Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-19), who serves on the Senate Agriculture and Rural Affairs Committee. The preserved farmland comes as part of roughly 2,000 acres on 21 farms in 13 counties protected from future development through the Commonwealth’s Farmland Preservation Program.?
Source: Daily Local; 10/22/2021
County names new director of archives and record services?
Cliff Parker has been named the new director of Chester County Archives and Record Services (CCARS). Parker served as archivist and deputy director of CCARS for 18 years under the direction of Laurie Rofini, who retired in September. “Cliff’s creativity and enthusiasm, and his obvious love of history have greatly benefited Chester County,” the county commissioners wrote in a statement. “He uses the latest technologies to educate and highlight the importance of our records and the immense history of our county. Over the course of his career with CCARS, Parker established a record inventory system, created an unprecedented level of access to historic Chester County records, developed interactive touch screens for Chester County History Center’s Civil War exhibit, and created an online portal, “Slavery in Chester County.” Parker created the?1777 Chester County Property Atlas, which allows property owners in the southeast area of the county to delve into the history of their land and see how it ties into the Battle of the Brandywine.
Source: Daily Local; 10/25/2021
Delaware
County to review tax-exempt status of Ridley Marina, Springfield Country Club, others
In response to citizens complaints, Delaware County Council announced that the county is challenging the tax-exempt status of the for-profit Ridley Marina, Springfield Country Club, and the Solid Waste Authority in Marple Township. Local school districts would have received hundreds of thousands of dollars, if not more, if these for-profit businesses had been properly assessed. The council directed the assessor’s office to conduct a review of all exempt properties over the next two years. "One of the reasons the courts ordered the county to reassess every property is because it was clear that over the two decades since the previous assessment, some properties were being incorrectly assessed, leaving others to pick up more than their fair share of the taxes that were due," said Delaware County Councilwoman Christine Reuther. "Examples like these — where for-profit companies are being awarded exemptions they don't qualify for — only increases the burden on middle-class homeowners at the same time it deprives school districts of needed funds for education." Under the Pennsylvania Constitution, properties can be exempt for a number of reasons. The most well-known reason for exemption is that the property is owned by a “purely public charity” and used for charitable purposes. In addition, the state constitution includes a property tax exemption for publicly owned land, but only for "that portion of public property which is actually and regularly used for public purposes.” That means property owned by a municipality, school district or other public entity is not exempt from tax if it is used for the operation of a for-profit business.
Source: Delaware County; 10/26/2021
Plans moving forward for ‘destination’ playground at Rose Tree Park
Delaware County officials are rolling out plans to add a new playground and improve the mall area at Rose Tree Park. The $2 million project follows the 2015 Rose Tree Park master plan that laid out improvements to the 118-acre park. The county website has?more information, including?a video?and renderings of the planned playground from builder Kompan Inc. A $200,000 grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) is helping to fund the design and development of the “destination playground.” The plan is to improve two other parks also — Little Flower Manor in Darby, and Upland Park — and officials are looking at economies of scale to do the work together. Currently the county has $700,000 for the Rose Tree project from the DCNR, and council will consider taking up the remainder of the $2 million budget as a capital project in its November meetings. Residents can email comments or ideas to?[email protected].?
Source: Daily Times; 10/26/2021
Delaware County launches Wellness Line
Delaware County has launched the Wellness Line to assist residents with COVID-19 related questions and concerns, as well as other public health-related topics. The Delaware County Wellness Team staffing the line can:
The Delaware County Wellness Line is open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. In addition to responding to phone calls at 484-276-2100, the Wellness Line also responds to inquiries via email at?[email protected].??
Source: Delaware County; 10/22/2021
Federal disaster funds available for Delco after Hurricane Ida
Federal disaster funds are now available for those impacted by Hurricane Ida in Delaware County. Gov. Tom Wolf announced the federal government has granted his request for public assistance to reimburse state agencies, county and municipal governments, and other eligible private nonprofits for costs associated with heavy rainfall and severe flooding. Full details on how to acquire assistance funds are posted?on the state’s emergency management website. Public assistance was previously awarded to Bedford, Bucks, Chester, Fulton, Huntingdon, Luzerne, Montgomery, Philadelphia, Schuylkill and York counties.?
Source: Haverford-Havertown Patch; 10/20/2021
Montgomery
Pottstown Hospital stays off tax rolls
Montgomery County Judge Jeffrey S. Saltz rejected a claim by Pottstown School District that said Reading-based Tower Health should be paying property taxes on its Pottstown Hospital property. The school district claimed that Tower Health is more aligned with a for-profit business model than a nonprofit. The previous owner of Pottstown Hospital was for-profit Community Health Systems. The removal of the hospital from the tax rolls has cost Pottstown School District roughly $924,000 a year in property tax revenue and also costs Pottstown Borough more than $200,000 in property tax revenue. Judge Saltz’s decision in Montgomery County came just days before Chester County Judge Jeffrey Sommer issued a ruling that has the opposite impact in terms of Tower Health’s three hospitals there — Phoenixville Hospital, Brandywine Hospital and Jennersville Hospital. Sommer ruled the company’s hospitals were more aligned with for-profit than nonprofit companies and should be paying property taxes.?
Source: Pottstown Mercury; 10/24/2021
Restart Montco hosts online forum about housing market impacts of COVID shutdowns
Restart Montco, an initiative developed by the Montgomery County Planning Commission (MCPC), looks at how planning can help communities recover from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic shutdown. It is organized into six general categories: economic and businesses; government regulations and zoning; transportation; housing; public meetings; and open space and recreation. For each topic, MCPC has created a planning paper, which delves into the topic and provides additional resources. Realtors may be interested in reviewing and contributing to the?Housing Market Impacts page and forum.?
Source: Montgomery County Planning Commission
Lower Merion seeks public input for SALDO
Lower Merion Township is preparing to finalize its Subdivision and Land Development Ordinance (SALDO) and is inviting the public to learn more about the plan. Visit the?township website?for details on the upcoming meetings — a Nov. 15 joint workshop with the environmental advisory council, planning commission and shade tree commission, and a Dec. 2 general public meeting. Written comments can be submitted to?[email protected]?by Dec. 10. Once the public-input process is complete, township staff will draft the SALDO and present it to the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners for discussion at a building and planning committee meeting on Jan. 26, 2022.?
Source: Main Line Media News; 10/25/2021
Montco announces eight transportation grants
The Montgomery County commissioners announced that eight projects will receive?Montgomery County Transportation Program?grants for the 2021 selection cycle. The grants are part of the fourth cycle for the program, which was established to fund transportation projects using the county’s $5 vehicle registration revenue fee. Projects were evaluated in terms of the benefit and visibility to the overall public, county and local planning consistency, readiness, and funding support. The projects include:?
The grant awards total $1.07 million across the eight projects. For more information,?see the press release.
Source: Montgomery County; 10/22/2021
Philadelphia
Philly gets another $35 million for rental assistance, but it’s not nearly enough
Philadelphia has received what could be the final tranche of federal funding for its Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), potentially leaving thousands of renters and landlords out of luck. Since launching in May, the program has distributed just shy of $200 million to 33,456 households hit hard by the pandemic, according to a city dashboard. To date, the city has received 66,597 applications, with more rolling in each day. “It’s a difficult situation when you have a program that provides assistance and support for folks, but you don’t have enough resources to provide the help ... that’s needed,” said David Thomas, president of the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC), the nonprofit managing the program. PHDC recently received approximately $35 million directly from the U.S. Department of Treasury, Thomas said. Based on the average amount of money disbursed through the program each week, that’s enough cash to keep things going until mid-November. The additional funding could help roughly 4,600 more households. More funding may be on the way, according to Thomas, but it’s unclear when it might arrive or how much Philadelphia will receive. The federal government has not announced any additional funding for rental assistance. There’s been talk of redistributing ERAP dollars — which come through the state — from Pennsylvania municipalities that haven’t been able to disburse it to those seeing high demand, like Philadelphia. Those discussions have yet to yield a concrete plan.
Source: Plan Philly; 10/21/2021
Philly Council advances bill to stop demolition of University City Townhomes
A city council bill that would temporarily bar developers from demolishing the University City Townhomes is one step closer to becoming law after being approved by the council’s Rules Committee. The 70-unit apartment complex went up for sale this summer after the property owner decided not to renew its affordable housing contract with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The bill, backed by the Philadelphia City Planning Commission, would also rezone the land so that developers would be required to build some housing on the site, and under its provisions, some of the units would have to be designated as affordable and available at rents below the market rate. “Without immediate intervention, we will lose these very affordable homes forever. And for the second time in 50 years, it will come at the expense of working-class Black Philadelphians,” said the bill’s author, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier.?
Source: Plan Philly; 10/26/2021
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