Home Builders Association of Chester and Delaware Counties

HBA Newswatch

May 15, 2008

DEVELOPMENT MORATORIUM: SO TOWNS CAN CATCH THEIR BREATH!
By Daylin Leach
Anyone living in a suburban community in Pennsylvania in the 21st century knows what the phrase “suburban sprawl” means. As the term has entered our lexicon, its manifestations have become more ubiquitous. We see rampant overdevelopment, increased traffic congestion and a severe strain on all sorts of government services, including public schools, police, fire, sewer and stormwater management.
Over the past few years the legislature has tried to ameliorate the situation in a number of ways with varying degrees of success. However, as a member of the House Local Government Committee I recently voted to send to the floor what I believe will be one of the most effective tools we’ve ever considered. House Bill 904, introduced by Rep. Bob Freeman, will allow local municipalities, under certain conditions, to impose a short-term moratorium on development.
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RIVER STATION REDEVELOPMENT RECEIVES $2 MILLION GRANT
FUNDS FROM DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BE USED FOR DEMOLITION ON FORMER SONOCO SITE IN DOWNINGTOWN
By SARAH E. MORAN, Staff Writer
DOWNINGTOWN — The Percheron Group recently received a $2 million grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development to demolish buildings at its proposed mixed-use River Station development.
Percheron is the developer of the 76-acre, $300 million project, planned for the former Sonoco Products Co. paper plant. Part of the project is in East Caln.
The Malvern-based developer will spend a total of $4 million demolishing selected buildings at the site, said Percheron president Peter Uhlman.
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CITY COUNCIL CONSIDERS TAX ABATEMENT FOR DEVELOPMENT
By R. JONATHAN TULEYA, Staff Writer
COATESVILLE — City Council is considering a request from the developer of Brandywine View for a tax break that would benefit homeowners for a decade after they purchase their homes.
The abatement would help stimulate interest in the development and generate revenue for the city, according to Iacobucci Homes Senior Vice President Ray Iacobucci and Director of Planning and Development Tim Smith.
“This will greatly help us get things off the ground,” Iacobucci told council members at Monday night’s meeting.
Brandywine View has been stalled in the planning and site-preparation stages for two years. The project, proposed to be east of Route 82, calls for the construction of a mix of townhouses and multistory condominiums with price tags starting at $170,000.
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