Haverford State Hospital Sale Is Finally Approved
Catherine Sutton-Martin
County Press Online
Three years of bickering and finger-pointing have temporarily drawn to a close, Nov. 14, with the Haverford Board of Commissioners voting 7-1 to approve the newest agreement of sale for 39.9 acres of the former Haverford State Hospital.
Voting against the $17 million sale was Commissioner Fred Moran (R-4), who started the whole process back in 1998 when the Commonwealth closed the facility, and who voted for the original $30-plus million plan.
Absent from the vote was Commissioner Carol McDonald (R-9).
The "Original Agreement Plan," which the commissioners voted, 6-0, Dec. 30, 2003, to approve, would see 298 units built -- 128 age-restricted condominiums, 90 age-restricted carriage houses, 35 one-third acre single-family houses and 45 one-half acre single-family houses -- on 61-plus or minus acres for the price of $30,650,000. It did not include, however, the additional 13.4 acres for the public roads, nor the acreage needed for the stormwater retention/detention basins.
It was the additional 13.4 acres for the public roads at which a number of commissioners and residents balked. It appeared that the township was giving away some $6.7 million dollars. It was estimated that Goldenberg-Pohlig (G-P) was paying the township $502,459 per acre for the 61 acres. When this was realized in August 2004, the Liaison Committee -- Commissioners Steve D'Emilio (R-1) and Andy Lewis (R-5) -- was formed. They negotiated with G-P and eventually brought in special counsel David Brooman to renegotiate a better plan with G-P, the developer who won the right in a bidding war to develop the property.
The "Agreement Plan" would "net" the township about $2 million in real estate taxes and the school district about $3.6 million. However, the plan also estimated about 50 school-aged children would impact the district.
The plan only included 15 acres for active recreation and did not consider $850,000 in sewer improvements or $1.5 million for environmental remediation.
According to Pohlig, it was the township's consultant Jeffrey Rotwitt, who assisted in the negotiations for the 61 acres, leaving out the additional 13.4 for roads.
Under this newly agreed-to plan, G-P would construct 100 age-targeted carriage houses and 198 age-restricted condominiums on 39.9 acres. Both developments would be controlled by a homeowners association. The remainder of the 209-acre site at Darby and Marple roads, would belong to the township for active and passive recreation.
One hundred twenty acres of the property has been "deed restricted" by the state for passive recreation, when the state sold the land to Haverford Township, December 2001. The remainder of the property would be used for active recreation.
Moran said his reason for voting against the plan was the money.
"Thirteen million is too much to leave on the table," he said, even though there was more acreage for active and passive recreation than there was in the agreement he approved three years ago.
"This is a historical night for Haverford," said D'Emilio, who thanked the residents "for caring for their community, coming to the meetings and making their opinions heard.
"This plan better reflects the voices of the people. Our time has come to create a place to be proud of. We did our best to make the best."
"David Brooman took on a Herculean task and performed flawlessly," said Lewis. "And this township is indebted to him for it."
Commissioner Larry Holmes (D-6) agreed, noting the "zeal and effort" of Brooman.
"He performed like someone who had something at stake," Holmes added, noting Brooman grew up in the township and raised his family here.
"I think the key was him being a resident," stated D'Emilio.
"Last September, I met with G-P as a private citizen." said Holmes. "Since January, when I took office I have had the privilege of contributing and working toward this end. I look forward to working in partnership with G-P to get this extraordinary project finished."
"This is a great day for Haverford Township," said Commissioner Rob Trumbull (D-3), "and I'm excited to move forward."
Commissioner Mario Oliva (R-2) said during his campaign last fall the residents he spoke to door-to-door "wanted this project to move in the right direction."
"I am happy with the agreement," Oliva said. "And now we're a lot closer to kids playing ball on those fields."
"It's a big day and I congratulate the commissioners," said Director of Parks and Recreation Tim Denny. "It's been a long road but we got here."
Denny said he was excited about the "potential and unique" recreational facilities that could be developed on "this gem" for the enjoyment of all residents now and to come.
Voting against the $17 million sale was Commissioner Fred Moran (R-4), who started the whole process back in 1998 when the Commonwealth closed the facility, and who voted for the original $30-plus million plan.
Absent from the vote was Commissioner Carol McDonald (R-9).
The "Original Agreement Plan," which the commissioners voted, 6-0, Dec. 30, 2003, to approve, would see 298 units built -- 128 age-restricted condominiums, 90 age-restricted carriage houses, 35 one-third acre single-family houses and 45 one-half acre single-family houses -- on 61-plus or minus acres for the price of $30,650,000. It did not include, however, the additional 13.4 acres for the public roads, nor the acreage needed for the stormwater retention/detention basins.
It was the additional 13.4 acres for the public roads at which a number of commissioners and residents balked. It appeared that the township was giving away some $6.7 million dollars. It was estimated that Goldenberg-Pohlig (G-P) was paying the township $502,459 per acre for the 61 acres. When this was realized in August 2004, the Liaison Committee -- Commissioners Steve D'Emilio (R-1) and Andy Lewis (R-5) -- was formed. They negotiated with G-P and eventually brought in special counsel David Brooman to renegotiate a better plan with G-P, the developer who won the right in a bidding war to develop the property.
The "Agreement Plan" would "net" the township about $2 million in real estate taxes and the school district about $3.6 million. However, the plan also estimated about 50 school-aged children would impact the district.
The plan only included 15 acres for active recreation and did not consider $850,000 in sewer improvements or $1.5 million for environmental remediation.
According to Pohlig, it was the township's consultant Jeffrey Rotwitt, who assisted in the negotiations for the 61 acres, leaving out the additional 13.4 for roads.
Under this newly agreed-to plan, G-P would construct 100 age-targeted carriage houses and 198 age-restricted condominiums on 39.9 acres. Both developments would be controlled by a homeowners association. The remainder of the 209-acre site at Darby and Marple roads, would belong to the township for active and passive recreation.
One hundred twenty acres of the property has been "deed restricted" by the state for passive recreation, when the state sold the land to Haverford Township, December 2001. The remainder of the property would be used for active recreation.
Moran said his reason for voting against the plan was the money.
"Thirteen million is too much to leave on the table," he said, even though there was more acreage for active and passive recreation than there was in the agreement he approved three years ago.
"This is a historical night for Haverford," said D'Emilio, who thanked the residents "for caring for their community, coming to the meetings and making their opinions heard.
"This plan better reflects the voices of the people. Our time has come to create a place to be proud of. We did our best to make the best."
"David Brooman took on a Herculean task and performed flawlessly," said Lewis. "And this township is indebted to him for it."
Commissioner Larry Holmes (D-6) agreed, noting the "zeal and effort" of Brooman.
"He performed like someone who had something at stake," Holmes added, noting Brooman grew up in the township and raised his family here.
"I think the key was him being a resident," stated D'Emilio.
"Last September, I met with G-P as a private citizen." said Holmes. "Since January, when I took office I have had the privilege of contributing and working toward this end. I look forward to working in partnership with G-P to get this extraordinary project finished."
"This is a great day for Haverford Township," said Commissioner Rob Trumbull (D-3), "and I'm excited to move forward."
Commissioner Mario Oliva (R-2) said during his campaign last fall the residents he spoke to door-to-door "wanted this project to move in the right direction."
"I am happy with the agreement," Oliva said. "And now we're a lot closer to kids playing ball on those fields."
"It's a big day and I congratulate the commissioners," said Director of Parks and Recreation Tim Denny. "It's been a long road but we got here."
Denny said he was excited about the "potential and unique" recreational facilities that could be developed on "this gem" for the enjoyment of all residents now and to come.
This article was
written by Catherine Sutton-Martin
and published by County Press Online
on Tuesday, November 21