Demolition of Hitoric Hood Mansion AKA Bessie Bell Farm today.
Hope you are proud Limerick Township you feckless bunch of ignorant nitwits.
#deathofhistory
#deathofopenspace
demolition of hood
Category Archives: development
hood mansion in limerick demolished today: r.i.p. to history and a historic asset that limerick township didn’t give a damn about.
Those bastards in Limerick. I have no pretty words for Limerick Township, Montgomery County, PA.
I got the call this morning and half an hour ago this was posted on Facebook:
190 years of history
7 years of battles
4 hours to be erased
Today, the Hood Mansion was torn down. We were able to rescue the date stone and a few interior pieces – the rest will end up in a landfill.
We were given less than 24 hours notice of the permit being filed – this comes after the property was recently sold yet again to another shell corporation based out of the Bronx.
It will be replaced with a data center warehouse – yet to be officially approved. More on that later.
All of us here at EPPS have worked tirelessly since 2017 to save this incredible piece of American history on a shoestring budget. This is a tragic failure in our country to continue to allow pieces of our shared past to be erased for corporate interests that contribute nothing to our sense of place and community. Preservationists aren’t magicians, and it takes many parties working together to try and save what we can. Unfortunately it’s difficult if not impossible to fight the corporate machine.
We can rest easy knowing we gave it our best shot up until the very end, but as a great friend and mentor of mine once said about the field of preservation:
“You’ll lose more than you save”
Thank you to everyone who has supported us in this fight for many years, and a heartfelt apology to the Hood Family, whose contributions to our society clearly didn’t matter enough to the powers that be.
Please stay tuned to our pages for an additional press release.
Thank you,
Tyler Schumacher
President & Founder
Eastern Pennsylvania Preservation Society
This is the greed that drives it:
So hopefully now the data center and environmental activists wake the hell up about what is happening in Limerick. Thus far they have been strangely silent given the environmental impacts.
Congratulations Limerick Township you feckless bunch of nitwits. You have just taken a step closer to making your area like Louden County, Virginia and all it entails. Hope the realtors who brokered these deals choke on the commissions.
I am really sorry Hood Mansion. We all tried. Please tell your spirits to haunt away.
I am out of words.
People suck.
#THISPLACEUSEDTOMATTER
#HISTORICDESTRUCTION
#LIMERICKTOWNSHIPSUCKS
Enjoy the photo slideshow courtesy of the Eastern Pennsylvania Preservation Society:
it’s stepford tribble…err pumpkin season
When a friend sent me the above, I spit out my coffee. It’s like a Hard Sided Tribble Decorating Service for Stepford wives. (if you don’t know what a tribble is, look it up.)
I think it’s ridiculous. I did not know porches needed collectives. I did not know pumpkins required concierge service.
Oh and in spite of comments from the owner on social media that they just dreamed this up, it’s not original.
What am I talking about? A pumpkin decorating service called The Porch Collective. They say they are wait for it…a pumpkin concierge service.
But see next videos and article…not original.
Of course if you aren’t interested in “The Porch Collective” you can always go “Dwell“
I don’t know this must be like one of the few times a year that Stepford Village development dwellers allow color into their beige, beige world? But it’s carefully orchestrated color using a color wheel leftover from that pyramid scheme perhaps?
Oh am I being sarcastic? Why yes and that is very astute of all of you. I am not going to tell people how to spend their money, but part of decorating your home for the holidays is heart and caring. It does not take a Halloween witch to place pumpkins artfully, after all Martha Stewart has been doing it for years and tells you like clockwork every year in her magazine. Same with Country Living Magazine. Also, on Pinterest without a subscription. Or hey GOOGLE.
And don’t tell me you are too busy. No one is that busy that they can’t place a few pumpkins. And hey sure, not everyone wants to carve pumpkins, I personally don’t because I like to look at the pumpkins. And when our son was little, pumpkin hunting, hay rides, corn mazes, and a massive carving and decorating afternoon with friends was a tradition.
Seriously, have we so devolved into the land of samey same in a beige beige development world that we can no longer find joy in picking out pumpkins ourselves and placing them?
And if you do not have time to pick out pumpkins, psssst there is this great company called BloomBox and they have great prices and they deliver….
But seriously back to the Porch Collective. Not original. Here- just peruse the Internet:
Oh but dear rubes of a certain collective, they are doing you a favor and they dreamed it all up themselves over iced pumpkin lattes and a pumpkin flaxseed muffin in their cookie cutter kitchen in their cookie cutter house. Note the screenshots below, especially the comment left on their socials.
People this is as original as a grocery store apple pie. My eyes are dong the full roll. And I like pumpkins, but umm people after they dump all of these pumpkins on your McMansion porch who will be disposing of them for you? If you buy 30-60+ pumpkins where will you put them? I bet your HOA dragons might have something to say about that. They should have paid closer attention to some of the samey same businesses I found all over the country which include clean up in the prices.
But hey, what do I know? I can tell you I can place my own pumpkins and I don’t want to look like a giant vomited pumpkins all over the front of my house. I also do not want to see my design scheme replicated all over the place.
I just can’t get over the Stepford Wife of it all with this. If you use them, remember delivery and set up are extra.
Go ahead, call me a witch. It’s near Halloween, after all. But damn people, have we so fallen from reality that we can’t place our own freaking pumpkins?
Sign me cackling all the way….
it’s a simple thing, really in east whiteland. vote no on the open space referendum and it is a yes for instant development just add land parcel.
When I first moved to Chester County, one of my early favorite roads was Morstein Road from West King Road until Waterford Road. To me it was just so pretty. Houses on generous lots, and a big farm with horses swishing their tails. The Schiffer farm. But anything pretty and bucolic here seems to attract predatory developers.
If you live in the vicinity of the Schiffer farm, you have held your breath for years as various nearby parcels fell to developers. Like what was 1536 Morstein. A pretty little farmette. Just a few acres. Now McMansions on Red Barn Lane. First it was sold. Then the trees came down and the lot was wiped clean. Parcels over on Hershey’s Mill Road nearby as well.
The houses are predictable and these people have like NO trees. No real gardens. How do you live like that?
However, the problem is, places like the Schiffer farm is simply a lot of salivating acreage. To a developer that is dollar sign after dollar sign. That is a cram as much in as possible take the money and run and we as residents of anywhere are left holding the bag. Higher school taxes, higher everything (infrastructure including the human variety of township/EMT/police costs.)
When we all heard that Nancy Schiffer was donating her farm on Morstein as in the entirety of it to the West Chester University Foundation, we were filled with dread. Common sense dictates they wouldn’t keep the land, but would sell it. And sure enough as this land transfer started to happen and developer began sniffing around on about 20 random acres that we mostly in West Whiteland and partially in East Goshen. I wrote about that a few times.
Then we heard something almost miraculous: East Whiteland Township was interested in a nice chunk of acres acres of Schiffer Farm for OPEN SPACE. That would mean a beloved Viet Nam vet and his wife would not have their beautiful 18th century farmette surrounded by development among other things. So some sort of agreement was reached with Nancy Schiffer. Land was donated to West Chester University Foundation with an agreement for East Whiteland to acquire acres.
At first East Whiteland thought their sewer sale proceeds would be the key to purchase. Then the Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate (OCA) filed their litigation against PUC to undo sewer sales to AQUA. East Whiteland Board of Supervisors was disappointed and the board said that the ruling would delay local initiatives and increase sewer rates. One of the local initiatives was this land purchase, sadly. This case is at present tied up in the PA Supreme Court, as a quasi related aside.
So now East Whiteland had to seek alternatives so as not to give up on the idea of some very unique and truly beautiful open space being lost to more plastic mushroom development. In May, Chester County Commissioners awarded East Whiteland a grant of $870,000 towards this goal (see Chester County press release dated May 27, 2024. I think there was another grant but I lost the reference.) But because the sewer sale proceeds are in limbo because of the court case, comes the referendum.
Now cue the referendum on the ballot in East Whiteland, November 5th. It’s for like 30.5 some acres (I might be slightly under, not sure.) The grants and other things will go towards the remaining acreage. The end goal is 50+ acres.
This referendum seems to be like some giant surprise to people and the misinformation being spread around is staggering. People can’t have it both ways. The can’t constantly bitch about municipalities not doing anything to preserve open space and up comes a once in our lifetimes opportunity and the great uninformed wish to throw the baby out with the bathwater and they make these sweeping pronouncements without doing one iota of research. It’s maddening.
This referendum has been out for months. See:
https://www.eastwhiteland.org/502/Open-Space-Tax-Referendum
Open Space Tax Referendum
Overview:
In 2018, the Township began work on a Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan to guide efforts for creating an enhanced system of recreation and open space facilities throughout the Township. The Plan, which was adopted in 2022, contains a Chapter specifically dedicated to Open Space Preservation (see Chapter 4 beginning on page 33). In addition to encouraging the pursuit of the remaining open space opportunities, the Plan recommends that the Township consider a dedicated source of funding to acquire and maintain open space through the adoption of an Open Space Tax (OST).
Process:
On May 8, 2024, the Board of Supervisors held a public hearing to consider an ordinance which would authorize an OST Referendum to be placed on the ballot for the upcoming General Election on November 5, 2024. Following the hearing, the Board of Supervisors approved the ordinance, thereby placing the referendum in a position to included on the ballot.
The referendum would allow individual constituents to vote directly on the question of whether to adopt a “blended” tax increase to both the Earned Income Tax (EIT) and the Township’s portion of the Real Estate Tax (RET) – also known as “property tax.” These funds would then be used to finance the acquisition of properties, ensure long-term maintenance, and cover costs associated with an open space program. The referendum will pose the following question:
“Do you favor the imposition of a tax on the earned income of Township Residents at a rate not to exceed five one-hundredths (5/100th) of one percent (.05%) and an increase in the real property tax at a rate not to exceed 0.45 mills ($0.45 per $1,000 assessed valuation) for the purpose of preserving natural resources, maintaining wildlife habitat, protecting environmentally sensitive areas, and providing recreational lands by the Township of East Whiteland to be used to retire indebtedness incurred in purchasing interests in or acquisition of real property for natural resource protection, open space preservation, and public recreation?”
Stated another way, if the referendum passes, the local Earned Income Tax rate would increase from .75% to .80% and the Township Real Estate Tax rate would increase from .445 mills to .895 mills.
Documents regarding OST Referendum Process:
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Approved Open Space Tax Referendum Ordinance
- Public Notice and Proposed Ordinance Documents (Prior to Adoption)
- 2024 General Election – Unofficial List of Candidates / Referenda and Plain Language (from Chester County – see Page 3)
Reports from County and Regional Planning Agencies:
- Return on Environment: The Economic Value of Protected Open Space in Chester County, PA (Chester County Planning Commission, 2019)
- Webpage (see tabs for Property Value Impacts, Environmental Benefits, Recreation and Health, Economic Activity, Community Const Savings, and Case Studies)
- Full Report
- Return on Environment: The Economic Value of Protected Open Space in Southeastern Pennsylvania (Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission, 2011)
If you have any questions about the OST Referendum, please contact Catherine Ricardo, Assistant Township Manager for East Whiteland Township. Catherine can be reached by phone at 610-897-4280 or by email at cricardo@eastwhiteland.org
Again, for the back of the room: The money raised would also go to existing open space and into a fund for other purchases. It would go to maintenance and improvements on parks and open space already owned. It would allow for a municipal bond offering capability and muni bonds sell in part on their “story” which is open space preservation, which would sell well. And East Whiteland is not buying the entire farm, that is fake news, literally. This referendum is far less expensive than some other Chester County municipalities, and the bottom line is it would be far less long term than if a developer builds because that affects taxes vis a vis infrastructure costs, school districts being over burdened etc.
It’s pretty simple: East Whiteland is trying to do something proactive. Everyone complains they don’t do enough. Can’t have it both ways. Go ahead vote no. It means instant development which costs us more in the end on so many levels. It’s a .445 to a .895 increase. The median appraised value of homes in East Whiteland is still around $200K so that would mean around $90.00 a year. The wording for both the notice and the explanation is based upon some PA law. This would also mean improvements on existing parks and open space and improvement. It would mean a fund that was dedicated to these open space things, a dedicated and distinct fund to allow East Whiteland to compete sometimes in the race for preservation against developers.
If people vote NO it means instant development, more infrastructure stresses, and in the end higher school taxes to keep up with development. You can be pennywise or pound foolish, not both. This is de minimis.
Allow me to share the words verbatim from a gentleman named Tim Phelps who resides in East Whiteland:
Supporting East Whiteland’s Open Space Tax Referendum: A Smart Growth Strategy for a Sustainable Future
On November 5, 2024, East Whiteland Township residents will have the opportunity to decide on the future of their community by voting on the Open Space Tax (OST) referendum. This critical measure will provide much-needed funds to preserve the township’s last remaining parcels of open land for future parks, conservation efforts, and community recreation spaces. By adopting the OST, East Whiteland will secure its place as a leader in sustainable growth while protecting the natural environment that contributes to the quality of life for all its residents.
Why the Open Space Tax Matters
East Whiteland has grown into a regional corporate hub, attracting businesses and residents alike with its balanced approach to development and green space preservation. However, with neighboring municipalities starting to adopt their own Earned Income Tax (EIT) structures, East Whiteland could see an impact on its EIT income, which funds much of the township’s operations. A dedicated OST fund would not only help offset these financial pressures but also enable the township to continue investing in green spaces and natural resource preservation, ensuring the long-term health and attractiveness of the area.
The OST referendum proposes a slight increase in both the EIT and the township’s Real Estate Tax (RET). This blended tax will create a sustainable revenue stream, enabling East Whiteland to acquire additional open space properties and ensure they are maintained for future generations. These funds will be dedicated to purchasing land for natural resource protection, wildlife habitat preservation, and public recreation areas—key elements in the township’s Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan adopted in 2022.
Learning from Chester County’s Open Space Success Stories
East Whiteland is not alone in recognizing the value of open space preservation. Several other communities in Chester County have successfully implemented similar OST programs, creating lasting benefits for their residents. For example, West Goshen Township used its open space fund to expand local parks and enhance conservation efforts, while East Bradford Township acquired critical lands for public use and natural habitat preservation. These townships have found that maintaining a balance between development and nature is essential to their long-term sustainability.
Chester County, according to data from the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), is part of a region where open space investments yield significant economic, environmental, and social benefits. The DVRPC’s studies on open space value demonstrate that these preserved lands generate substantial returns through ecosystem services such as improved air and water quality, reduced stormwater management costs, and increased property values.
DVRPC data also highlights the importance of recreational spaces, which boost community health by providing residents with opportunities for physical activity and relaxation in natural surroundings.Community Health and Social Benefits
Beyond the environmental and economic benefits, the social and health advantages of preserving open spaces are undeniable. Access to parks and natural areas has been shown to improve mental health, reduce stress, and foster social cohesion. East Whiteland residents will benefit from additional green spaces that promote an active lifestyle, encourage outdoor recreation, and serve as gathering points for community events. Families will have more options for leisure activities, and future generations will inherit a township that values sustainability and environmental stewardship.A Vote for Smart Growth and a Sustainable Future
Supporting the OST referendum aligns with the principles of Smart Growth, which emphasize sustainable development while preserving natural resources. As development pressures increase, the township must act now to preserve its remaining open spaces. The OST provides a financial
mechanism to do just that, ensuring that future generations can enjoy the benefits of well- maintained parks, protected wildlife habitats, and cleaner air and water.
In closing, East Whiteland residents should consider to vote in favor of the Open Space Tax referendum on November 5. This referendum is for the future—one that balances growth with environmental preservation, protects the township’s financial health, and creates a legacy of sustainability. By supporting this measure, East Whiteland has the opportunity to remain a thriving, vibrant community for generations to come. Let’s come together to protect what makes our township a special place to live, work, and play.For more information about Open Space planning in the Delaware Valley, please visit DVRPC’s website at www.dvrpc.org/openspace/.
Tim Phelps
Resident
You know what I see at Schiffer in part? I see a spot for community gardens, something people have asked about for years. Allotments and community gardens do build community. It’s a wonderful thing. This investment on the part of East Whiteland residents will reap dividends long after any of us walk the earth. THAT is a legacy worthy of this referendum.
Please don’t spread false information. If you have questions, the township and supervisors are HAPPY to talk to you. There are THREE supervisors to speak with, and they are all quite approachable. Here is where you go to find emails etc. if you don’t know them:
https://www.eastwhiteland.org/214/Board-of-Supervisors
Look it’s a simple equation: a NO vote = instant development. This is a chance to do something worthy in the East Whiteland community. This is East Whiteland LISTENING to residents about preserving open space. VOTE YES!
My last word is if people do not see the forest for the trees here, there are in fact developers waiting to swoop in. These developers (multiple) would be happy to back end run to the West Chester University Foundation and run over East Whiteland. This land is as delectable as a big box of expensive chocolates. Also my opinion has not been particularly delightful when it comes to the West Chester University Foundation because well can you say there is NO emotional attachment to the land, they are just in it for the money honey?
This is actually something where you know for a fact where the money is going. It doesn’t matter if you are a Republican, Democrat, or a member of the Purple People Eater Party, this is something that benefits everyone.
PLEASE EAST WHITELAND RESIDENTS, VOTE YES ON THE REFERENDUM ON THE BALLOT NOVEMBER 5, 2024
Let’s git’ r’ done. Land is not free, and this won’t be available forever.
#VOTEYESONOPENSPACE
why neighbors don’t like short term rentals….
So I was sent these photos. Obviously I didn’t take them I don’t live down there, and this is Chadds Ford. This is the Air BnB that is the subject of consternation with neighbors located at 1465 Smithbridge Road. And the date showing that the photo I guess was taken is 2024, so is this house still active as an Air BnB? I mean what happens? Does the township building close up shop on the weekend and then people rent this house? And yes, I can ask that question. After all April 19, 2024 was a Friday and that looks like evening, right?
Here’s another photo:
Again, this phone had a date of April 19, 2024. In this photo, you can see lights on in one of the buildings which meant it was towards dusk, correct? I just am interested to know if this is after the cease-and-desist letter of like a year earlier, how was it still looking like a short term rental?
And then this is the same property that’s supposedly scheduled at the end of this current month (if the Zoning hearing occurs) that now wants to be a Bed and Breakfast Inn?
Now for the record, I don’t object to bed and breakfasts. I think they are a good adaptive reuse for often otherwise quasi-obsolete historic homes. I also like bed-and-breakfasts, because I think they have more character and charm than hotels a lot of the time. But if this property has a conservation easement with the Brandywine Conservancy how would this work? Can you just stop having a conservation easement or is that forever?
I actually think if this property had just been a long-term rental with like a normal family in it, or had been introduced from jump as a bed-and-breakfast with on-site ownership running it, you wouldn’t be here with this house on this property, but that’s not how it has played out is it? But again, where is the Brandywine Conservancy on this? Can properties like this with easements that have language about no commercial things going on ever have a use like this?
Look at all the photos of all those cars. How would you feel if you were a neighbor? Would you trust these property owners going forward? Did these property owners ever try to really interact with the full-time neighbors and work things out with them? And by really interact I mean, did the actual property owners sit down with neighbors ever do that or just their representatives? That makes a difference.
In Radnor Township, in Wayne, there used to be the Wayne Bed and Breakfast Inn. It was gorgeous. It has since been torn down for hideous development, which is criminal. But the original owners of the Inn, not the people who subsequently sold to a developer, went out of their way to be good neighbors. And I remember when they were initially trying to get approval for what they wanted to do and it was a tough row to hoe. I know because I followed the meetings.
Above are just a couple of the articles that were written about the now, but a memory Wayne Bed and Breakfast Inn. They have a date of 2021 on them but it’s not actually 2021 that’s just when the website was updated and they reloaded those articles. The Inn actually opened around 2012.
And I know someone else who owns a bed-and-breakfast inn. There is no delegating to random people, they live on site. They take their stewardship of their historic property quite seriously. and it’s beautiful. But part of being an innkeeper I think is how you get on with your neighbors and if you started as an Air BnB that had lots of party weekends can’t you just understand why neighbors are not trusting? And I still can’t seem to find the answer that Chadds Ford Township knew this was an Air BnB before neighbors told them it was an Air BnB can you? I can’t find it in the Inquirer article, I couldn’t find it in like meeting minutes for Chadds Ford, so did they know or they didn’t know until neighbors said something?
https://www.inquirer.com/real-estate/short-term-rental-zoning-fine-airbnb-20240409.html
Anyway, it’s obvious that communities including Chadds Ford need to look at their zoning and have conversations about short term rentals and whether or not they want bed-and-breakfasts in certain areas but not in others, or what the criteria is etc. it’s also apparent that it would be helpful if the Municipalities Planning Code was also updated for more fleshing out of these uses state-wide.
I will close with screenshots from when this Chadds Ford place was on Air BnB. The dates on the screenshots indicate 2023. Below that, my noodling around about Air BnBs in general based on what’s listed.
Here’s hoping a resolution to this thorny issue can be achieved. Just like the property owners have rights so do the neighbors. And Chadds Ford needs to hear all, equally. And I really hope the Brandywine Conservancy can clear up how they feel about this situation, don’t you? The Brandywine Conservancy does amazing things, but they can’t continue to play possum with this issue in my humble opinion.
Happy Sunday.
they are not trying to destroy history by demolishing flood houses in downingtown. sadly, it’s necessary.
I received a comment the other day:
Please check out todays daily local, thursday, Oct 4th. Please look under public notices for the Downingtown Borough. FEMAand PEMA are asking for bids, to KNOCK DOWN 8 properties on Brandywine Ave. The very old duplex houses. 8!!!!! Please let your readers know about this.. I believe many are rented? Owned? Very sad… Destroying history again.
Look, I hate seeing houses get torn down, but this isn’t to destroy history. This is to basically try to make sure that Downingtown doesn’t flood again like it did during Ida.
FEMA and PEMA doing that means they just flood too badly that’s not destroying history that’s trying to save people a lot of aggravation in the future. It’s unknown, whether this will work or not.
I will post the notice from the Daily Local which you can also find online a PA public notices :
NOTICE CONTENT
NOTICE TO BIDDERS DOWNINGTOWN BOROUGH PROPERTY ACQUISITION, DEMOLITION & RESTORATION PROJECT Bids for the demolition and restoration of eight (8) properties (listed below) located within the 100-year floodplain of the East Branch of Brandywine Creek and its tributary Parke Run will be received by Downingtown Borough. The project involves providing all labor, supervision, equipment and materials to complete the demolition of the existing improvements such as slabs, foundation and retaining walls, pads, walkways, ornamental vegetation, as well as the work associated with site restoration and stabilization activities, including temporary erosion and sedimentation controls and restoring the public right-of-way areas (public curbs/sidewalks, roadways, etc.). Moreover, the Work also includes streambank stabilization and revegetation, wing-wall installation and bridge scour protection, furnishing, placement and compaction of clean fill material to bring the sites to grade, furnishing and placement of topsoil, and final grading and seeding and mulching all disturbed areas. The project will also include the removal and proper disposal of demolition debris and rubble and providing all labor, equipment and materials to complete asbestos abatement/removal within the structures as well as removal and proper disposal of all waste as specified prior to the demolition of the structures. The successful bidder will be responsible to confirm that the utility services to the properties have been disconnected and terminated with the various service providers. Note: The streambank stabilization and revegetation and wing-wall installation and bridge scour protection is only required at the 128 Brandywine Avenue property. This work also requires stream diversion and protection procedures. Property List •112 Brandywine Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335 •114 Brandywine Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335 •121 Brandywine Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335 •123 Brandywine Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335 •125 Brandywine Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335 •126 Brandywine Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335 •127 Brandywine Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335 •128 Brandywine Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335 Bidders are required to comply with the Pennsylvania Prevailing Wage Act of 1961, P.L. 987, No. 442, where the project cost is twenty-five thousand dollars or above. Funding for this project is provided by FEMA/PEMA to acquire and demolish the properties that have been impacted by flooding from hurricane Ida. The bid documents and attachments can be viewed through PennBid (www.PennBid.net) or at the office of Downingtown Borough located at 4 W. Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown, PA 19335 beginning on October 4, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. local prevailing time. Sealed bids must be submitted online through the PennBid electronic procurement program prior to November 5, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., at which time they will be opened publicly and read aloud at the office of the Downingtown Borough. An optional prebid meeting and site walk-through will be held at the Borough address above for all prospective bidders at 10:00 AM local prevailing time on October 15, 2024. Bids and bid security shall be furnished in accordance with the instructions to bidders. Bidders shall submit proof of qualifications to perform the work as described in the instructions to bidders. Downingtown Borough reserves the right to waive technicalities and to reject any or all bids or items herein in the best interest of the Municipality. Technical questions concerning this work and directions to Downingtown Borough and properties should be directed to Mr. Matthew Bush of JMR Engineering, LLC at (484) 880-7342. DLN 10/4, 10/10; 1a
All of these houses have been acquired by the Borough of Downingtown for demolition because of the flooding.
Yes this is unpleasant, but so is the flooding and it’s not the first time it flooded badly there. All you have to do is go to the Downingtown Historical Society website. 
https://www.downingtownhistory.org/flood-of-1942
No one wants to lose homes in a community. No one wants to lose historic homes that means something to people in a community, but sometimes the truth of why something is happening is not so simplistic as “it’s wrong.”
DOWNINGTOWN — The damage wrought by a summer disaster continues to break hearts in the borough.
Efforts for the recovery from the damaging floodwaters of Ida, a tropical storm which struck the Northeast on September 1, inspired citizens to share their stories — from fears and woes to concerns and hopes for the immediate present and near future — at the Downingtown Borough Council on Wednesday night which lasted nearly three hours….Residents who spoke of personal and local devastation suffered from the floodwaters of Ida included Randall Scott, John McMichael, Megan Stellfox, Dawn McMichael, Sara Brown, Lorraine Geiling, Patrick Moffitt, Patricia Moffitt, Gina Curry and Joann Widener, among others.
The United States Department of Homeland Security Federal Emergency Management Agency sent representation to the Downingtown Council meeting to share information.
“It breaks my heart,” said Dague upon listening to the residents who spoke up on Wednesday, many sharing they needed help still in wake of the storm. “A lot of people were upset that FEMA was turning them down.”
The mayor added that there was a FEMA representative at the meeting who hopefully shared resources with the residents who attended. FEMA has been in Downingtown every day for the past three weeks or so.
Now, a month and one week since Ida struck Downingtown, a storm that also resulted in the death of one borough resident, many people remain unable to return to their homes, even as winter months swiftly approach…”It’s weeks later. It’s better. We’re living our lives because we don’t have a choice,” said Downingtown resident Gina Curry while addressing elected officials at the Borough Council meeting on October 7.
A resident who suffered considerable flood damage to her home and property, Curry said she begged for help, and received the support that she had desperately sought when she reached out to the borough and asked.
“But a lot of people can’t. They won’t,” Curry said of fellow residents suffering in silence still from damages to their homes caused by Ida.
Floods are common occurrences in Downingtown when there is rainfall.
Curry said, “I am terrified every time it rains.” …..Downingtonian John McMichael said there are so many dams in the community, which creates an excess amount of waterflow to the borough.
“Eighty percent of Chester County floods out because of over-development,” McMichael said.
Many people who spoke during public comment Wednesday night concurred that some people in town remained without electricity while others had suffered in want of food because of ongoing power outages first sparked during the storm.
Dague estimated that at least 30 homes still remain completely unoccupied.
That man quoted above said 80% of Chester County floods because of over development. I don’t know if his percentage is correct but it is a huge contributing factor along with climate change. So if people want to get upset, get upset with your state legislators, who won’t update the Municipalities Planning Code to preserve our communities and stop the rampant march of development in our county and region and statewide.
The people who owned these properties chose to sell to FEMA and PEMA. and I can tell you, I know if neighborhoods in North Wayne, who maybe wished they had had the option after a hurricane years ago to sell out to FEMA or PEMA except they listened to a commissioner who told them it would be fine. And it’s not fine on some of these streets in Radnor Township in North Wayne every time there’s a bad rain storm. And maybe if those homeowners had been bought out back then they would’ve had the ability to be able to afford to stay in their communities. I don’t know that most of them would have that affordability or option today.
We have to hit the brakes on development, especially in light of climate change because we all know that these storms were getting that used to be reserved. The lofty titles like 100 year storm or 200 year storm or 150 year storm or whatever are happening too often.
These old houses in Downingtown are sadly what is known as collateral damage, and so are the renters in them. I don’t know that they’re all rental properties but I suspect a lot of them were.
I apologize to people who might not understand why I’m writing this post and think that I should be fighting to save these houses. I can’t save these houses, it’s literally not my place, and having seen the damage that water can do, you sadly come to the realization we can’t save everything because people can’t keep losing everything they own every time it rains.
Truly, I’m sorry. 
Enjoy what’s left of a beautiful day.
and then you noodle around some more looking at how many air bnb and vrbo short term rentals are available elsewhere
Alice down the Air BnB and VRBO rabbit hole continues. Mostly Chester County and crazy to reasonable prices, so many municipalities. Most, but not all municipalities, have provisions for these “short term rentals.“ However, I still think that in a lot of cases, they don’t know where all of these “short term rentals” are within their municipalities.
Then you have to wonder if municipalities are leaving money on the table? Do they charge these “short term rentals“ annual fees? Are there more frequent inspections? Do they see if these properties are carrying extra insurance that one would think they would need?
It’s not just a cottage industry for people who don’t know what to do with properties, you also have the speculative don’t you? So how does this affect the overall health of the community? I’m not saying they’re bad, but it seems like there is a glut of them doesn’t it?
They are limiting Air BnBs and VRBOs in Europe. They’re doing it to preserve the character and history of places among other things.
I found an interesting BBC article from this past July:
BBC What does a world without Airbnb look like?
And that’s the thing isn’t it? These are another form of flipper these people that do these short term, rental places, and they are competing with families and individuals looking for a place to live that’s somewhat affordable.
I think, given the glut of these short term rentals on the Main Line and Chester County and other places like Chadds Ford or Edgemont, etc. we probably need some rules. Could short term rental properties like this also be yet another reason why the Municipalities Planning Code of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania might want to be updated since it hasn’t really been done since 1969?
Well, this is just some more to think on. At the bottom are the two other posts I have written this week on this topic.
This was a topic of discussion, apparently in Harrisburg this summer :
Testifiers shed light on need for short-term rental regulation in PA
Policy hearing examined impact of short-term rentals on housing availability, tourism
PITTSBURGH, JULY 29 – The number of short-term rental properties are on the rise in Pennsylvania, and testifiers at Monday’s House Majority Policy Committee hearing on the topic detailed the need to introduce regulations to address ongoing concerns.
The hearing, hosted by Rep. Lindsay Powell (D-Allegheny), examined the increase of short-term rental properties and its impact on tourism and housing availability. In 2022, there were 107 active short-term rental properties in Lawrenceville, but that number has since doubled and continues to increase. This increase in rental property ownership comes amid a housing crisis facing residents across the state.
“We have a growing need to make sure we have affordable, accessible, and dignified housing. We also have a need to expand our tourism efforts in Western Pennsylvania,” said Powell. “We need to explore ways we can expand tourism while creating more opportunities for affordable housing in a way that they are not diametrically opposed.”
Testifiers noted a disturbing trend of out-of-town entities purchasing homes for the sole purpose of turning them into a short-term rental properties. A recent Corporate Housing Studyshowed an 18% increase in houses sold to corporate entities in Allegheny County.
“There’s strong evidence that short-term rentals exacerbate our affordability crisis by reducing the overall supply of rental housing through conversions into short-term rentals and by boxing out prospective homebuyers,” said Dave Breingan, Executive Director of Lawrenceville United. “This will disproportionately impact low-income and elderly homeowners, families with children and first-time homebuyers.”
Testifiers agreed that local, responsible short-term rental operators can and have helped positively impact the area. However, many out-of-town entities purchase property for short-term rental use, then neglect their responsibilities. This has led to massive late-night parties that come with disruptive noise, public drunkenness, fighting and littering.
With the impacts on housing affordability, public safety and tourism, testifiers detailed the need for more regulations on short-term housing ownership. Recommendations include preserving housing stock for traditional homeownership, introducing efforts to minimize public nuisance complaints and reducing heavy concentrations of short-term rentals in residential areas.
I don’t know why our communities aren’t having more conversations about the short term rentals. Actually, I do know because look what happened in Willistown when they were almost discussed a while back, and it’s like everything goes underground. It’s a very contentious in West Chester borough right now. It was an issue in West Vincent.
This is a curious issue. I think perhaps it would be less curious if communities would discuss this openly. And I don’t think it’s for in a lot of cases a lack of residents trying. I really think it goes back in the end to each municipality, and how they are approaching the topic, if they have approach the topic, and maybe if they need to discuss the topic some more. 
Thanks for stopping by.
just HOW MANY houses on the main line are air bnb???
I went down a rabbit hole this morning and hopefully they’re all legal? I have no idea, do you?
It is municipality to municipality and I just randomly decided I’d go nose dive into the Main Line and I have to ask how many houses on the Main Line are Air BnB now?
From mansions to rooms for rent to small little older houses that don’t interest developers, but might interest a regular family if they could afford to live in the neighborhood, I just have to ask how many houses are Air BnB?
I didn’t go diving into Chester County per se. I really kept it to the Main Line because I was more curious there. And the reason I’m curious is it is so hard for people to find affordable rentals let alone affordable houses to buy and I think this is part of the problem.
Anyway, it make sure understand how people can afford to live on the Main Line now, right? They can just Air BnB it, right? Are these people paying taxes to the municipalities that their short term rentals, whether it be a Air BnB or VRBO are in?  in places where this is allowed in their code, it’s kind of like a missed revenue stream, isn’t it? 
Sign me gobsmacked. I did not know this was such a cottage industry on the Main Line.
Happy Friday!
to air bnb or to bnb in chadds ford…that is the question
Chadds Ford, PA is actually Delaware County, PA but to me has always felt more Chesco than Delco. Chadds Ford has beautiful twisty roads, some gems of homes and estates, and used to be quite understated. I say used to be, because like every other slice of heaven between Devon and Wilmington….there is development.
Anyway in April, 2024 an article in the Philadelphia Inquirer by a reporter whom I respect and follow caught my eye:
Owners of a Chadds Ford home once owned by the du Ponts have been fined $17,000 for renting through Airbnb
Short-term rentals remain a thorny issue for many towns.
by Frank Kummer
Published April 9, 2024, 5:00 a.m. ET
Well…noise travels, doesn’t it?
Then the Philadelphia Inquirer had another article in the form of a newsletter in the same month of April, 2024. By another reporter I follow:
$17,000 in fines for renting estate as Airbnb | Real Estate Newsletter
And ‘million-dollar’ Pa. communities.
Published April 11, 2024, 6:20 a.m. ET
So it looks like Smithbridge Partners (or maybe their lawyers since do we think the owners will go to court?) has put off their court date until after their zoning hearing board hearing event which looks like October 22? Now zoning hearing was put off from September, correct? When I last looked they were supposed to go to court this week on the fine stuff, and now the dockets read November?
And what is it to be at zoning October 22nd? If it reads like September 4th which was postponed it will be “1465 Smithbridge Road – Appeal of Zoning Code Enforcement/Variance to operate B & B”?
So are the owners going to be ON PREMISES to run a B&B AKA Bed and Breakfast Inn? It’s kind of 24/7/365 as I have known people who have operated B&Bs and one who still does? As a matter of fact, one person I know operates a B&B in PA and has a separate Air BnB in another state which is professionally run by a real estate company with strict rules.
So how come that Air BnB became such a mess? Did the property owners think neighbors would just give up their personal reasonable expectations of quiet enjoyment for the profit of others? I mean if there is the money to do things right, why not do just that?
https://delco.today/2024/04/chadds-ford-airbnb-citations
https://www.the-sun.com/news/11049874/fined-17k-after-renting-home-airbnb
So would you want to be known as the people who purchased part of a former Du Pont property and then was all over media for this? Supposedly, these folks own about 400 acres of land in Chadds Ford between Smithbridge and Ridge Roads? Below is what I found on various properties under or affiliated with this entity:
Now with regard to the Air BnB at 1465 Smithbridge Road I have to ask, what is currently going on? Is it now empty or is it still being rented out as an Air BnB? Another wrinkle is a conservation easement on the property perhaps? It is (and already was when they bought it) under conservation easement with Brandywine Conservancy, correct? The easement states, “No industrial or commercial activities shall be conducted or permitted on the Property, with the exception of agricultural and livestock activities.” The conservation easement is copied below.
How is either an Air BnB or a B&B not a commercial activity? What does the esteemed Brandywine Conservancy say about this? And if there is an easement, can you use the easement as in is there a trail? if so, is it maintained and by whom? I ask not because I know anything suspect, I ask because we have all heard of properties out here with conservation easements and I am guessing someone does maintenance so they can be used the way they are supposed to be used, right?
So the Air BnB of it all got a cease and desist letter in 2023:
So what is the end game with the thing going to zoning later this month about being a Bed and Breakfast? Is this just to wiggle a door back to Air BnB? And given the other properties they own are any of them regular rentals? If so why can’t 1465 Smithbridge just be that? Or don’t they have any relatives who could live there and just let it be a normal property in a beautiful area with a conservation easement? And again where is the Brandywine Conservancy on this?
Now I asked around to those who know more than I and they came back with a famous court case that seems similar. There’s is interesting and relevant legal precedent for this case. The “Slice of Life” case was heard by the PA Supreme Court in December of 2018.
In its opinion, the Court concluded that even though the applicable zoning ordinance did not specifically prohibit the short-term rental of residential homes, such use was nonetheless prohibited. The Court stated that prohibited uses of real property do not have to be expressly excluded on a zoning ordinance.
The critical inquiry for the PA Supreme Court was the interpretation of the term “single housekeeping unit.” Past court decisions in PA have consistently applied this functional standard in its analysis to cases with similar facts. For example, courts have allowed the use of a residential home by a homeowner to provide lodging, meals, and care to physically and mentally disabled persons in their home. Conversely, courts have determined, under the same standard, that a residential home is not allowed to be used as a half-way house or a group home for foster children. These decisions turned on the fact that the average stay at a halfway house (2-6 months) and at a group home was too short to be compatible with the single-family concept.
Now the Slice of Life of it all came up again in a New York Times article this past spring about a community in the Poconos. I have been to one of the fancier of the cabins/lake of it all communities up there years ago now. It was beautiful and closely held to keep out short term rental issues. It was so beautiful and natural. It was a delight. And tiny Medford Lakes, NJ has legislated against Air BnB type short term rentals in their community to preserve it’s character.
Here is the New York Times article:
Air BnB rentals have created controversy in all sorts of communities in Southeastern PA, and in Chester County I can think of West Vincent and Willistown and West Chester Borough. I still do not know who is on first where.
Now one of the other properties these Smithbridge People own is of interest to me. And octagonal house.
https://chaddsfordlive.com/2023/02/07/from-a-schoolhouse-to-church-to-a-home
Has anyone been by this lately? What’s the current condition? Now that could make a great long term cottage rental couldn’t it?
I don’t really have much else to say on the topic. I definitely don’t have a horse in the race, except I have to say while I would not mind a traditional actual owner operated Bed and Breakfast Inn in my neighborhood, I can say the big old no to the Air BnB of it all.
This is still a situation to watch. I will be curious what happens to 1465 Smithbridge and the cool little octagonal house.
Thoughts?
back to lloyd farm and caln township. crucial meeting this thursday, september 26th.
One photo is what Lloyd Farm in Caln used to look like – Next to it is today.
Main Line Health is interested in putting medical on PART of the property. I foolishly thought that they would carve off their part and do their thing and leave the Lloyd Farmhouse and land intact but that was just wishful thinking I guess?
More dirty deeds done dirt cheap on the part of the developer who has sat on this property??? And this was part of yet ANOTHER Penn Land grant and they have allowed an 18th century farmhouse to rot and be destroyed by vandals, and then there is the part Caln Township has played in this, right? Legally the house should have been secured, right? The township should have been on top of this right? The township should have been looking for a better solution, right?
Yeah, not so much, right?
The planned MOB (Medical Office Building) will be 4 stories high and residents say changing zoning from R4 that permits medical but also commercial? Residents fear the property owner / developer will come next with apartments or offices and get all of this and the house will be taken down? There’s a story behind all this isn’t there? There is always a story and as always with Caln there is zero transparency and mostly murky, right?
But hey Commissioner Lorraine Tindaro can live in her little house of hoarders and they at Caln look the other way right? Do any of those commissioners out there have clean hands? (HINT: buy them soap for their holiday gifts perhaps?)
Residents are further concerned that more is afoot. They say look at the proposal. They say it is very oddly drawn and interferes with the extension of GO Carlson Blvd to Rock Raymond Road that PennDot is doing for their expansion of 30 bypass? Its suspicious because they couldn’t explain it and why couldn’t it be explained? Does developer landowner have a secret pan?
GO Carlson Blvd is a road that runs parallel to Business 30 East to West. Lloyd will be cut off and the entrance moved to Rock Raymond Road and Rt 322/Manor Avenue and no one can explain that? Why???
The answer is it’s always fishy in Caln, right ?
GO TO THE SUPERVISORS MEETING! CALL YOUR FRIENDS AND REPORTERS.
And to be clear: if medical use was merely being carved out and the balance of the property was being carved out and house saved that would be different, but once again residents are waiting for the hidden shoe to drop in Caln once again. And if this is all true how cruel is it to use much needed medical in this part of the county as a Trojan horse for more development that no one needs on the rest of Lloyd Farm?
Caln Board of Commissioners Meeting is Thursday, September 26th 2024. 6 PM.
The notice on the township website starts with their projected end time of the meeting. I think that is done on purpose to confuse. The meeting starts at 6 PM. Show up a little earlier and get a good seat.
Bring your pitchfork. Actually kidding on the pitchfork, just SHOW UP. You seriously need to rally and pack the meeting.
Caln Municipal Building is 253 Municipal Drive in Thorndale.
If you care, show up. No excuses, no one knows if this will be it or not so no meeting skipping you have to show up if you care. No one likes to make the time for this stuff but if you live out there and you care or your historic preservationist and you care, show up.
https://www.calntownship.org/board-of-commissioners.html