A 2-acre portion of the Oxford Valley Mall property is about to receive a major revamp.
During a virtual meeting on Monday, Aug. 24, the Middletown Township board of supervisors unanimously approved preliminary and final development plans for a multi-family apartment complex.
Led by the Villanova-based developer Cornerstone Tracy, the project features two buildings that hold a combined 600-plus rooms, in addition to indoor amenities such as a gym, business center and full-time management and maintenance staff on-site.
Each four-story building will boast modern architecture, according to Cornerstone Tracy co-owner Dave Della Porta, and have ample open space, including pools, green areas and parking.
The complex is slated to be built on the south side of the mall property where the former Boscov’s currently sits, with the two buildings separated by an extension of 4th Street. A mile of sidewalk will be installed around the complex to promote walking and biking, and serve as a safe connection to the mall. A central green space will welcome residents and mall-goers alike.
Phil Wursta, township traffic engineer, said a shuttle will transport passengers between the complex and SEPTA train station on Woodbourne Road. Cornerstone and the township are also collaborating with TMA Bucks to brainstorm a public transportation strategy that benefits the whole mall.
“What they [Cornerstone] have done allows us to coordinate with the future development of the mall,” said Wursta. “It’s really a great first step. We’re very excited for the township and the developer to get moving on this thing.”
When asked by township resident and former supervisor Tom Kearns why the board approved preliminary and final development at the same time before hearing from the public, Della Porta explained why. He said Cornerstone opted to go through the preliminary process during the zoning process. While this was a risk on the developer’s part, forcing Cornerstone to provide more details on the plan earlier than usual, it was able to achieve preliminary and final approval because zoning and planning commission meetings already took place earlier in the year. Feedback from these meetings was taken into consideration, and adjustments were made accordingly, said Della Porta.
Also unanimously approved during the meeting was the purchase of a new asphalt, shingled roof for the house at Spring Valley Farm for $16,585; and 2,500 square feet of Sport Court modular flooring at Middletown Community Park. Board vice chairperson Amy Strouse said the flooring is expected to last 15 years and is less abrasive than asphalt.
The board also approved the replacement of the Forsythia Crossing footbridge, which currently has a gaping hole and is barricaded from public use. The new bridge will be 6-feet wide and include handrails and ramps at each end for ADA accessibility.
Special guests, including Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick and state Reps. Tina Davis and Frank Farry, joined the Zoom call to congratulate longtime township employees Nancy Blank and Ruth Sproehnle on their recent retirement. The two women, both of Levittown, have a combined 70 years of service to the community.
Blank, who celebrated her 51st year with Middletown this year, has worked as a secretary at the police department since April 1969. Sproehnle was the administrative assistant in the Department of Building & Zoning. Both took advantage of the township’s early retirement incentive program, enacted this spring as a way to reduce costs, and celebrated their last day of work on Friday, Aug. 14.
“It’s an amazing feat that you were able to serve our community for that long,” said Fitzpatrick, who resides in the township. “It’s just remarkable.”
Fitzpatrick had two flags flown over the Capitol, and the ladies’ names entered into the Congressional Record. Blank and Sproehnle are invited to see their names in Washington, D.C. when COVID-19 conditions improve.
Chief Joe Bartorilla, who had the pleasure of working with Blank for six years, praised her work ethic and explained the challenge it will be to fill her shoes.
“The institutional knowledge is irreplaceable. You’re talking about 51 years,” he said. “But even more than that, the dedication. It’s impossible to replace that.”
Samantha Bambino can be reached at [email protected]
