A nonprofit organization is seeking to build affordable housing near Five Points.
Housing Visions last week briefed Bristol Township Council on their proposal to construct two, three-story apartment buildings on a 2.7-acre property sandwiched between the rear of the Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad, Bucks County Emergency Homeless Shelter, District Judge Robert Wagner’s courthouse, and Bucks County Technical High School.
Advertisements
Chris Trevisani, vice president Of development for New York-based Housing Visions, said one building of “safe affordable housing” would feature one-bedroom units and the other two-bedroom apartments.
The property off New Falls Road is currently owned by the Levittown-Fairless Hills Rescue Squad and zoned for municipal services. If the project moves forward, Housing Visions would have to ask zoners for a change.
Trevisani said he was aiming to gain support for the project. He stated the group has had numerous conversations with stakeholders and the technical high school.
Advertisements
The vice president of the nonprofit explained that the group has zeroed in on the site because it is hard to find flat undeveloped properties in the Levittown area.
Township engineer Kurt Schroeder, who works for Gilmore and Associates, raised concern that the building sketch he reviewed showed just over 100 parking spaces while ordinance would mean at least 174 parking spaces.
Advertisements
Council Vice President Cindy Murphy said she had questions about a residential development in an area already so populated.
Councilman Patrick Antonello raised concerns over congestion and traffic already existing along New Falls Road.
“Right now it’s bad. In terms of negotiating New Falls Road at any time, not just at peak times,” Antonello said. “One of my main concerns in absolutely New Falls Road, especially between Levittown Parkway and Five Points.”
Advertisements
“We wanted to see the board’s reaction,” Trevisani said, adding a thank you for the Council’s input.
Housing Visions is associated with nonprofit Interfaith Housing that creates affordable housing for low-income Bucks Countians through 80 scattered sites spread through Bensalem, Bristol Borough, Bristol Township, and Morrisville.
Advertisements
In 2017, Interfaith Housing had proposed purchasing the closed Maple Shade Elementary School in Bristol Township to create a multi-phase 55-plus housing development for low-income resident with the potential to add housing for veterans and a community center. However, the plans ended up falling through.
An unrelated project was approved by the Council. The Bank of America branch in Queen Anne Plaza along South Oxford Valley Road received preliminary and final land development to improve their ATM structure attached to the building and update their lighting.
Advertisements
