Requests For Proposals To Go Out For Closed Bristol Twp. Schools

The Bristol Township School Board should have a better handle on the future of several of its closed elementary schools before the end of this year.

Jeff Darwak, deputy director of the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority (RDA), said requests for proposals for the John Fitch and Abraham Lincoln, Maple Shade, George Washington and Lafayette school sites will be sent out to developers in the coming months.

Once the developers review the information packets from the RDA, they will submit proposals for the sites and the proposals will be reviewed by the RDA and district. 

The RDA will give a presentation, most likely before the year is out, for the board and public before any decisions on properties are made, Darwak said.

Some suggested possibilities are housing, age-restricted communities, recreation centers, child care facilities, assisted living centers, advanced training centers and offices. The ideas for the sites were thought up by district administration and members of the community who have been attending Repurposing Committee meetings.

Draft request for proposal packets list the size of the school sites, provide maps and have background on the property and buildings.

Among the oldest buildings in the district is the Maple Shade school in Croydon. A portion of the building dates back to 1930 and was the oldest operating public school in Bucks County until it closed last month.

In response to questions from community members, Bowen said the township doesn’t have the funds to purchase any of the properties for open and space. He added that county officials have said similar comments.

Bristol Township Council President Craig Bowen said he had been speaking with Township Manager Bill McCauley and thinks at least one of the sites could be utilized for an age-restricted community.

Residents Barbra Bills and Woody Summers also both suggested looking for developers interested in building age-restricted communities for the sites. Bills said the Lafayette site is ideal for age-restricted or assisted living communities due to its proximity to Lower Bucks Hospital.

District officials have stated in the past that they like the idea of age-restrict housing due to the fact the incoming residents would pay school taxes but not add students.  

Officials told representatives from the Bristol Township Girls Softball League, which maintains and uses a complex on the Fitch property, they would see if the area used by the league could be subdivided from the rest of the lot.

John Steffy, district business administrator, said selling all the empty buildings might take years to sell.

The Clara Barton Elementary School site is being considered for the district’s administration, operations and transportation center. The building will not be placed up for sale.

The district’s nine elementary schools are being consolidated to three new, larger schools to save on costs.