Public Gets First Look At 55-Plus Developments Proposed For Levittown

The public has had their first look at McGrath Homes’ plans for three closed Bristol Township elementary school sites in Levittown.

McGrath Homes is looking to develop 55-plus communities with townhouses featuring garages, flats, and senior apartments at the 17.5-acre John Fitch Elementary School on Greenbrook Drive, 10-acre Abraham Lincoln Elementary School on Plumtree Drive, and 17-acre George Washington Elementary School on Crabtree Drive.

Developer John McGrath explained that each development would have a quad area and a clubhouse with a pool for use by residents.

The sketch plans for the George Washington site proposes 108 apartments, 44 flats, and 44 townhomes, and the Fitch sites shows 108 apartments, 71 townhomes, and 56 flats. Designers are still working on plans for the Lincoln site, but McGrath said they would be similar to the two other sites, both titled “The Villas.”

McGrath still has to submit the formal plans for the land development process for the township.

The Bristol Township School Board and a county court approved McGrath’s plan to purchase the school sites for $1.2 million in 2019. The developer will be charged with demolishing the aging buildings that have been closed for several years.

The sale is not expected to close until the land development for the sites has been approved by the township, Bristol Township School District Business Manager Josh Sweigard said in 2018.

The project would be one of the largest redevelopments inside William Levitt-built neighborhoods since the community was constructed in the 1950s. The sites were carved out by Levitt so the neighborhoods had school within a short distance.

McGrath said the Levittown area has an aging population but not many choices for senior living. The developer has constructed similar communities in Falls Township, Middletown Township, and Newtown Township.

“We come into the area and try to research the area pretty good,” he said, noting he’s been having man conversations with locals about the plans.

Begley, Carlin and Mandio Attorney John Torrente, who represented McGrath, explained that the plans were designed to enhance the community.

McGrath plans to purchase and upgrade a small Bristol Township-owned playground at the Fitch site along Scholar Lane.

Leading up the revealing of the plans, McGrath said he has been meeting with neighbors around the schools to get their feedback and pitch his proposal.

He stated he has assured residents that his firm controls the job and notifies drivers that they cannot speed or there will be a fine, which seems to stop any traffic problems before they start.

Over the years, McGrath said he has seen 55-plus communities be a benefit for the older residents and also for the community at large, citing several community groups that formed with other developments.

While McGrath plans to develop at three of the six closed school sites, a Texas-based developer has proposed building homes at the 20.9-acre Lafayette school site at Fayette Drive and the district approved selling the Maple Shade school that sits on a V-shaped 5.7-acre lot off Newport Road in Croydon to Premium Excavating Company.

The district paid to take down the Lafayette and Maple Shade school sites in 2019.

The closed Clara Barton Elementary School next to Harry S. Truman High School was turned into the district administration, transportation, and maintenance hub that opened last year.

Report a correction via email | Editorial standards and policies

---

---