NEIGHBORS: Former Redevelopment Authority Head Pens Book On Work

Neighbors by Pat Wandling is a regular feature that will profile interesting local residents.

He often says he’s a “farm boy,” but Bob White is better described as an individual whose passion, knowledge, foresight, and personal skills effected positive change in urban Bucks County as the executive director of the Redevelopment Authority of Bucks County (RDA). 

White and the RDA are recognized as effective agents for change, with a decade of improvement projects that had both  environmental and economic impact. Indeed, beautiful Bucks County had its pockets of old, gritty industrial sites between the Delaware River and the highlands of Upper Bucks County.

As industries disappeared and commercial sites dwindled, it is clear the direction and work of the RDA and its leaders did change the landscape. 

White’s explains the personal, original  mission was putting a roof over someone’s head, and that eventually led him to the RDA 26 years ago. Within two years he was at the helm. Under his leadership,  the RDA  developed a successful program and a legacy of  revitalizing abandoned or blighted properties, as well as many underutilized commercial and industrial sites.

Notably, the completed projects involve an important economic component, which ultimately affects the entire community with increased tax revenue and quality of life improvements.   

Semi-retired, White is an affable, hands-on individual —  an ex-Marine —  equally at home behind a desk or in the field. He’s also  a salesman, or little would have been accomplished without that skill, even he admits.  And some would say his signature attire adds a certain something. He stands out in his black shirt, black trousers, black cowboy hat and boots, for sure.

“They used to think I was wearing the same clothes, everyday,” he says with a laugh.  “Well, I just might have a ton of black shirts and pants.”  

Outlined in detail are many large, familiar Lower Bucks County projects that were redeveloped or revitalized under the aegis of the RDA, including:  U.S. Steel Fairless Works, the international port in Falls Township; Rohm and Haas, Maple Beach; Riverfront North and Grundy Powerhouse, Bristol Borough; U.S. Magnet, Cold Spring Creamery in Yardley Borough, and more. As many as 100 properties throughout the county were on the RDA’s project list during White’s tenure.   

He often uses the word, “repurposing,” which later became the title of his semi-autobiographical book: “Repurposing the Past: How a Former Farm Boy and Marine Helped Give Bucks County a 21st-Century Facelift.” It is neither a quick read, nor summertime reading; instead it’s a record of the ambitious projects for which White is unabashedly proud. It’s a textbook, too.   

On the other side, his book includes personal details of hard work on his grandfather’s farm in Upper Makefield Township where he was operating a tractor about the same time others were learning to ride a bike. It is a story of family life, of hardship, marriages, and duty in the Marines. As a young Marine, he held a security post that included a presidential watch – President John F. Kennedy and then President Lyndon Johnson.   

Today, White is marketing his book, believing it will be of special interest to municipal leaders in suburban/ urban areas, educators, students and those on the frontlines of evolving communities with sites in need of “repurposing.”  His book outlines the necessity of navigating government and political waters, and achieving support from all public levels, private investors and, in Bucks County, the RDA’s board of directors.   

White still has his head in the game, working as a consultant for his old agency and others — his way of helping places in need of a new purpose.  

“Repurposing the Past” is available on Bob White’s website: www.repurposingthepast.com, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble. 

Past columns:

• Bristol Beekeeper Gathers Honey From Riverfront
• Bristol Twp. Man Helps Preserve Movie History

Pat Wandling also hosts a popular, call-in, talk show, Speak Your Piece, WBCB-AM 1490, Monday through Friday, 12:10 to 1 pm.  

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