DVHAA Receives 2-Month Extension From Navy

The can breathe a bit easier now that the Navy has agreed to extend a lease deadline.

DVHAA Executive Director John Rehfuss said Wednesday that the volunteer group that operates the on Route 611 received official lease extension paperwork this week from the Navy.

Now, instead of having to vacate the property by Thursday, Rehfuss said the nonprofit organization has until May 31 to either finalize a sublease with the Horsham Land Reuse Authority, or leave the Navy-owned property.

"There are some open switches and questions that need to be answered," Rehfuss said. 

HLRA Executive Director Mike McGee said earlier this week that liability issues still need to be addressed before the Navy can lease the property to the HLRA and the HLRA, in turn, could sublease to DVHAA.

DVHAA officials have said the lease would be temporary as the group intends to spread its wings with a larger facility upon acquiring some of the 892 acres up for grabs once the Navy leaves for good on Sept. 15. DVHAA is one of about a dozen entities that submitted for proposed uses on the land. 

"Our whole intent is just to preserve this history," Rehfuss said.