Hatboro Advances Woodwinds Buyouts Application

The Hatboro Borough Council of a dozen units at the oft-flooded Woodwinds condominium development.

The council, during Monday’s meeting, voted in favor of ratifying a revised application to the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency. If approved for its full request, the agencies would provide money to 12 homeowners to purchase and demolish the Drummers Way residences.

Acting Borough Manager Fred Zollers said after the meeting that the state and federal agencies have requested damage estimates from the two most recent floods, as well as records from previous flood damage. Zollers said the homeowners are compiling that information now. The amended application and data is due by Aug. 1, Zollers said.

The agencies have not indicated when a decision would be made, Zollers said.

Drummers Way resident Tracy Thatford – one of the 12 being considered for a buyout – said she’s been flooded three times. For the most recent back-to-back floods stemming from last summer’s and Tropical Storm Lee, Thatford said she sunk $10,000 to $12,000 into repairing her home. The flood before that cost her $15,000.

“I’m happy,” Thatford said after the meeting. “I just wish it was all of Drummers Way.”

Originally, the borough had submitted an application for 24 units – in six buildings – in that portion of the 79-unit complex. However, PEMA said previously that it would only give consideration to half of those.