Site Improvements Planned for Hatboro Lofts

The installation of decorative crosswalks, permanent parking lot paving and the painting of a rusty water tower could be in the works for the area near the former Robert Mander Stove Works facility. 

Much of the historic Jacksonville Road property is now home to the roughly 160-unit apartment complex. While the residential units have been finished since about 2009, Hatboro Borough Councilman Bill Tompkins said some other items – including site improvements, a reserve parking lot, empty retail space and a completion of a café - are outstanding.

During Monday night’s Hatboro Borough Council meeting, the governing body briefly discussed with Michael Carr, an attorney for Hatboro Lofts, the most recent amended plans. Changes include painting the nearby water tower instead of tearing it down, Carr said.

Multiple phases of the plan were approved five or six years ago, Carr said, but the economic downturn since then has slowed the pace of the project’s completion.

“We’re dealing with a bank that wants out of this project,” Carr told the council. “We’re going to need to refinance it.”

The council is expected to vote on the amended plan during its April 23 meeting.

One of the considerations revolves around whether the existing parking spaces – 1.5 for every unit – is adequate. Originally the thought was the other .5 space per unit would be part of the reserve parking, Tompkins said.

In terms of parking, borough attorney Christen Pionzio said the council does not have the power to waive the addition of reserve parking. That matter, would need to go before the zoning hearing board, she said.

“This reservation of parking is in the zoning code,” Pionzio said. “Our hands are tied.”