Monday, May 6, 2013
Up to 24 Hatboro homeowners could have their residences purchased and demolished, provided that the condominium association agrees to conditions.
Two dozen condominium owners at the flood-prone Woodwinds development in Hatboro could have their properties bought out and demolished. But, before the wrecking ball comes, 80 percent of the 79 homeowners must agree to terms laid out by the state and federal emergency management agencies, along with the Hatboro governing body, according to Borough Manager Fred Zollers. Chief among the conditions is for the association to deed over to Hatboro the land where the residences currently stand, along with any surrounding common areas, Zollers said. Barring the borough owning adjacent common property, FEMA and PEMA–the federal and state agencies set to foot 97 percent of the roughly $2 million project–worry that someone at some point could build…
Monday, March 11, 2013
Several Hatboro residents from the frequently flood-ravaged Woodwinds complex asked the Hatboro Borough Council to chip in 3 percent of the 'local' monies needed for a buyout.
Should your Hatboro municipal tax dollars help support federal and state buyouts for a dozen property owners? The Hatboro Borough Council gave a resounding "no" Monday night as elected officials made clear that the borough would not foot the 3 percent "local" match for 12 Woodwinds homeowners seeking a combined Federal Emergency Management Agency/Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency buyout for their frequently flooded homes, which abut the Pennypack Creek in the north end of town. Tracy Thatford, a Woodwinds resident of 15 years, said she understood the funding breakdown to be 75 percent from FEMA, 22 percent from PEMA and the remaining 3 percent from the borough. Council President John Zygmont quickly interjected, "from the very …
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
The owner of 332 S. York Road is advancing two separate plans for the frequently flooded Hatboro commercial property.
Plans to buyout and demolish an often flooded Hatboro commercial property is again back on the table. During Monday night's Hatboro Borough Council meeting, the governing body approved the submission of a government buyout application for 332 S. York Road, the site where Manja Pizza and several auto repair shops are situated. It is also where Quig's Pizza had been located until Hurricane Irene filled it with feet of water, forced its closure and required that the building be gutted. For more news and updates about Hatboro and Horsham, subscribe to our free newsletter,"like" us on Facebook or follow @Hatboropatch on Twitter. Last spring, George Kiriakidi, an owner of Horizon Property Management LLC, which owns the handful of …
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Hatboro officials said the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency is carrying out a final review for possible buyouts of a dozen Woodwinds condominiums.
Hatboro's application for possible government buyouts of a dozen residences at the oft-flooded Woodwinds development is moving ahead, an official said. Acting Borough Manager Fred Zollers said he was in contact with a representative from the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency earlier this month who notified him that the borough's application was advancing to the agency's "final review committee." "We should get some word abck from them," Zollers said of the buyout application, which was submitted in July. "Our application was found to be substantial enough to pass on to this review committee." If the application is approved in full, the agencies would provide money to 12 homeowners to purchase and demolish the Drummers Way …
Wednesday, October 31, 2012
Hatboro and Horsham recommend that property owners with property damage from Hurricane Sandy notify the municipality.
So, you've called the insurance company about the tree that fell on your home, but have you notified your municipality? Hatboro and Horsham officials said it's paramount for residents to share their structural damage. That information will be included in the municipality's overall damage assessment and could help as towns look to recoup costs in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Hatboro is asking all property owners who sustained structural damage to their property as a result of Hurricane Sandy to call borough hall at 215-443-9100. The same approach was carried out last year following Hurricane Irene as part of an extensive property damage report. Horsham Township Manager Bill Walker said township residents should notify Horsham of property …
Monday, October 29, 2012
Many occupants of the 79-unit Woodwinds complex in Hatboro voluntarily evacuated ahead of Hurricane Sandy, an official said.
Joann Gefter has no intention of reliving a near-death situation to leave her flooding Hatboro home. This time, instead of waiting until Pennypack Creek waters are raging and filling the first floor of her home at Woodwinds with water, fish and smelly debris, Gefter, her husband Gary and their 1-year-old daughter, Tatum, left while the going was good, on Sunday. "We learned our lesson the first time," Mrs. Gefter told Patch in an e-mail Monday afternoon. "My family packed up what we needed and went to my parents in Philly. Our neighbors left too." For more Hatboro and Horsham Hurricane Sandy news and updates, subscribe to our free newsletter,"like" us on Facebook or follow @Hatboropatch on Twitter. Mrs. Gefter, Gary and their …
Saturday, October 27, 2012
State and federal officials say the slow moving "Frankenstorm" will impact a large part of Pennsylvania through Halloween.
UPDATE: Sunday, 4:30 p.m.— In a press conference, Gov. Tom Corbett said when the "Frankenstorm" (Hurrican Storm Sandy mixing with a Nor'easter) turns into Pennsylvania Monday, it could bring "unprecedented" flooding and power outages. Small streams and rivers are expected to flood and sustained winds will affect the entire state. What will make it worse, Corbet, said, is that it will be a full moon, creating higher tides in addition to flooding. Corbett has asked the Federal Government for disaster assistance. He has put 1,600 National Guard troops on standby. And if you live in a flood prone area, he said, be prepared to evacuate. When the weather starts Monday afternoon, Corbett urges residents to stay home and off the roads. ----- …
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The Hatboro Borough Council is discussing who should cover the local 3 percent match should 12 Woodwinds condominiums receive buyouts from the federal government.
Hatboro elected officials are wrestling with how to cover roughly $80,000 in local costs in the event the federal government approves buyouts of a dozen flood-damaged units at the Woodwinds complex. The council led the charge to request that the Federal Emergency Management Agency buy out the flood-ravaged homes, demolish them and return the property to its natural state, but Council President John Zygmont said during a capital budget meeting Monday that elected officials have yet to discuss who would cover the required 3 percent match of the approximate $2 million project. Zygmont suggested that since any federal monies would be paid in a lump sum to Hatboro that the borough use the estimated $160,000 per homeowner to leverage the …
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
In the event that the state and federal governments buy out a dozen oft-flooded homes, Hatboro would maintain the space.
While the jury is still out on whether state and federal agencies will purchase 12 Woodwinds condominiums, the Hatboro Borough Council set the wheels in motion for that possibility. The council, following direction from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency, on Monday night approved an open space maintenance agreement that pertains to the area where three buildings are situated on Drummers Way. Originally six buildings – totaling 24 homes within the 79-unit development – were eyed for government buyouts. FEMA and PEMA have whittled the original request down to 12 homes. Borough Manager Fred Zollers said Hatboro was given no timetable as to when buyout decisions will be made. But, in the …
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
If approved, 12 of 79 units at the condominium development would be purchased and demolished.
The Hatboro Borough Council formalized its support for possible buyouts 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 …
Andrea Myers
3:19 pm on Friday, March 15, 2013
Thank you for your response, Bill. more ›