Overview

In 1998 the township established the Haverford Township Authority to consider possible uses for the property, and in November of that year, a planner hired by the authority presented three "concepts" for use of the land. In 2000, the township hired Carter Van Dyke Associates to use those concepts, as well as public input, to outline a number of scenarios for use of the land.

The township decided to purchase the land outright from the state to then develop. In September 2002 commissioners reached agreement with the state to purchase the site for $3.5 million, and in November 2002, Gov. Mark Schweiker signed legislation transferring the property from the state Department of General Service to the township.

The Township began accepting proposals for the development and construction of the site. All first-round of proposals were turned down by the township, and the developers rebid. From these, the township commissioners subsequently entered into an agreement with Goldenberg-Pohlig to do the development.

There were four plans, from which the township had to choose:

• Proposal No. 1, the "Original Plan," was the original plan submitted by Goldenberg/Pohlig. It featured a bid of about $17.7 million for development rights to 38 acres, with 292 housing units-all age restricted. The plan also included a comprehensive, integrated recreational component, including a pad for a 60,000 square-foot community center similar to the Greater Plymouth Community Center in Plymouth Township.
• Proposal No. 2, the “Agreement Plan,” had the largest development acreage. It was submitted by Goldenberg/Pohlig in December 2003 as part of the rebid process and led to their agreement of sale with the township. The plan reflected an effort by township commissioners to maximize the selling price by maximizing development. It calls for 298 housing units on 64 acres of development with a purchase price of $30.65 million. It had the smallest recreation component of the four plans.
• Proposal No. 3 was the “Community Plan.” Billed as a compromise proposal, it featured a slightly smaller development footprint – about 51 acres – and a larger recreation component than the Revised Plan. However, the number of housing units in this plan was the largest: 334, including four condominium towers six-stories tall. Only 65% of the housing units are age restricted. The development price for this proposal is about $23.3 million.

In June 2005 a fourth proposal known as the “Modified June ’05 Plan ” was made in a new attempt to forge compromise between the other plans. This plan had about 44 acres of development, with 350 housing units of which 65% are age restricted. It has the largest recreation component of the considered plans at about 30 acres and the development price is set for $20 million. There was much debate over which plan should be selected. Over the years, modifications and compromises were made, in the hopes reaching a final plan. After much deliberation, on Tuesday November 14th, 2006 Haverford Township’s Board of Commissioners, in a 7 to 1 vote, agreed to a plan, which would authorize the sale of 39.96 acres of the 209 acre-site to Haverford Hills for $17 million, to develop 198 mid-rise, age restricted condominium units, and 100 semi-detached carriage homes, to be built by Goldenberg/Pohlig. The housing will be called the Haverford Reserve and will be run by the homeowners association, Haverford Hills.

On June 13, 2007 demolition of the demolition of the 24 structures started with completion expected to be in November 2007. Final settlement for the sale of the land is set for November 13, 2007. At that time Haverford Township will transfer legal title of nearly 40 acres to the development company of Goldenberg/Pohlig in exchange for a payment of $17.5 million. Goldenberg/Pohlig is expected to begin construction of the housing units in the spring of 2008; 198 condos in six four-story buildings and 100 carriage houses are planned. The total development project is expected to take about five years but units will be sold in phases as they are completed.

After settlement, the developer will spend the next year installing common infrastructure. This will include; laying utilities lines such as gas and water, leveling the ground for sports fields, building two new roads in the development, and improving 4 nearby intersections.

There will be both a public road and a private road in the development. Park View Drive will be the new public road through the housing area. There will also be a new park road which will wind through the recreation areas.

Four nearby intersections will be changed and the improvements are as follows. A traffic signal and left-hand turning lane will be added at the Darby Road entrance to the development. Darby Road will be widened to add a left-turn lane at College Avenue. At the intersection of Darby and Marple Roads, a traffic signal will be installed, a right-hand turning lane will be added and the intersection will be reconfigured so that the two roads meet at a 90 degree angle. Darby Creek Road will also be widened where it intersects with Lawrence Road.

The developers will also be leveling part of the land for four new sports fields. These fields will be able to be used in six different configurations and should be ready for use by November 2009.

The development plan sets aside 60,000 sq. feet for a community center. I strongly believe a community center with a community pool along the lines of the Greater Plymouth Community Center should be located on the site.

A study of the Community center issue by the architectural firm of Kimmel-Bogrette was undertaken with a $30,000 Community Revitalization Program grant I secured from the state. The Kimmel-Bogrette study supported the construction of a community center with a community pool and estimated this would cost approximately 12 million dollars.

A logical source of funding for this project is the 17.5 million dollars in proceeds from the sale to Goldenberg/Pohlig. I believe this investment in our community will be paid back many times over in terms of increased property values and improved quality of life for township residents.

Construction of the community center requires affirmative action by the Haverford Township Board of Commissioners. I urge residents to let their commissioners know how they feel about this issue.

If you would like to know more of my thoughts on the proposed community center please click here to read my article entitled Haverford Township Community Center – it’s time to decide.

I am glad to see the project move forwards after years of planning, and will be following the Haverford State Hospital site as it develops. I will continue to keep you informed with my newsletter updates and through continued posts to this website as I receive new information.

Please click here to view a website dedicated to the housing development which will become Haverford Reserve.