The Bristol-based health care facility planning to offer an array of senior focused services and office space passed all of its required inspections and is one step closer to opening its doors finally, officials said Monday.
Bristol Borough Council President Ralph DiGuiseppe, made the announcement during this week’s Council meeting.
DiGuiseppe who toured the inside of the 77,000-square-foot site said it was like “walking into a five-star hotel.”
“It’s going to blow you away, I can tell you that.”
East ward Councilman Gregg Pezza praised the transformation of the site which in the past had been described as an “eyesore” by locals.
“If you remember what Mill Run looked like 11, 12, 13 years ago compared to what it looks like now, it’s a property that was virtually abandoned and run down. Now it’s ready to open its doors pretty soon,” Pezza said.
Pezza was instrumental in locating a developer to purchase and completely overhaul the site in 2014. The property is owned by Philadelphia-based 1201 Wilson Acquisitions.
The borough has worked alongside the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority to get the $15 million to $17 million Mill Run project off the ground.
The borough and county agreed in 2015 to designate the parcel as a Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance (LERTA) property.
In the LERTA program, the developer will pay taxes on 10 percent of a property’s assessed value — in this case about $4.7 million, according to public data as of 2019 — the first year, and 10 percent more each year for the next nine years. The agreement limits real estate taxes paid on the building through 2030.
The Redevelopment Authority owns the property and has agreed to transfer ownership to Wilson Acquisition when 1201 Wilson opens, officials said.
Virginia-based Sunrise Senior Living managed the nursing home at the site until 2008, when officials cited financial difficulties for closing its doors.
A spokesman for the developer, Michael Hollister, appeared at the October 2022 Council meeting.
He said then sometime in December (2022) the project’s website would go live with two portals. One for job seekers and the second for residency applications.
“We’re in the home stretch barring any unforeseen permitting, licensing or supply issues the beginning of January we should be able to open for business,” Hollister said.
“I understand it takes long to get something done, and this is extremely long,” said DiGuiseppe at the time – a private contractor himself.
East ward councilwoman Lorraine Cullen has openly shared her frustration about the length of the project and lack of communication with Borough officials saying I hate to say January of 23 because people are going to be complaining again if it doesn’t happen.
I know families that want to move their parents there. I know people who want to work there, and you know, she said.
And unfortunately she was right, since the facility has yet to open.
In early 2025 Lower Bucks Source spoke to the “owner” and a contractor at the site who agreed to give a tour inside the facility.
And then they backed out without providing a reason or response.
An opening date for the facility has yet to be announced
Credit: Jeff Bohen Lower Bucks Source
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