Hope Springs Eternal For Work to Begin at Stockham Building in March

The Stockham building is going to get a facelift hopefuilly beginning in the spring  as the architect for the property owner revealed site plans for the more than 100 year-old building at Tuesday nights council meeting.

Council President Helen Hlahol said, at Tuesday night’s council meeting,  interim Borough Manager Jim Dillon, who knows a thing or three about breathing new life in projects related to old buildings, approached her  about setting up a meeting for an update on progress made at the Stockham building that sits at the corner of Bridge Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. The four-story building was erected in 1911  and has been vacant now for at least 15 years.  There have many twists and turns involving the property, its owners, proposed plans (strip club), over the years with many agreeing something needed to be done.  There have been at least two proposals to revamp and/or sell the building, according to press accounts, since it was listed for sheriff sale in the summer of 2012.

Architect for the property owners, Rustin Olher, of Harman, Deutsch, Olher (hdo),  did a mostly verbal presentation on the  progress made and plans for the site.

Olher said the plan is to retrofit the building into a mixed-use structure. He said company engineers went through the building,  floor by floor, to review potential problems the planned retrofit could face.

Olher said the 1st floor of the building would  exist as a commercial space, as in the past, and could be rented as three divided spaces, making it easier to fill spaces as opposed to one large commercial space sitting vacant with no tenant(s).

Stockham Bldg Concept floor plan presented by Architect Rustin Olher to Council Tuesday night. Left side is the plans for the ground floor and right side is the plans for the remaining three floors.             Screengrab: YouTube

The long side of the building on the right side would be where a new residential entrance would be created spilling out into a  lobby area that would contain a mail/package room, interior bike room with elevator in the area that will serve upper units for residents. There will be six units per floor for a total of 18 units in the 4000 foot commercial space, he said, with no major additions to the building.  The outside of the building will be cleaned and  brick repointed and damaged and/or missing windows will be replaced with a video surveillance security system installed. The existing storefront will be retrofitted, with specialized lighting, that seems to be a HDO signature of other commercial projects taken on by the firm. 

The building overall is in good condition for the length of time it has been vacant and the unfinished basement will remain as is, Olher said.

Morrisville has been left at the altar connected to the Stockham building in the past.

In December of 2019, Council voted to amend the boundaries of the Morrisville Town Center Redevelopment Area Plan and adopt a proposal prepared by the Redevelopment Authority of the County of Bucks.  The proposed amendment sought to include properties on the southern end of  Pennsylvania  Avenue, which would the Stockham building which was not included in the original town center plan.  “We see the Stockham Building as an essential to development and growth of Morrisville he said, thus adding this element to the plan,” said RDA director Jeff Darwick in 2019.

Nothing materialized after the boundaries were reset and  $125 redevelopment project fell through mainly due to push back on plans to construct the development where Williamson Park sits, “Save Williamson Park” signs  were all over the borough and at every council meeting for just under two years, it was the hot topic of concern and discussion until council rejected revised plans that included the beloved open space where many Morrisville related/sponsored events are held.

Just under two years ago, the borough was awarded a $1 million redevelopment grant from the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program for construction costs associated with the redevelopment, demolition, site work, environmental remediation and streetscape improvements.

“The redevelopment of a long-vacant property in Morrisville Borough will breathe new life into the area and help grow Morrisville’s local economy,” state Senator Steve Santarsiero said at the time.

Borough officials are seeking potential renters and reviewing solutions for resident parking as this could be a major concern for potential commercial and residential renters. Meanwhile, Olher said the process of filing construction related paperwork has commenced. The hope is work can begin next March.

Borough officials said the Stockham property owner is scheduled to attend next month’s council meeting.