Stockham Building Final Plan, Look Revealed, Approval on Grants, Funds Could Delay Construction Timeline

The architectural firm contracted by the owner of the historic Stockham building provided officials with the finalized retrofit plan, and when work on the project could begin depending on funding and financing coming through.

HDO Architect Erik Quick went over the final details said the four-story building’s interior and exterior will be renovated for the the mixed-use building which will have 3900 feet of commercial space on the first floor with 18 apartments – which will have four one-bedroom, one two-bedroom and one studio rental on each floor. All of the building’s windows will be replaced, with the third floor windows restored to the arch it once had. All the windows on the first floor will be replaced with a more traditional storefront look. The stonework will be cleaned up around the entire building. Brick and mortar will replace the holes in the building made to accommodate the hvac system and include a new pedestrian walkway and landscaping.  Much of what Quick presented, his Harman, Deutsch, Olher, colleague went over with officials in September. 

Quick estimated work on the building could take 14 to 16 months once it begins.

In the event that permits and funding are in place, planners hope work could get underway in March. However, a few more puzzle pieces need to fall into place for that to happen, executive director of the Bucks County Industrial Authority (BCIDA) TJ Lonergan explained.  A March launch for work to begin at the site is far from set in stone, he said, explaining the next series of hoops the plan needs to get through before hardhats are seen on S. Pennsylvania Ave working on the 100 years plus old structure.

BCIDA is coordinating “all the funding ” for the Stockham building project, which to date is $500,000.00 of low interest financing, he said.

The start of of the project could be delayed, by a month or two because additional funds are needed, Lonergan said. BCIDA has applied for a pilot program called “Main Street Matters (MSM) ” which is part of Governor Josh Shapiro’s focus of the state investing  $20 million on projects focused on merchant-based areas in boroughs.

“As I’ve emphasized to the Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development (DCD) and to the governor’s office, this is the prototypical project, a great start…..,” said Lonergan. The issue is not only if the MSM grant will be awarded for the project, but when the grants will be officially announced.

“I don’t know when things are going to get awarded so we’re at the behest of a lot what the state is going to award. I have projected timelines on when I think they’re going to be awarded which is March time frame,” said Lonergan.  He also explained that work can not begin until the grant(s) from DCED and MSM are awarded.

We’re working with a timeline based on all the funding needed, about $4 million in total, coming through in March, Lonergan said. Adding, we’re doing everything we can so when the funding is announced, we can put shovels into the ground, so to speak, right away.  He did  caution officials the state could delay announcing  grant/funding approvals for up to two months.

Credit: Harman, Deutsch, Olher

The project has funding/financing requests in for: Enterprise Zone Tax Credits ($ 1 million) Mixed Use Funding ($750,000.00) Main Street Matters (unknown) and PACE  (unknown amount) which seeks to make buildings more resilient, and increase energy efficiency which will reduce operating costs, increase property value, and stimulate growth while protecting the environment, officials say.

“I always like to tell people it’s a slow process but it’s worth it, at the end so,”  Lonergan said.