The much-anticipated revitalization of Morrisville’s historic Stockham Building property is uncertain due to many structural issues and the property owners must decide whether to fix or demolish the building in June, officials said at Wednesday night’s council meeting.
Officials from the engineering and consulting firm of Barry Isett & Associates said at Wednesday’s meeting that it’s likely the building will have to come down.
Further complicating the issue is another company literally “owns the roof” of the building due to the cell towers existing as part of the contract agreed to by the owners, Ratim Group, and the cell phone tower company, engineering officials said. It is believed that there are four towers with the possibility that not all of them are currently in service, said Isett, pointing out nothing can be done until the owners of the towers are tracked down.
That information was discussed when the engineers’ report was made available by Morrisville’s engineering firm Gilmore and Associates on May 7, nine days after the owners’ engineering report was provided to the Isett firm.
Stockham Bldg – Back side
Credit: Joanne Ames Lower Bucks Source
Both reports deemed the building unsafe and certain areas dangerous, Isett said.
A site visit and written report by Isett firm was completed on May 8. The visit verified the two prior technical reports citing structural issues.
As a safety precaution a perimeter fence went up the following day, May 9th, restricting access to the building and blocking the sidewalk on Pennsylvania and West Bridge St. On the 13th, officials said, an email and a certified letter was sent to the property owners informing them of a 30-day deadline to deliver an action plan to either perform the structural repairs needed or demolish the building. The owners must have a plan and submit paperwork for permits within 30 days of May 13, Isett said.
Credit: Joanne Ames Lower Bucks Source
Council members expressed disappointment that they had come so far with hopes of revitalizing the Stockham Building only to hear that it may be necessary to tear it down.
It’s unclear what the owner’s plans are now that the structural issues have been identified, and also if they don’t respond what is next in terms of possibly demolishing the building.
Council President Helen Hlahol said, ” I know that’s sad news for everyone but the building’s in really bad shape so I don’t really have much more to say on that topic.”
Mayor Gary Wallace said he passed the building and saw that everything that was in disarray.
Council vice president Scott Robinson, who was really hopeful about the possibility of a new life for the historic structure, said he was saddened by the news.
Back door with Signs and is open
Credit: Joanne Ames-LBS
“It is very very sad. The building is a mess. The fencing, it even looks like you can still get back there, get up those steps. It’s such a shame,” Robinson said.
“I just you know we heard that report last year and it seemed so positive and kind of enlightening that we could actually save this beautiful historic building. I put a lot of faith in those people to do and then we didn’t see anything happen. So this is incredibly devastating news for all of us and I know you are feeling the same way,”said Councilwoman Kathryn Price Engelhard.
A retrofitting of the site was presented and approved by the borough late last year, as part of this council’s efforts to revitalize the borough. The plan called for the four-story buildings’ interior and exterior to be renovated. Officials said there would be 3900 sq 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 were to be replaced, with the third floor windows restored to the arch style it once had. All first floor windows were to be replaced with a more traditional storefront look. The stonework around the entire building was going to be cleaned up with brick and mortar. A new pedestrian walkway and landscaping were also planned.
The building was constructed in the 1900’s and has become a symbol and source of frustration for administrations past and present. Former building owner, Stockham Interests, LLC, filed for bankruptcy in 2010 with the case marked closed in June 2011 without bankruptcy protection.
Over the last five to six years, there have been a few starts and stops in revitalizing the building mainly due to its deep historical significance, much like the Grundy Building in Bristol Borough.
“This is just devastating news,” Hlahol said.
Credit: Joanne Ames-Lower Bucks Source
Recent Comments