The deadline for Notices of Interest (NOI) related to property to become available at JRB Willow Grove as the result of its 2011 BRAC-required closure passed yesterday.

Sixteen entities filed notices that require lengthy applications outlining the proposed uses and specific land or facilities requested. 

Note the following:

• Bucks County Airport Authority submits the largest claim for 681 acres of the 892 acre site!  Of special note is the name of the development project … The Pitcairn Aviation Business Center!  Although the submission states usage for private and corporate flight operations, it is doubtful – in my opinion – that an operation of this size will be self-sustaining, given the size of the property to be included.  “Aviation Business Center” has a much different connotation to me than “public airport” does!

              Can you say Federal Express?!?

• Another Bucks County group, Bucks County Housing Group wishes to house their homeless there. (Applicable federal law REQUIRES consideration of homeless services for a fixed percentage of any BRAC-disposed property.)  I’m certain the double-benefit to Bucks County of finding housing for Bucks County homeless and finding it in Montgomery County won’t be lost on Horsham residents! 
• On the other hand, Philadelphia Stand Down, a veterans service organization, is looking for space for a veteran education and training center.  It also includes a 30-bed drug and alcohol detox center and space for transient veteran housing, i.e. temporary housing while permanent residents are arranged.  (I can support this for Philadelphia-area veterans!)
• ACTS Retirement Life Service, Inc. also requested space for a retirement-type community.  (Not sure how this would benefit, given the sheer number of already-built, yet under-occupied developments in Warminster, Hatboro, and Huntingdon Valley.)

So, if you live in the Horsham area; are concerned about how the JRB Willow Grove disposition will affect the quality of township life; and are interested in how your taxes might be influenced through decisions to be made in the next 6-8 months, you should make sure to check local media coverage, the Horsham LRA website, and attend as many HLRA meetings as possible for as long as it takes to ensure Horsham (i.e. your voice) will be heard in this decision-making process!    

Whenever possible I will post new developments here.

The next meeting of the Horsham Land Reuse Authority is scheduled for April 20 at 7:00 PM.