Final Vote Expected On Steeple View Project In Newtown Borough

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA ? The largest redevelopment project in the borough's history could receive final approval at the Dec. 12 meeting of the Newtown Borough Council.

The council is scheduled to vote on revised land development plans for the second phase of the Steeple View project during its 7 p.m. meeting to be held at the Chancellor Center.

The project, which has been years in the making, includes the redevelopment of nine acres of land extending from Centre Avenue behind the Starbucks south to the former Stockburger property off of South State Street.

The Wine and Spirits store was the first phase of the Steeple View project. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Looking north from 10 Centre Avenue gives you an idea of where the new public piazza will be located (Photo by Jeff Werner)

The former Wine and Spirits store will be torn down to make way for the new Steeple View project. (Photo by Jeff Werner)

Envisioned by borough developer Allan Smith as a mixed-use Traditional Neighborhood Development, the project will add seven new buildings to the future landscape of the borough, including four residential structures and three mixed-use retail, restaurant and residential buildings.

The plan also incorporates a number of public amenities including a public gathering place, or piazza; a greenway trail along the Newtown Creek; a reconstructed barn saved from the original Stockburger property; and a new pedestrian bridge at the southern end of the property that would link the borough to Carl Sedia Park in Newtown Township.

During its December work session, council focused much of its attention on the proposed public amenities, including a public piazza area to be located off of Centre Avenue, the proposed greenway trail, and the future use of a barn structure that the developer was asked to preserve.

The discussion surrounding the piazza focused on the kinds of amenities that would be included in the design.

The plan would incorporate a cascading water element, an outdoor fireplace, and stepped down seating, according to Steeple View attorney Tim Duffy, noting that the elements are designed to draw people into the space.

After some discussion, the council said it is interested in seeing additional seating incorporated into the piazza area, which is envisioned as a community gathering place. They also agreed with a planning commission recommendation to eliminate a second proposed fireplace in favor of additional seating.

The council also had a long discussion regarding the barn, which was originally envisioned as an interpretive structure or bird sanctuary to be located along the southern end of the creek walk. That plan was revised after concern was raised with it becoming a hang out for kids.

"Allan's thought was why hide it in the back there? Why not reconstruct it where everybody can see it?" Duffy told council. "Originally we were going to use it for covered parking but after discussions with the planning commission we looked at a peaked roof building where a community room could be created upstairs."

The council will again discuss the two options at Tuesday's meeting.

Council also discussed requiring the developer to create a crosswalk at South State Street and Sterling Street to facilitate pedestrian movements between the Stocking Works and the Steeple View redevelopment project.

Here are the specifics:

The Steeple View plan proposes the construction of seven new buildings, including:

• A three-story mixed-use building behind Starbucks with retail on the first floor and residential living units on the upper floors.
• A three-story mixed-use building next to Newtown Creek off of Centre Avenue and roughly in the location of the former Wine and Spirits store building. It would house a restaurant use on the first floor and residential living units on the upper floors and it would frame the public piazza.
• Four new three-story residential buildings at the southern end of the property.

In addition, the project includes a new three-story mixed-use retail and residential use building be located to the south of the current Wine and Spirits Store on South State Street. Under the current plan, the new building next to the Wine and Spirits store would be held in abeyance and used for public parking while the balance of the project is developed.

The Steeple View project also incorporates a number of public amenities, including:

• A public piazza, or community gathering place, to be created on Centre Avenue next to the Newtown Creek and across from the First National Bank Annex building.
• A greenway trail extending along the Newtown Creek from Centre Avenue to the southern end of the former Stockburger property.
• A new pedestrian bridge to be built at the southern end of the creek walk connecting the borough to Newtown Township at Carl Sedia Park.