Morrisville Discusses Reiter Elementary's Future

MORRISVILLE SCHOOLS
Morrisville discusses Reiter Elementary's future

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Posted: Wednesday, November 6, 2013 11:03 pm | Updated: 11:36 pm, Wed Nov 6, 2013.

Morrisville discusses Reiter Elementary's future

By GEMA MARIA DUARTE Staff writer

Bucks County Courier Times

The brainstorming for the future of M.R. Reiter Elementary School started Wednesday night in Morrisville.
A group of residents and community leaders who packed the LGI room at Morrisville High School came up with a few ideas: open space, community center, community garden, pocket park, education facilities and small business shops.

For some of those suggestions, there were “buts.”
When someone suggested a community center, another person said that such amenity should be at Williamson Park. The idea of open space was rebutted by a resident who believes there’s a lot of open space in Morrisville. Another person argued that Snipes Farm is nearby, so anyone interested in a community garden should go there. And the downfall to setting up shops and/or educational facilities is that open space money doesn’t cover the construction of buildings.
The suggestions were made at the Joint Morrisville Borough Council/Morrisville School Board meeting, which was attended by residents, members of the school board, Morrisville Environmental Advisory Council and the Historic Morrisville Society.
The next meeting date will be determined after the school board is reorganized in December, followed by council in January.
School board President Damon Miller, who led the discussion, explained that the property is divided in three parcels, one of which was granted to the historical society, so that parcel isn’t part of the discussion.
The school lot is at the corner of Hillcrest and Harper avenues. Summerseat, which is the historical society’s headquarters as well as a national landmark, is located at Clymer and Legion avenues. And the third lot, which has a parking lot and an empty lot, sits at the corner of Hillcrest and Legion avenues.
Miller also explained that there are some deed restrictions, and the historical society has the right of first refusal if the district decides to sell.
As of Wednesday, the district did not have a plan for the lots, Miller said, adding that the lots have not been appraised.
The lots are zoned CS1, which allows several uses such as schools, libraries and museums. There’s the option of getting the lots rezoned, Miller said.
To take the lead on the issue, the EAC suggested the creation of a M.R. Reiter Repurposing Committee, which would include members from the school board, council, planning commission, EAC, the Economic Development Corporation, historical society and residents.
“Work groups within the committee would be developed to examine each alternative thoroughly,” said Debby Colgan, member of the EAC. “With lots of public input, the committee would determine the best option. This way, the repurposing of the site will be based both on facts and the will of the community.”