Historic Summerseat mansion
The historic Summerseat mansion in Morrisville will be the scene of a Haunted Halloween Dining Party on Saturday (Oct. 29).
Posted: Friday, October 18, 2013 12:00 am | Updated: 6:26 am, Fri Oct 18, 2013.
Before the Morrisville School District sells the closed M.R. Reiter Elementary School, the community needs to talk, said a resident.Bill Setzer, a member of the Morrisville Environmental Advisory Council, told the school board Wednesday night that his group “would like to promote a sharing of ideas on the repurposing of the site.“The M.R. Reiter property adjoins the property of Summerseat, the historic home of our founding father, Robert Morris,” Setzer said. “The surrounding neighborhood is comprised mostly of single family homes and an apartment complex. Creating more open space at the M.R. Reiter site would bring more value to the neighborhood and would dramatically restore the original estate-like proportion appropriate to a significant historic landmark such as Summerseat.”
Reiter was one of two elementary schools in Morrisville until a furnace blast made it unusable in December 2008. In 2011, the school board permanently closed the school, shifting grades in other buildings. To reopen Reiter would have cost at least $4 million and that’s not including air quality testing, officials have said.
School board President Damon Miller said he welcomes an open discussion. So far, no individual or community group has made suggestions as to the future of the site. And as of Wednesday night, the district didn’t have any plans, he said.
Miller said the district doesn’t have money for demolition of the school. However, school officials are ironing out the details on how to proceed with the selling of the property. And they aren’t doing anything “behind the scenes.”
He was adamant the district move forward on the issue.
Setzer assured the board that it’s not his intention to stop the district. He merely wants to facilitate a dialogue with the community.
“It’s the duty of the EAC to advise on issues regarding Open Space,” he said. “We encourage the school board to meet immediately with the borough council, the EAC, the planning commission, the Morrisville Historic Society and interested local residents to ensure that the M.R. Reiter property is sold or deeded for a purpose that will best serve the borough’s future. The Morrisville Borough Comprehensive Plan and the Morrisville Open Space Plan should be consulted and utilized as part of this process.”
School director John DeWilde suggested that Setzer attend the Joint Morrisville Borough Council/Morrisville School Board meeting, of which DeWilde is a member. It’s the appropriate forum for such an issue, he said.
Personally he would like open space on the site, Setzer said after the meeting, but it’s only fair for the community to have an input, he added.
Setzer said he will bring up the issue at the regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. He will also attend the Joint Morrisville Borough Council/Morrisville School Board meeting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 at the district building, 550 W. Palmer St.
Reiter was one of two elementary schools in Morrisville until a furnace blast made it unusable in December 2008. In 2011, the school board permanently closed the school, shifting grades in other buildings. To reopen Reiter would have cost at least $4 million and that’s not including air quality testing, officials have said.
School board President Damon Miller said he welcomes an open discussion. So far, no individual or community group has made suggestions as to the future of the site. And as of Wednesday night, the district didn’t have any plans, he said.
Miller said the district doesn’t have money for demolition of the school. However, school officials are ironing out the details on how to proceed with the selling of the property. And they aren’t doing anything “behind the scenes.”
He was adamant the district move forward on the issue.
Setzer assured the board that it’s not his intention to stop the district. He merely wants to facilitate a dialogue with the community.
“It’s the duty of the EAC to advise on issues regarding Open Space,” he said. “We encourage the school board to meet immediately with the borough council, the EAC, the planning commission, the Morrisville Historic Society and interested local residents to ensure that the M.R. Reiter property is sold or deeded for a purpose that will best serve the borough’s future. The Morrisville Borough Comprehensive Plan and the Morrisville Open Space Plan should be consulted and utilized as part of this process.”
School director John DeWilde suggested that Setzer attend the Joint Morrisville Borough Council/Morrisville School Board meeting, of which DeWilde is a member. It’s the appropriate forum for such an issue, he said.
Personally he would like open space on the site, Setzer said after the meeting, but it’s only fair for the community to have an input, he added.
Setzer said he will bring up the issue at the regular meeting at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. He will also attend the Joint Morrisville Borough Council/Morrisville School Board meeting at 7 p.m. on Nov. 6 at the district building, 550 W. Palmer St.
46 comments:
It's a nice idea but....with the property as it is now neither the borough nor the school district (obviously)collect taxes on the property and, the school district is paying to maintain it (i.e: grass, leaves, snow).
If it becomes open space again, no tax revenue and, the borough has to maintain it.
As I see it, if a majority of the property is sold (not the parking lot/playground area)and twins or townhouses built on the remainder of the property, both the borough and school district collect taxes on that portion and, the new homeowners maintain the property. To me it's a win/win.
We have the preserve, Williamson Park,the Canal, the dike and finally, the dog park. Do we need more open space? And how much are we willing to pay for it?
There are no taxes collected on the property now. We need to make sure everyone knows the facts., so we can make good decisions.
I applaud efforts to engage the public in deciding what we want.
Let's not make this contentious. If taxpayers want housing, then let's do it if they want open space, then let's do that. If they want a combination, let's work it out. But let's see what our options are before we jump to a conclusion.
Let's have a positive dialogue and not fight. It isn't necessary.
The above poster raises some interesting points, and with correct information, it may be the right decision. But let's find out first and then share our opinions
Now that's what I call progress!
Its nice the EAC finally showed up to talk to the district. Atleast that was what i was told by a district official.
Perhaps this could become a senior housing development. Nice town homes at reasonable prices. No low cost housing! Or donate the parking area to Summerseat, tear down the school and make it a nice little park (green open space).
"Let's have a positive dialogue and not fight."
Amen
"Its nice the EAC finally showed up"
Oh Mike, only you would turn you nonsense on the EAC and show how disconnected you are. Your own town must be boring.
I mean no offense to anyone on here. This is only my opinion. Morrisville is built out. We cannot afford more housing stock, senior housing in particular. Housing stock drains our already strapped emergency service organizations.
I can see both the plea to have the space given back to the community and the desire of our underfunded school district to create some funding by selling this property.
Difficult decisions will need to be made by the school board regarding this. I applaud those wishing to begin a community dialog about this important piece of property and to the school board for their willingness to allow this group and anyone wishing to do so to be heard.
I see cracks of hope emerging on this thread. Open, civil dialog, fact gathering, and community input. Tough decisions that won't satisfy everyone, but done thoughtfully and respectfully in the light of day.
Open minds on open space
Posted: Sunday, October 20, 2013 6:00 am
Preserving open space is a great idea — unless your town doesn’t have much open space left. That’s the plight of almost every borough in Bucks County, which has encouraged preservation of open space by providing funds to buy it.
To that end, Morrisville’s Bill Setzer has his own great idea: buy the land where the now shuttered M.R. Reiter elementary school sits and meld it with adjoining Summerseat, the historic home of Founding Father Robert Morris.
“Creating more open space at the M.R. Reiter site would bring more value to the neighborhood and would dramatically restore the original estate-like proportion appropriate to a significant historic landmark such as Summerseat,” Setzer told the school board last week. A member of the borough’s Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), Setzer encouraged the board to meet with borough council, the EAC, the Morrisville Historic Society and interested residents to explore the concept.
All should readily agree. And before meeting, all should taking a look at how a similar good idea is unfolding in neighboring Yardley Borough, another one of the county’s space-challenged old towns.
Just last week, Yardley Council approved an agreement to buy the 2-plus acres on which the FitzGerald-Sommer’s Funeral Home sits. The land, which will cost the borough about a half-million dollars, will be used for recreation and community events, such as the borough’s annual Harvest Day festival. Roughly two-thirds of the money to buy the land came from open space grants, one from the county and one through the Delaware Riverfront Communities Open Space program.
Using the open space money guarantees the property will remain in the borough’s hands and will not be developed, which is what the land was destined for before the borough got involved. A proposal to build five new homes on the site was in the planning stages before the borough approached the owners. Commendations to the Sommers family for hanging on to the property while borough officials worked to put all the pieces in place to get the deal done — or almost done. Our hope is nothing gets in the way of a final agreement.
In addition to the recreational uses, plans call for a walking path to the borough’s veterans memorial on River Road as well as to Lake Afton. “The land is going to be invaluable to the borough,” said Yardley Council member Katherine Cadawllader, “and it will be there ... forever.”
As could the M.R. Reiter property in Morrisville if officials follow Yardley’s lead and put out the effort to make it happen — as they should.
Just produce the money by Open Space funds and/or by Morrisville taxpayers. Simple as that.
Many key figures in the Historical Society hate taxes and intrusive government with religious fervor. However, I expect absolutely no grousing from them about any tax increases required for eternal preservation of this property.
The argument could be made that the Morrisville taxpayers already paid for this property.
Is your point that no more Morrisville tax money should ever be spent on it?
Taxpayers paid for the property and the schools there. They served their purpose for a long long time until they burned down or blew up. What remains is still an asset, though it also has liabilities. I feel that just because people paid for it before doesn't mean it should be given away now, or that no more taxpayer funds, local or county, should ever be spent on it to repurpose it to open space.
This is what they wanted all along.
Sharon the Hutt wins again.
where were all these concerned people while the facilities committee meetings going on discussing this same subject for the last year?
Watching DWTS and Honey Boo Boo?
Can you tell us what the facilities committee decided or discussed in these meetings? It would be helpful.
I thought the school board hadn't decided for sure to close the school for good. Didn't they just recently decide to sell it?
My recollection is that the "Hellmann School Board" voted to permanently close the school (M. R. Reiter). If you give me a little time, I can probably find it in Board meeting minutes. It was probably in the 2010-11 timeframe.
I don't believe any decision has been made about selling Reiter. I'm on the outside looking in, but I believe the current Board had some needed legal research performed on some fundamental issues, like who owns what parcels, how the parcels are zoned, what deed, zoning, and/or other restrictions each parcel has, etc.
Hopefully, a current Board member reads this and can chime in to the extent possible.
May 25, 2011 Board Business Meeting Minutes:
6.4. Approval, Closing M.R. Reiter and Maintaining Current Grade Configuration
The Board approved a motion to approve the permanent closing of M.R. Reiter Elementary School and maintaining the current grade configurations in the District.
Moved by Mr. Hellmann; seconded by Mr. Worob; passed by a voice vote of 8 ayes; 1 nay (Mrs. Heater).
(Back to me again):
The 8 ayes were:
Ron Stout
Marlys Mihok
Steve Worob
Bill Hellmann, C.P.A.
Al Radosti
Jack Buckman
Yvonne Ruthrauff
John DeWilde
Thanks!
Dear Jon, time for a new potluck? Maybe a thread on the Hellman signs popping up around town? Maybe one on today's Op-Ed supporting the Pepitonal write in? Thanks for keeping this going.
Yes, and let's get something started about that lawsuit you noted from Jane and gang. WTF is that about?
Thanks for stopping by! Ask and you shall receive. Customer service is my motto and my middle name!
Williamson Park aka The Island aka Castle Park (as the young kids call it) is a large open area suitable to host all sorts of community and recreational events. The High School was the site of the recent kids Fest. I totally understand not wanting to completely surround Summer Seat with house, but that already happened. It's boxed in. What would be the point of having a park so close to the already huge park in town. The are several playgrounds in town with all the schools and grassy areas. We stopped allowing kid to play basketball at Grandview. What will the land around Summerseat be used for? We just want green space for the sake of green space? I'm okay with that I guess. I wouldn't mind seeing one or two small shops there or a museum or a small healthcare facility. It doesn't have to be houses. I;m glad the Historic Society does the work they do at Summerseat, but how many visitors do they get a year? Will the open space and manor like proportions it gains from the open space attract more visitors? Open space is a one time lump sum of cash. Any other option is a lump sum of case and taxes forever. It we don't want our taxes to go up we need more taxable property.
The boro has $700 in open space funds? How many square inches will that buy?
Demolition and clearing cost money. Get ready for the tax increases to make some of the biggest tax haters in town happy. The building will return to rubble and dust eventually, but it happens too slowly, even for the historical society.
There is a joint school board and council meeting this Wednesday and this will be discussed. People should go and tell the school board what they want. This time they should make a point of making sure the community is involved, and residents should make sure they respond.
How "involved" is "making sure the community involved"?
Keep having meetings till everyone has a say? Keep having meetings till the school board does what you want them to do? One meeting for everyone to get one chance to speak? A school board meeting or a special meeting?
When the new school was discussed people who didn't want kept saying "you're not listening to us" to the school board. Will this happen again if the school board does something different other than what some who speak want done? Should the board only do what the majority of the people who speak want done?
I wish the board luck. This is a sticky issue and I hope everyone keeps a cool head and understands the outcome no matter what is decided.
I am well aware that some people don't take well to having something go anything less than 100% their way.
I like Open Space too. However, I'm not such an eff-ing hypocrite that I want Open Space yet will complain like a wailing banshee about the taxes necessary to secure said Open Space.
I challenge the lovers of Open Space to minimize their pie-hole flapping over taxes needed to create and maintain a couple extra slices of paradise around Summerseat, if that's the direction this thing goes. Can you meet the challenge? I doubt it. Prove me wrong, please!
Mikey Fitz's chance to shine. Tough re-re-election fight coming, apply some of that well honed political muscle and show us some pork love, you know you want to, think of the photo-op.
I heard Fitz was asked but didn't come through.
I am not clear what the challenge is - prove that open space is the way to go? If residential development is what some want, that should have to be proven too, right?
I think every side of the issue should be looked at. I don't think just because one side is louder or more vocal they should get their way. Lets find a way that will be beneficial to the district and the community and accept it instead of creating more turmoil in this town. Glad this is being finally being taken care of.
Damon Miller is doing a stellar job as school board president. Respectful and inclusive. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for the kind words.
I will resist any thing that rewards the Summerseat people with the spoils of M. R. Reiter. That was their stated goal all along. They viciously opposed the new school and pursued a scorched earth approach to any progress. They elected a tea party crew to run the schools into ruin. They have spoiled Morrisville. What they have done disgusts me. I will not reward their bad behavior.
Now that you mention it I think I remember Sharon hughes fromt and center recording the school board meetings. Is this the same person?
Hey take a deep breath. Bygones be bygones and all that?
Start your gum flaps. May the loudest, most outrageous, nastiest, most shrill, and most dishonest lose!
What's the joint worth? Has it been appraised lately?
"What's the joint worth? Has it been appraised lately?"
It's an old building. It would have been worth more if it had been decently maintained. Our previous tea party style raise no taxes school board really rogered us roundly when they cut the maintenance budget. Penny wise and pound foolish leadership is all they know.
Any time you need me for additional rogering, let me know. I can make it from the Quad Cities area to Morrisville in a flash.
The public needs to know something the property that M.R. Reiter sits on IT WAS NOT paid for with public funds it was deeded to the district by the developer of most of the area homes back in the 20's for the purpose of building a school for all the new families that would be moving into the homes it was building there Summerseat property was part of what was given to the distict it was sold to the Morrisvile historic society back in the 50's for $50,000 its all public record
Thank you. That is important and helpful informaion.
More proof that things aren't always as they seem, and there's a lot of misinformation out there. Even Historical Society members weren't exactly aware of what they own or don't own.
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