Politics & Government

Last Chance: Purchase Stackpole Elementary

Pennsylvania Public School Code dictates that Centennial can sell the property in a private sale only if it receives the approval of the county's court of common pleas; a hearing on the matter is scheduled for Thursday in Doylestown.

 

Centennial School District entered into an and the surrounding property with County Builders, Inc., back in April 2012. 

In the agreement, Stackpole was

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Many people in the community expressed disbelief upon hearing that the former elementary school on Strathmann Drive, and the associated 13.54 acres of land surrounding it, were going to be sold for just $425,000.

In the comments of a r, Kirk wrote:

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Very curious how over 40 acres sells privately way under its market value $$$,?!!... Why wasn't a Realty company or Realty Auction firm brought in to test-drive the market on the school lots with reserve pricing in mind to generate a more realistic sale?. That would make to much sense to ATTEMPT to make the most out something so important>.... The process of the sale doens't look right at all.....

However, the public notice of the sale, advertised by the district, contends:

"Two qualified appraisers... familiar with the values of real estate in Centennial School District and adjacent municipalities... [attest] to the fact that they have inspected the property; that the price offered is a fair and reasonable price; that in their opinion a higher price could not be had at a public sale, and that they are not interested , either directly or indirectly, in the purchase or sale of the property or in or relating to the Agreement of Sale..."

So, by all accounts, it might seem that the sale of Stackpole and the associated property is a done deal.

Or is it?

Pennsylvania's Public School Code dictates that Centennial can sell the property in a private sale only if it receives the approval of the county's court of common pleas. And before the court may grant permission for the sale, a public hearing must be held on the matter.

The hearing regarding the sale of Stackpole will take place Thursday, Sept. 6 at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom no. 2, Bucks County Courthouse, 55 E. Court Street, Doylestown. 

Anyone with interest in the property, or the sale thereof, may attend.

The lawyer handling the transaction for the district is Mark S. Cappuccio of Eastburn and Gray, P.C. his contact number is listed as 215-345-7000.

Below are links to the Bucks County Board of Assessment's files on the four tax parcels included in the Stackpole property.

Click on the link to be taken to the main page of information for the parcel, then use the menu on the left side of the page to navigate through the information:


48-021-031

48-022-020-001

48-022-020-002 


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