Park Proposed As Part Of Goodnoe Homestead Redevelopment Project

NEWTOWN TOWNSHIP, PA — A new park is being proposed as part of Jim Worthington’s plans to redevelop the Goodnoe Family Homestead.

The Newtown businessman said he is willing to turn a four-acre retention basin property adjoining the Goodnoe Homestead into a new community park.

The land, which is owned by Brixmor, fronts on North Sycamore between the Goodnoe Homestead and the Promenade and extends west to Eagle Road between Silo Drive the rescue squad. It contains a large retention basin at its western end across from the Village at Newtown Shopping Center.

“I’m proposing taking it over and turning it in a park. It’s a big piece of ground. It’s bigger than the ground I’m developing,” said Worthington. “It’s just a wasteland right now. It could be a nice, passive park.”

Worthington said he’s envisioning benches, period lampposts, and walking trails that will interconnect Sycamore Street with Eagle Road.

He’d also like to see a plaza area created at Sycamore Street where the township could have live music on a Friday night “or whatever the town wants to do.

“I’m willing to do that, but if I can’t make the numbers work (with the Goodnoe property), then I can’t do it,” he said.

Worthington, who is partnering on the project with John Cordisco and a third partner, recently submitted sketch plans to the township to redevelop the Goodnoe homestead next door with

111,509 square feet of new construction, including 88,074 square feet of new apartment living space, 5,000 square feet of new retail space, and a ground-level parking garage.

The Goodnoe Home facing Silo Drive and Goodnoe Corner. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

Two new apartment buildings would be built in an "L-shape" with one fronting on North Sycamore Street and the other located in an east-west direction along the southern edge of the Goodnoe property. The buildings would house 73 new residential units, including 28 one-bedroom and 45 two-bedroom apartments with some retail space on the first floor of Building One closest to the Green Parrot.

“That piece of ground is zoned residential-commercial, which is what we’re proposing. I’m not
asking for the zoning to be changed,” said Worthington. “I’m not asking for any special accommodations. I bought a piece of property that was zoned to do this.”

More importantly, Worthington said the plan has the endorsement of the Goodnoe family.

This shows the layout of the apartment buildings with one fronting on Sycamore and the other extending to the west with a garage on its ground floor.

This is the view looking south on North Sycamore Street from the intersection of Silo Drive. This rendering shows two retail store fronts on the first floor with apartments on the upper floors.

“They feel good about what we want to do and what an asset it would be to Newtown,” said Worthington. "We are going to do them justice and make them proud."

In addition to the two new apartment buildings, Worthington’s plan includes the preservation of the Goodnoe home and the farm’s silo. He plans to renovate the home into a common area that would be used by the residents living at the complex.

He also plans to call the new residential neighborhood the "Goodnoe Homestead" in tribute to the family and in recognition of its history in the township.

“What we’re planning will be a very walkable, Main Street experience," said Worthington. "It’s small town USA living where you walk out your front door and you’re on Main Street. This will actually make it feel like the Main Street Newtown Township has never had.

“You’ll be able to walk to the shopping centers. You’ll be able to walk to all the different places. And you can walk to the borough. This is something people are craving,” he said.

The garden apartments, he said, would also fill a housing need in the community for young professionals looking for their first home and empty nesters looking to downsize. The prices will range from $2700 a month to the high $3,000's.

“The Goodnoe Homestead is going to be an amazing thing we can do to give back to the community. And I’m excited about that," said Worthington.