Bristol Township has condemned three more houses, reducing its number of blighted residences from 204 in 2015 to fewer than 20 today, municipal officials said.
“That’s what we do around here now,” Council President Craig Bowen said. “We get things done. Proud of that.”
The latest round of legal condemnations by the council includes two houses in the Indian Creek section of Levittown — 84 Ice Pond Road and 68 Indian Red Road — and one in the Bath Addition neighborhood at 848 Harrison St.
Here’s real reason why Levittown houses were built with no basements; is it really that odd?
The deteriorating houses were presented for legal acquisition to council members at their July 17 meeting by Beau Fleming, the township’s building and planning supervisor.
These properties are being taken by the Bucks County Redevelopment Authority, which will put them up for bid, Fleming said.
“Our goal is to have these homes more appealing to the neighborhoods they’re in, to have them owner-occupied, rented or put up for sale,” Fleming said.
68 Indian Red Road, Levittown
After a tip from the township fire marshal, an investigation showed that the home's electrical panel was unsafe.
“It was (rigged) with a shoe rack and bungee cord,” Fleming said.
PECO has also cut off the utilities, he added.
“The home is uninhabitable,” he said. “The owner is incarcerated.”
84 Ice Pond Road, Levittown
This house was damaged in a fire approximately two years ago, Fleming said. The property caught the township’s attention when a neighbor complained about the house’s deteriorating condition.
Fleming said he spoke to the owner a few months ago.
“She claims she had plans to do work,” he said. “Since that timeframe, I’ve had no contact.”
He spoke with an engineer and builder who are supposed to work on the house.
“It’s been about five months and they just keep giving me the runaround,” he said.
They no longer return his calls, he added.
848 Harrison St., Bath Addition
The owner had been living in the house with no electricity or water, Fleming told council members.
“He blatantly told us that there (are) no utilities,” he said. “He seemed to have cut the wires in his house. He had a feeling that people were listening to him.”
After a search warrant was obtained and the place was inspected, it was boarded up.
There are about $5,400 in liens on the property. Back taxes from 2023 and 2024 are owed, he said.
JD Mullane can be reached at [email protected].