Villas at Newtown Farmhouse to Be Discussed at Oct. 22 Meeting

The saga surrounding a historic farmhouse on Upper Silver Lake Road continues, at least until Oct. 22.

That’s when the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors has scheduled its next discussion on the issue, which has drawn significant interest from the community.

McGrath Homes, which is nearing completion of its Villas at Newtown development, originally asked to tear down the 1840s farmhouse and replace it with a dozen villas. Restoration of the farmhouse was a condition of approval when McGrath received the go-ahead to construct the 172-unit development back in 2006.

However, the board and the community are split on what should happen to the farmhouse.

At the supervisors last meeting, representatives for McGrath suggested an alternative— that the structure be moved to Newtown-Yardley Road, where it will become an office building at the Walden Square community now under construction.

That plan was met with skepticism from at least two board members. 

A majority of residents in the 55-plus Villas at Newtown community support tearing down or moving the farmhouse. However, other township residents have come forward with strong opposition to demolishing it.