Council Approves $165,000 Purchase of Flood-Prone Property

The Bensalem Township Council unanimously approved the $165,000 purchase of a home on Blackburn Avenue Monday night. 

According to Bill Cmorey, director of administration, the property located near the Poquessing Creek suffered from numerous floods during heavy rainstorms, with Hurricane Sandy being the last straw for the owners. 

"Funding from the county was approved to buy the property," said Cmorey, "but the money fell through at the last minute. The township's purchase was approved by voice vote because the owners' purchase of a new house depended on the sale of the old one. They had been living in a hotel, and we didn't want them to get stuck."

The township had already started demolition of the house at a cost of fewer than $10,000, Cmorey said. The structure will be replaced with vegetation and preserved as open space.