An application to build 193 townhomes on 80 acres of the former Sleighton School property is being considered by the Board of Supervisors of Edgmont Township and Middletown Council, writes Pete Bannan for the Daily Times.
The application was scheduled to be presented last night at a joint meeting of the two boards.
The Sleighton Farm School is an abandoned reform school for girls, Part of the property is in Middletown, part of it is in Edgmont.
The school lost enrollment and incurred debt in the 1970s, merging with Elwyn in 1998. Elwyn closed the school in 2001.
In recent years the abandoned buildings and dorms at the property have fallen victim to fires and vagrancy.
Rocky Run Development hopes to build 193 townhomes with starting prices of $500,000 on 80 acres east of Valley Road.
The development would include walking trails, a village green and open space.
One hundred acres of farmland would remain undeveloped.
Middletown Council Chairman Mark Kirchgasser saw the development as a positive move.
“As with all development we need to measure density and traffic impacts to ensure that uses that are ultimately approved do not have a negative impact on the immediate and extended neighborhoods. We’ll be watching that closely,” he said.
Read more at the Daily Times about the Sleighton property.
Here’s a video of the Sleighton School property now and from the past.
