WHAT'S GOING ON? ... at Heritage Estates West?

Neighbors of Heritage Estates West noticed that work on the subdivision came to a halt over the summer. Developer Tom Mongold and Divinity Investments plan a four-phase housing development north of Route 16 West. Some preliminary infrastructure work has been done, but construction machinery disappeared by the end of the summer.

This week Charles E. Brake Co., St. Thomas, is putting sediment erosion controls into place on what will eventually be called Vivian Avenue. The Sept. 9 flooding damaged the entrance, so the company will level and put in stone to protect the environment, as required under DEP, Franklin County Conservation and Army Corps of Engineers permits.

Phase 1, for 78 single-family homes, was approved by Antrim Township, but Mongold cannot build until bonding is in place or the infrastructure in completed. The entire parcel upon buildout will have 441 units.

Mongold has until September 2012 to come up with the funds for a 1,400-foot water main extension to HEW. He has a letter of credit on file with Greencastle Area Franklin County Water Authority, and already paid $100,000. Another $223,000 was due May 2 but has not been submitted. After that GAFCWA will let him pay off the balance of $518,000 as houses are sold. The deadline for paying the authority, which won’t install the line without upfront money, has been pushed back because PennDot postponed its own projects. The timing of the infrastructure improvements affect each other. Next fall the state will let bids for Route 11 paving from Commerce Avenue to Franklin Street, and for left turn lanes at Route 16, and therefore probably begin construction in 2013.