Local/Regional

Lawmakers in Souderton have given conditional preliminary approval
to 56 garden apartments at Reliance Road and 2nd Street. Construction
will include 96 parking spaces and some additional street parking.
According to construction plans, street widening will not be necessary.
The development will have an exit and entrance on 2nd street. The complex
will include 10 buildings and a community center. The preliminary
approval is subject to overview by several agencies, including the State
EPA, and Montgomery County Conservation District. Units in the
Relianace Garden Crossing will be rented out as apartments.

The Quakertown Visitors Center uses history to let people
know about all things Bucks County. Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce
Executive Director, Tara King says, a barn from the late 1880's,located
in Quakertown's Historic District was renovated over the last year.

"You can actually see artifacts from the region. The staff has been
trianed to direct people about things to do and see in Bucks County as a
whole."

King add, the costs of renovating the barn were kept to a minimum.
The Quakertown Visitors Center is open Monday through Friday 9am to 4pm.
Officials hope to add weekend hours in the near future.

Montgomery County officials want to sell One Montgomery Plaza. Last week, the County Commissioners issued a request for proposals from real state management companies that would buy the multi-story building and lease it back to them. The principal office building of the county is in need of as much as 18-million dollars in repairs and county officials say the sale-lease back option would allow them to swap the capital cost involved with the renovations for a monthly rent payment. Commissioners Chairman, Josh Shaprio says, it’s an idea worth looking at.

“We think there’s some scenarios out there where the county taxpayers could actually be better off in a sale-lease back situation. It’s important to note that other municipalities have explored this. We’ve seen Chester County do this.”

Shapiro also notes that selling the building would put it back on the tax rolls and generate additional revenue for both Norristown and Montgomery County

Scammers are calling land lines and cell phones everyday in an effort to dupe people out their money and steal their identities. Mike Bannon is the Director of Bucks County Consumer Affairs. Bannon urges people not to be fooled by callers seeking sensitive information.

“One of the things we see come through, it could be an IRS or something else. It’s people fishing for your personal information. You need to check your credit report once per year to make sure there are no inaccuracies or anybody stealing your identity.”

Bannon adds, you can call a toll free number that will provide you with your credit score for free. 1-877-322-8228