Exterior of the farmhouse at Windlestrae (Credit: Montgomery Township Project Proposal)
Montgomery Township officials are continuing to explore the future of the long-vacant farmhouse at Windlestrae Park, with supervisors this week signaling support for moving forward on planning steps that could position the project for grants and private fundraising
During Monday night’s Board of Supervisors meeting, Township Manager Carolyn McCreary said earlier architectural concepts for renovating and repurposing the farmhouse — prepared by Phillips & Donovan Architects in 2023, with renderings updated in February 2024 — focused primarily on the building itself. She told supervisors the township now needs a fuller picture of the entire site, especially if the structure is to be reopened for public use.
“One of the things we realized is, while the architect looked at the building, we need to look at actually the site around the building, including that bridge,” McCreary said.
She explained that if the farmhouse is to be vehicle-accessible and compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the township must understand the scope and cost of improvements beyond the structure.
To that end, township engineers at Gilmore & Associates have been asked to evaluate the surrounding site and determine what would be required to make the area safely and legally accessible to the public. McCreary said updated construction cost estimates are also needed, noting that earlier figures date back to a period of elevated construction pricing.
She added that grant funding, while potentially helpful, comes with time constraints.
“We need to be, while not shovel ready necessarily, we need to have an idea that within two or three years, whatever the grant period is, that we would be able to get this project completed,” she said.
Nonprofit could help unlock funding
As part of the funding discussion, McCreary said township officials have explored the possibility of forming a nonprofit organization — potentially called “Friends of Windlestrae Park” — to support fundraising and grant applications. She told the board the township solicitor’s office has experience establishing 501(c)(3) organizations for municipal clients and could do so if directed.
Creating a nonprofit could open doors to private foundations and donors that typically do not fund local governments directly, McCreary said. However, she cautioned that fundraising itself requires dedicated effort and planning.
“It’s not something you could just give a staff person and say, ‘By the way, I have another task for you. I want you to act as fundraisers,’” she said, adding that the parks board could help shape the project’s story and community value.
Parks board envisions broad community use
Moira Giordano, co-chair of the Park & Recreation Advisory Board, told supervisors the committee has been studying ways to bring the long-unused structure back into productive use.
“We’ve been working on this project for many years now under the advisement of the board of supervisors to kind of do some investigation into how we can really utilize the abandoned property that is in the middle of the park,” Giordano said.
She said the board worked with architects to keep the interior and exterior design flexible so the space could host a range of activities, including meetings, art classes, nature programs, and other community gatherings. Outdoor patios were also incorporated into the conceptual designs.
Giordano, who is facilities supervisor at the township's Community & Recreation Center, said demand for community space remains high.
“As someone who spends a lot of time [at the community center], I know that there is a thirst in the community for more space,” she said, adding that preserving and reusing the historic structure would also retain “that piece of history in our township.”
According to township materials, the farmhouse dates back to the 1700s and sits along Little Neshaminy Creek. The township rented the home for years before it was deemed uninhabitable in 2009. It has remained vacant since.
Bridge and access present major considerations
Several supervisors pointed to the nearby bridge and creek crossing as a potential cost driver.
Vice Chair Beth Staab said determining the impact and cost of work at the bridge would be critical before pursuing funding. McCreary agreed, explaining that improving the crossing to modern standards could be complex, particularly if elevations must be raised while still meeting ADA slope requirements and fitting within limited available space.
“We want to make sure that we have as close to an accurate cost as possible, especially when we start looking for money, because we don’t want to say we’re ready to go and then find out that we have a shortfall,” she said.
Supervisor Eric Pelletier said he saw “no reason to not set up the 501(c)(3)” and pursue updated cost estimates and funding strategies. Supervisor Audrey Ware-Jones agreed, noting from her professional experience that large donors often look first for a nonprofit structure.
Supervisor Candyce Chimera expressed support with a caveat, saying she wants to ensure the project does not create a long-term financial burden or detract from the township’s community recreation center.
“I just need to know that we can pay for it,” Chimera said.
Chair Tanya Bamford responded that the parks board views the farmhouse as a complement to the community center, offering a different type of space and helping relieve demand when existing rooms are fully booked.
By the end of the discussion, supervisors indicated they are open to moving forward with establishing a nonprofit and refining cost estimates, with further decisions about grants, fundraising, and possible inclusion in the township’s five-year capital plan to come later.
