REGENCY AT NORTHAMPTON COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
A Brief History
Regency now sits on land that was previously known as the Morrissey Tract; a 300 +/- acre farm tract owned by the James Morrissey family. Despite an agreement of sale between Morrissey and Toll Brothers, Northampton Township started condemnation proceedings in order to find a site for a second high school. This led to years of contentious legal proceedings among Toll, the Township, and other interested parties.
Toll eventually took ownership of a portion of the Morrissey Tract and in 2000 began planning the community to be named “Northampton Gate”. Over the months that the plans were before the various Township committees, important changes were incorporated: the most significant were the construction of Rock Way, the re-configuration of St. Leonard’s Road, and the movement of the clubhouse from the original location (the Keenan cul-de-sac) to its current location. Eventually, all parties were heard, compromises were made, and various changes were incorporated into the final plans. The Township granted approval to Toll, and construction began in 2001.
Along the way the community’s name was changed from “Northampton Gate” to “Regency at Northampton, A Planned Community”, and eventually to “Regency at Northampton Community Association”.
Toll’s plans originally called for the construction of 249 homes but the final result was 109 single family homes and 107 carriage townhouses in 21 buildings, for a total of 216 homes. The plans also called for a clubhouse, outdoor pool, bocce court, and a walking trail. Toll began the home construction phase with the single family homes (identified on the plans as the “senior cottages”) before beginning construction of the townhouses (known as the “carriages”). Toll first built the single family models (25, 31 & 37 Keenan Lane). The carriage models followed two years later (294 – 296 Sydney Road). The first single home settled on December 10, 2002 (25 Nathaniel Road, lot 205) and the first carriage home settled on October 27, 2004 (273 Sydney Road, lot 33).
Toll’s marketing plan called for the offering of several models with multiple variations. Buyers of the single family homes chose among models including the Bayhill, Monaco, San Remo, and Prestwick. Carriage buyers chose among the Annapolis, Bristol, Bryn Athyn, Granview, and Strathmere.
March 23, 2006 was an important day for Regency with the settlement of the 162nd home (251 Sydney Road, lot 25). At this time, we became “masters of our own destiny” as our governing documents declare that control of the Board of Directors would pass from the Declarant Toll, to the community once 75% of the homes were sold. Three of the five Board members were now from the community while Toll’s participation was reduced from 3 to2 Directors. Leslie Welson and Steve Lowenthal were the first Regency residents to serve on the Board.
Regency is a vibrant active-adult community located in the heart of Bucks County. It is centrally located to both Philadelphia and New York City, yet surrounded by museums, theaters, universities, world-class medical centers, historic sites, sports teams, and fine dining. Residents can enjoy the great outdoors – the New Jersey beaches and Pocono Mountains are fewer than 90 minutes away.
