Markley Farm unveils homes
WEST NORRITON » More than seven years after Markley Farms Swim & Tennis Club shut down operations, the legacy of the beloved 51-year-old summertime hangout for so many will live on in name — and even in spirit.
In building 79 single family homes surrounding 11 acres of open space with a pond and walking trails on the sprawling West Norriton property, DelGrippo Builders whimsically noted on its website that it’s “bringing happiness and laughter back to the rolling hills.”
It’s certainly bringing back a lot of memories for those who are stopping in to take a look at the model homes on weekends and by appointment, noted Nicole Bauder of Long & Foster Real Estate.
“I’d say every other buyer coming in says they spent their summers here at Markley Swim Club,” said Bauder, whose family also has a personal poolside story to tell.
“My mom was a member of Markley Swim Club and got a phone call one day while she was there that she was pregnant with me,” she said.
Long & Foster sales manager Lou Marchegiano, agreed: “Everybody goes down memory lane when they’re here and they seem to know everybody else,” he said. “The people buying homes here for the most part are locals who grew up in the West Norriton area. They know the builder and his good reputation and they feel very comfortable here.”
Markley Farms Swim & Tennis Club was built at the tail end of the 1950s, when private swim clubs were just starting to become the recreational rage for young families beginning to take up residence in the suddenly booming suburbs.
Built on the edge of more than 50 aces of farmland, the site presented Doris “Dorie” and Ronald Markley a golden opportunity, as it does now for DelGrippo Builders, which further remembers the forward-thinking husband and wife by naming Markley Farm streets after them.
Ironically, Del Grippo Builders president Leonard Del Grippo Jr. is now overseeing construction of a development that is bordered by houses built by the company in an era when his dad, Leonard Del Grippo Sr., was president.
“All the homes in the original neighborhood, Oakland Farm, were built by the father,” Bauder noted. “The company has been around for over 50 years and it’s now into three generations. They’re always on site with hammers working ... they don’t sit behind a desk. We try to make it a personal experience for every
buyer. It’s very different than buying from a larger builder.”
Other DelGrippo developments in the area include Cedar Crossing in Skippack; Gwynedd Downs in Upper Gwynedd; Prophecy Crossings in Whitpain and Methacton Mews in Worcester.
Back in March 2012, the West Norriton Board of Commissioners had declined scheduling a zoning hearing for the Freedom Valley YMCA, which had presented a plan to build a $19 million, full-service YMCA facility at the former swim club. At two public meetings, West Norriton residents had voiced objections to the YMCA and the presumed increase in traffic and disturbance of the residential
neighborhood.
In September the following year, former estate executor Scott Markley asked township officials to rezone the 56-acre parcel for single-family homes, setting the stage for DelGrippo Builders and Markley Farm, which will now enhance the values of existing homes, currently selling for around $300,000, Bauder pointed out.
“We always feel that with a new housing development they’re raising the value of the homes that are already there. And that’s what we’re excited about with Markley Farm because you essentially have a new subdivision in an area that’s already been built out,” Bauder said.
The first phase will include
39 single family homes that will be accessible from Oakland Drive, starting at $414, 900, including the Huntington model and the most popular model, the Colonial-style Sussex.
Each home comes with a quarter to half acre of ground, noted Marchegiano.
“The Sussex has a twostory foyer and two-car garage, four bedrooms and two and a half baths,” said Marchegiano, who added that several houses had sold even prior to the opening of the sample home.
“People absolutely love the convenience of West Norriton because it’s so close to everything as far as major roadways, hospitals, shopping and employment.
At this price point you would have to go out towards Limerick or Boyertown to get the same size home for the same price. Also,” he added, “we have a long list of standard features that are included with the house, such as granite counter tops, maple cabinetry, ceramic tile bathrooms and hardwood flooring, which is one reason they’re selling so fast.”
The Darlington model accommodates the growing demand for a first floor master suite, Bauder explained.
“We’ve gotten a lot of requests for houses like this in our other communities. There are people that live in the Norristown area but don’t want to go into a 55 or over community because of
the high homeowners association fees. It’s similar to the carriage homes they’re building now and has the bedroom on the first floor and two bedrooms upstairs. There are different options and you can have a fourth bedroom upstairs as well.”
Phase two of Markley Farm will complete construction with 40 additional homes, Marchegiano noted.
“Those homes will be accessed off of Chestnut Avenue, so the two phases won’t connect and it won’t impact traffic negatively,” he said.