John Boyle
Sat, 08 Jan 2005 20:28:58 -0800
New congressman who replaces Rep. Greenwood in Bucks County Fitzpatrick shares his vision for future
By ALISON HAWKES Bucks County Courier Times The Philadelphia region is not young and hip. Former economic powerhouses, like Chester and Camden, are now sunken ships. The city has emptied and suburban development has sprawled across precious open space and farmland. The picture that Congressman Michael Fitzpatrick, R-8 (Bucks), painted looks bleak. But he said there is hope. In his first public speech since taking office on Tuesday, Fitzpatrick sketched out his vision of a more livable society to a group of Holy Family University students at the school's Woodhaven Center in Bensalem. The 10-year Bucks County commissioner, back home after his first week in Washington, said that with the right public incentives he sees Delaware waterfront towns like Bristol and Morrisville regaining their old glory, with vacant lots replaced by homes, shops and parks. Aggressive open-space preservation and the construction of sidewalks and bicycle paths that connect places will make communities better places to live. And dense, cluster-style development will create communities with more activities for the young and old. Key to this is the I-95 and Pennsylvania Turnpike interchange, which will put Bristol Township and the surrounding area at the center of a hot real estate market. Already it's happening, Fitzpatrick said, mentioning the Dial Soap Factory in Bristol, slated to become offices. Also in the borough, a former furniture store is being converted into shops and deluxe condos, already selling for $200,000. "That connection is going to be made so if you're looking for real estate opportunities, I'd be looking in Bristol Township," Fitzpatrick said, flipping through a PowerPoint presentation showing graphs, charts and before-and-after photos of a decrepit warehouse and what it could become. The event was a kind of homecoming for Fitzpatrick, who was himself a Holy Family University student in the same accelerated MBA program as the 40 students in the room. He abandoned the 18-month quest for a degree last summer when he decided instead to run for Congress. Fitzpatrick's former business professor was in the room, and this was his "Adapting to and Managing Change" class, about changes in the global economic and U.S. demographics. Fitzpatrick was about to leave for England last summer on a class project when a phone call came that former 12-year Congressman Jim Greenwood was planning to bow out of his seat to take a top job at a biotech lobbying association. In addition to advising the students to get involved in local government, Fitzpatrick told them not to be afraid "to take the road less challenged." "I decided not to take the plane but the train to Washington," he said. Alison Hawkes can be reached at 215-949-4165 or ---- You are receiving this because you are subscribed to the list named "bike." To subscribe or unsubscribe or for archive information, see <http://www.purple.com/list.html>. See also http://bcgp.blogspot.com/ and http://www.bicyclecoalition.org/