This once beautiful property at 1368 Valley Rd was completely let go - a feature that must be owned by the Code Enforcement Dept under this Manager, Richard Manfredi. The Code Dept, despite many, many calls over the years, has simply failed to enforce our codes for this "special property" .

It comprises 4.34  acres right along Valley Rd and up Paul Brook Lane, backing up into  properties on Cox Rd. and with a view from Stockton Rd.  It was deeded originally by Alice Herkness with a covenant that held that no more than 2 properties should ever be built there.

                             

The property appears to be perhaps 2/3 or so floodplain and has a creek that runs through part of it. Because of the floodplain, the amount and type of building on the lot is quite limited and carries very specific guidelines.  As such, it is unclear if ANY other properties should be built there at all. The original house was demolished and the bricks and block were used to fill the basement hole.... so in essence it already has a building there --- with a light coat of soil over it.

  Actions like this put homes near them in danger of flooding .....  The property is now nearly clear cut. Our trees are so important- especially in our Floodplain  areas. Paul Brook Rd and Meadowbrook Rd already flood in strong storms. This is a travesty.  Multiple citations have been issued by DEP who was out 10-6-23 .  But the trees - even if replaced -- will take decades or longer to absorb anything near what they did before. Yes some trees were old and diseased - but many were equivalent to 5 or 10 new young saplings


    In 2007  the property  was acquired by Yoni Nadav (aka Jonathan Nadav) and an attempt was made  to subdivide it into 3 separate lots. Given the deed covenant, no more than 2 should have been considered, but nonetheless a Planning Commission meeting was scheduled ( and held ??? unknown ... )  During that period, however, Nadav removed 62  trees. He was ordered to restore them before any development could take place.  The effort at subdivision failed -  and the property subsequently went into foreclosure, with the trees still missing.
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  On 7-16-20 David Mermelstein  ( as Mermelstein David IRA/CUST Pensco Trust Co, LLC)    bought it for $95K at Sheriff's sale.  He appealed the assessment and achieved a $93,800 assessment -( indicative of  perhaps, a $250K or so market value. He then sold it in 2023  for $600K - a tidy profit of $00 to $500 K

It was then purchased June 9th, 2023 by Chase Rubin who, apparently with Mermelstein, has begun flaunting our zoning and code laws. He has already, as of this writing received the aforementioned DEP citations , and has irreversibly and illegally removed virtually all of the vegetation in a flood plain.  Chase is no stranger to being on the wrong side of the law. He was caught defrauding people  ( as many as 70,000)  in a credit card scheme with his brother and father's involvement not  long ago - and scheduled to do 32 months in prison in 2018......  It is unclear if all the victims have been reimbursed as he was required to do, but if they were, one would want to know where someone under 40 got the millions needed to do that.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-edpa/pr/co-conspirator-reputed-godfather-payday-lending-sentenced-prison-and-ordered-forfeit    We'll be looking into that further.
The most recent Montgomery County property records  show Chase Rubin as both Grantee and Grantor of the property. 

Chase Rubin proceeded to cut down over 40 additional trees, nearly clear-cutting the entire acreage, reportedly having no fear of Township reprisals.   There has been no development plan submitted and no request to remove trees in a  Floodplain.  The only permit was for a "Seepage Pit "  that came with no designs,  specifications or approvals that we have found.

DEP has now put a cease and desist order on the site ( yet there was activity there after that ) We hope the Township will do whatever they can to get vegetation restored for all those impacted and for the overall health of Abington  ...... and impose sharp penalties for those operating  outside of our laws. Very concerning is the fact that the Township , including Comr Tom Hecker , seems to have turned their heads while this all went on, despite many calls for Abington residents - telling them at times that there was nothing that could be done and at other times that they just found out about it . If you were one of hte ones that called, please call me at 215-885-7130  to tell me what you were told.  And see below if you can help.

We need your help with our (illegally) disappearing greenspace.  Again, actions like this put homes near them in danger of flooding .....  Our trees are so important- especially in our Floodplain  areas.   Please help us research  information on this property. Please contact your Commissioner and ask who is monitoring the precious greenspace in Abington Township and who is requiring that developers obey our laws, codes and policies when they operate in Abington Township.
 
Contact me if you can help  lel@abingtoncitizens.com

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