New housing development plans approved in Plum

Plum officials granted preliminary approval of plans for a new housing development along Renton Road.

Developer Grasinger Homes wants to build 103 single-family homes on approximately 54 acres near St. Januarius Church.

John Grasinger, part owner of the company, said they expect to finalize buying the land in August.

He declined to give the current owner’s name or sale price because the deal is not complete.

Council voted 8-0 Monday night in favor of the plan, contingent upon review by borough Engineer Robert Mitall. Plans also must be approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection before the project can move forward.

“Grasinger has had a great product in Plum for many years,” borough Manager Michael Thomas said. “Based on their lot sizes they’re proposing and previous projects, I think it offers an affordable housing product for Plum. They’ve always done great projects in the past. I have no reason to believe they won’t do a great project again. I live in a Grasinger-built home.”

Each proposed lot for Colonial Heights is at least 9,370 square feet with an estimated price tag of about $300,000, including a home.

Grasinger said the area would be developed in four phases with construction starting next spring, if all goes well.

“We have to go back (to the borough) with more engineering designs,” he said. “It’s a long process … We think we’re in a good market for this area. It’s a good price range for Plum Borough and there’s a demand in Plum Borough. The school district’s popular, and it’s a quiet community.”

The borough has been a great market for Grasinger Homes, which is headquartered in Plum.

The company has developed properties in the borough the past 26 years.

“We’re a family business,” said Grasinger, a 1977 Plum graduate. “We all grew up in the area.”

Colonial Pointe off Elicker Road near Plum High School is a Grasinger development still in progress. About five out of 75 homes have yet to be built.

Rustic Ridge Estates near Ross Hollow Road has about 230 single-family lots of similar size and price being proposed for Colonial Heights.

Green Valley Estates has about 53 lots a bit larger and more expensive than the other plans.

More information about the developer is available at www.grasingerhomes.com. People interested in acquiring a lot can contact John Grasinger’s sister, Michelle, at 412-855-0719.