Warminster residents looking to relocate Discovery House Methadone Clinic out of the residential community site that was leased to them by Sal Giaimo owner of Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant in Warminster. The Real Estate Agent was Penn’s Grant Realty – Kurt Eisenschmid Kurt’s email is kurt@pgrealty.com. Warminster residents understand the need for such a clinic and are welcome to having it in Warminster BUT NOT in a residential area where it is moving to: 1386 W. Street Rd. Warminster, PA 18974, owned by Sal Giaimo owner of Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant in Warminster . They are other opportunities within Warminster that are not in a residential area that could service the need.
Warminster residents are upset with long-standing Warminster business owner of Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant, Sal Giaimo for leasing his property, (we know he needs the money) although zoned medical, in the heart of a residential community to Discovery House Methadone Clinic. They are also upset with the real estate agent – Kurt Eisenschmid, Kurt’s email is kurt@pgrealty.com of Penn’s Grant Realty a local office in Doylestown, PA for his part in this development.
Residents should think long and hard about patronizing both of these businesses in our community for bringing this situation to our neighborhood. I know many of the residents expressed that they will not be eating at Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant in Warminster and will dissuade anyone from using the services of Kurt Eisenschmid, Kurt’s email is kurt@pgrealty.com of Penn’s Grant Realty.
We hope you join our cause and NOT patonize their business because of what they are doing to you, the residents of Warminster and the surrounding area.
Let us hear your thoughts on Sal Giaimo, Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant, Kurt Eisenschmid, Kurt’s email is kurt@pgrealty.com and Penn’s Grant Realty - company email info@pgrealty.com.
Please feel free to post on here as well as email Kurt - email is kurt@pgrealty.com and Penn’s Grant Realty - company email info@pgrealty.com. Fill up their emails and let them know how you feel. Also, don’t forget to email Ellen Jarvis – ejarvis@warminstertownship.org of Supervisor of Warminster Township – http://www.warminstertownship.org and let her know how you feel as well. We don’t have Giuseppe’s Pizza & Restaurant website or email at this time but if you have it, feel free to post it. It is odd they (Warminster Township Supervisors) were only notified of this situation within the last few days although the lease was signed for the property in February. Maybe the person on Licenses and Inspection for the township conveniently “forgot” to pass this along… makes us wonder who is on our side…
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Tags: Bucks County, Bucks County PA, Discovery House, Drug Clinic, Giuseppe's Pizza, Kurt Eisenschmid, Methadone Clinic, PA, Penn's Grant Realty, Pennsylvania, Sal Giaimo, Warminster, Warminster PA, Warminster Township
April 23, 2009 at 8:49 pm |
Well that settled my question. Will not be buying a new home in 55 and older community development on delmont ave until they settle this. What a disgrace.
April 24, 2009 at 11:49 am |
If you think the concerns stated in the blog above are without merit, all you need to do is sit in the parking lot of the current Discovery House location for a couple of minutes during the dosing hours.
May 16, 2009 at 11:07 am |
I live right back with all of you and yes I have been over at Discovery House all different times of the day and sorry you must not be there cause there is NOT alot of traffic.
April 24, 2009 at 5:55 pm |
Greed, it all comes down to money, The realtor, Kurt Eisenschmid, Penn’s Grant Realty wanted his comission without regard to the community he serves BUT doesn’t live in. The landlord, Giuseppe’s Pizza, wanted his money from the rent in the community his business is in BUT DOES NOT live in and Discovery House which makes money on the amount of methadone doses they serve. Sad that NONE of them REALLY care about Warminster. There has got to be other areas in the Warminster community that ARE NOT residential that provide this needed service. It appears that GREED and MONEY rule these 3 parties.
April 24, 2009 at 9:13 pm |
Mr. David L. Piccoli, II, President
Mr. Robert Kornacki, Director of Development
Discovery House
66 Pavilion Avenue
Providence, RI 02905
VIA FAX TRANSMISSION
HARD COPY TO FOLLOW
Dear Mr. Piccoli and Mr. Kornacki:
I am writing to apprise you of a matter of great concern that will directly affect one of the nine municipalities I represent as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Over the past two weeks, my district office has been inundated with calls from angry and frustrated residents of Warminster Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania.
As you are aware, these residents have been vociferously expressing their displeasure with the proposed plan to relocate Discovery House from its present site on County Line Road to 1386 W. Street Road. As with any change, some criticism is to be expected. However, the sudden nature of the change, coupled with the lack of comprehensive information provided to local residents has created quite an uproar. I must add that I myself, as the closest neighbor, with my district office located directly next to the property in question for almost ten years, was not made aware of this until contacted by a concerned neighbor. No public official, no private entity, nor my landlord saw fit to inform me of this impending five-year rental.
Respectfully, I must say that I do not believe this location will yield the desired effect that your company is seeking; public transportation is not readily available. Furthermore, the residents of this neighborhood are justly concerned about the potential for increased crime and violence, along with the increase in “nuisance” problems, such as noise and litter. Having personally visited the current Discovery House location, I too am concerned, and therefore will exercise my due diligence as the closest neighbor, to assure myself and others that the parking grounds and surrounding area are maintained in an orderly fashion.
Certainly, most residents understand that it is important for individuals who need rehabilitation for substance abuse to receive and have access to proper treatment and care. The way in which the relocation of the facility was done, however, has galvanized an otherwise benign, accepting community. To their credit, the majority of these residents have channeled their displeasure into a positive action: they wish to help you find a more suitable location for the facility. Legal obligations notwithstanding, I respectfully proffer the suggestion that the facility would be better suited in a higher-volume, commercial area or industrial park, with access to public transportation. Many in the community have volunteered to work with you to secure such a site.
In these hard times, I understand the tension between your need to improve your bottom line, and the need to provide safe, effective treatment for those who wish to improve their personal situation. That said, please reconsider your decision to locate your facility in a residential community, with a senior center nearby. While I understand Discovery House’s mission to provide treatment and rehabilitation services to those in need, to do that at the expense of a residential neighborhood seems shortsighted and counterproductive.
I look forward to your written response.
Very truly yours,
Katharine M. Watson
State Representative – 144th
May 1, 2009 at 3:33 pm |
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May 14, 2009 at 5:50 pm |
I have never posted a comment to a blog before, however, I felt compelled to respond to the comments posted on this blog. I understand residents’ concerns regarding the relocation of the Discovery House from its current location in Warminster to the office building owned by Sal Giaimo. The residents’ should be upset with their elected officials, not the township supervisors or the zoning committee. The latter do not have the ability make zoning laws, they merely comply with the laws that are in place. It was under the watch of your elected officials that the zoning laws regarding the proximity of rehab clinics to residential areas lapsed. When the lease was presented to the supervisors in January, the supervisors nor the zoning committee had the authority to prohibit the Discovery House from leasing Sal Giaimo’s office space. If they had, discrimination would have been committed because the Discovery House met zoning restrictions and was leasing space in space zoned for “professional use”. Sal Giaimo was not aware of what kind of rehab clinic the Discovery House when he signed the lease. He became aware in mid-April. Immediately, upon hearing that residents were concerned he opened his doors for a community meeting and heard their voices. Sal has tried to void the lease, however, he cannot. The Discovery House mentioned that it would need approximately $15,000 to be reimbursed for its construction costs while stating that it has no desire to relocate. That amount does not include court costs which would inevitably ensue. Additionally, if the township tried to prohibit Discovery’s relocation to the space, it would face a lawsuit based on discrimination. Unfortunately, since the zoning laws were allowed to lapse the Discovery House has every right to lease the space whether or not residents view it as a desirable tenant or location.
Although Sal Giaimo does not live in Warminster (he lives 2 miles outside of Warminster Township), it has been the home of his family-owned business, Giuseppe’s Pizza & Family Restaurant, for over 35 years. Sal Giaimo and his late brother, Giuseppe Giaimo, have been nothing short of outstanding citizens of Warminster Township. There has been no end to their generosity since they opened their doors 35 years ago. The Giaimo brothers donated the land upon which the Ben Wilson Senior Citizen Center was built; they have sponsored countless local sports teams; they have donated pizza to schools; have donated money to too many causes to list; and most recently there is a foundation in Giuseppe Giaimo’s name which selects students in the Warminster township for scholarships. Although Giuseppe Giaimo has passed away four years ago, Sal Giaimo has continued the tradition of giving back to the community and is a member of the Warminster Rotary. Having said that, it is absolutely ludicrous to say that Sal Giaimo doesn’t care about Warminster because he doesn’t live there. For the past 35 years he has spend a good portion of his life there.
Unfortunately, we can not prevent what the law allows. At this point it is impossible to get out of the lease. I realize residents’ concern, however, the Discovery House has been in a location 1.5 miles for more than 15 years without incident. Certainly, vicious comments and boycotts cannot prevent Discovery House from relocating to its new location. The only thing that could have prevented this relocation from happening was the zoning laws. Unfortunately, they lapsed in the hands of your elected officials. Hopefully, they will learn form this lesson.
May 16, 2009 at 11:18 am |
If anyone has spoken to Mr. Giaimo they know that he really does care about the residents. Guiseppe’s has been a very supportive business all these years. How many business’s in Warminister have given back so much to the community. Best of Luck to Mr. Giaimo and to all his loyal customers. Thank You
May 17, 2009 at 1:47 am |
Discovery House has not be in Warminster without incident. Google them, check the PA health department’s website. Methadone clinics are not full of rosy-cheeked innocents. By Discovery House’s completely unverifiable numbers, 10 to 20 percent of their clients are NOT successfully being treated. What do they do? Take illegal drugs and/or mix their methadone with legal drugs and alcohol that changes the impact of methadone. But the residents are supposed to ignore 35 to 70 such people showing up every day. Even if the pizza guy is really sorry now, what was he thinking when he signed the lease? $$$ is all. If he cared about the community, he would know BEFORE he signed. It may be harsh to hold him accountable for his actions, but sponsoring a t-ball team doesn’t overcome the angst he has caused to this neighborhood. Let this be a lesson to those who profit by the heartache of others: it is a new day and the people are striking back.