Why is Saint Katherine Drexel's motherhouse boarded up?

A plan to convert a local Catholic saint's earthly headquarters into age-restricted condos in Bensalem appears stalled, and it's unclear why.

The motherhouse for the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, an order of nuns started by Saint Katherine Drexel, has been subject of vandalism and theft since it was closed in about 2018. Developer Len Poncia, of Aquinas Realty Partners, did not return a request for info on his plans.

As for Bensalem Mayor Joe Digirolamo, asked what's happening with the property, he said, "Nothing."

He's not sure why, but speculated that it's about the economy, which has soured since 2018, when the deal to sell the 47-acre property on Bristol Pike was completed.

“I think with all these big projects, banks aren’t lending that money out,” the mayor said.

“All we’re doing is catching people stealing stuff out of there. They break in, it's boarded up, but they break in anyway,” he said.

The last reported theft was in early to mid-March. Police caught two vandals, the mayor said. Copper pipes and tubing are the main target for thieves, he said.

DiGirolamo knew Saint Katherine.

“I have a very special place in my heart for that place,” he said. "I wish we knew what was going on with it."

Developer Len Poncia, of Aquinas Realty Partners, began acquiring the property several years ago. He said at the time that construction would begin in 2023. The development, if built, is to be called "AQ St. Katharine Drexel Estates." Plans made public in 2022 show it will have 90 townhouses and nearly 300 rentals, with a 300-bed senior living facility for those in declining health, according to a 2022 article.

In an email to this news organization on April 17, he said:

"We have taken security measures to protect the former Shrine of Saint Katharine Drexel in Bensalem. We continue to work with and coordinate with the township, police and fire officials, as well as with the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament to secure the Bristol Pike property to protect it both before and during the redevelopment.

"We have assisted the sisters installing secure gated entrances and security cameras around the property as well as making sure the buildings have property security to prevent break-ins. We remain committed to working with the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament, the Township and the community as stewards of the former shrine to always respect the mission of the Sisters and honor the history and spirituality of Saint Katharine Drexel.

Previously in the BCCT Inside the plan to redevelop the former Drexel shrine in Bensalem: How historic buildings will be saved and new housing built

Poncia is president of Aquinas Realty Partners, which has undertaken many highly-regarded building projects, including the Horizon Center in Bensalem; AQ Rittenhouse, a 12-story luxury apartment complex in Philadelphia; and Mattison Estates in Upper Dublin, a project similar to the Drexel site, as it involves building homes where the Sisters of the Holy Family previously operated an orphanage in a castle-like estate, according to an article published in the Courier Times in 2022.

The Drexel shrine is special to Poncia who grew up in Bensalem. When he and his wife, Cathy, were married in 1990, they had their wedding photos taken on its tree-lined grounds, the article states.

JD Mullane can be reached at 215-949-5745 or at jmullane@couriertimes.com.

This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Sad: Saint Katherine Drexel's motherhouse boarded up