Willowbrook Farm Phases 3, 4, and 5

When Brubacher broke ground at Willowbrook Farm in the summer of 2025, it was a moment of excitement that had been months in the making. The project had been awarded in May 2024 and was slated to start later that summer. However, evolving designs and permitting delays pushed the kickoff back by nearly a year. Now, with crews on site in Allen Township, Northampton County, the team is tackling a significant multi-phase residential development—one that is already revealing the capabilities of Brubacher’s team members.

Set against a unique backdrop of an active horse farm and a golf course, and executed in collaboration with multiple municipal stakeholders, Willowbrook Farm is a project where new complexities surface daily. Yet the challenges presented also highlight the strength of Brubacher’s approach: an unwavering commitment to our core values of safety, integrity, initiative, and teamwork, along with the ability to adapt and grow in the face of new opportunities.

Turning Plans Into Progress at Willowbrook Farm

The Willowbrook Farm site spans 105 acres, and the plan includes 16 apartment buildings (totaling 256 units) as well as 389 single-family homes and townhomes. Brubacher’s role as the sitework contractor encompasses every stage of site preparation and development: erosion and sedimentation control, land clearing, stormwater basin construction, bulk earthwork, underground utility installation, paving, and off-site road and pipe work. Drilling and blasting services are a crucial piece of the puzzle, provided by Pennsylvania’s trusted drilling and blasting contractor, Trinity Drilling & Blasting.

Overall, it is a comprehensive project scope that relies on Brubacher’s experience, not only as a full-service excavating company but also as a trusted partner capable of delivering end-to-end solutions. “This is a project where all our services come together. From the first clearing operations to the final paving, it reflects the wide range of everything Brubacher brings to a large residential community development,” noted Director of Estimating & Project Management Allan D.

A Project Large in Scale and Complexity

Like many large-scale developments, Willowbrook Farm has presented its share of problem-solving opportunities. Timing was one of the first hurdles, since after nearly a year of waiting, the team had to quickly gear up equipment, crews, and resources to hit the ground running once permits cleared, while still navigating ongoing design changes.

The site’s location in relation to neighbors has added another layer of complexity. The project borders and overlaps with active features that must remain in use within the local community, including a working horse farm and a riding arena that continues to welcome the public. Add in the buried utilities requiring relocation, starting three phases with two different client partners simultaneously, and a no-fly zone near the Lehigh Valley Airport that limits our flexibility to schedule drone flights for survey work, and the picture becomes even more complicated.

Yet in each of these challenges, Brubacher has found ways to adapt. Supervisors and crews have embraced problem-solving in real time. And perhaps most notably, Willowbrook Farm has become the first Brubacher project to feature a Field Engineer assigned to the site to support the project team in the field.. These investments have been paying dividends in efficiency and communication.

Collaboration in Action: High-Performance Teamwork on Every Front

From the earliest stages, collaboration has been key to keeping Willowbrook Farm moving forward. Internally, Brubacher teams have worked seamlessly to align estimating, operations, and resources. “Communication is constant,” shared Project Manager Chris S. “On a job of this size, keeping everyone in the loop—from supervisors to support teams—is what makes progress possible.”

Externally, Brubacher’s role has extended beyond standard excavation and earthwork. One early example was the redesign of an off-site sewer line. Original plans routed the sewer through an unworkable location; Brubacher partnered with engineers and the client to identify a feasible path, moving the line through a portion of the adjacent golf course.

Willowbrook Farm also represents a unique mix of client relationships. DeLuca Homes, a Brubacher client for more than 15 years, is leading Phases 4 and 5 of the development, which encompass the single-family and townhome neighborhoods. Equus Development is managing Phase 3’s apartment buildings, and we are collaborating with their team for the first time. Together, these partnerships reflect the trust Brubacher has built over decades while also highlighting the company’s ability to forge new relationships on impactful projects that are Shaping the World We Live In.

Building for the Future

Inside Brubacher, Willowbrook Farm has already created opportunities for growth and momentum. Supervisors thrive on the challenge of solving unexpected problems. Crews appreciate the transparency with which leadership communicates both obstacles and wins. And across all levels, there’s a sense of excitement that comes with working on a project of this scale.

Director of Field Operations Brad C. said, “Larger projects like this bring more moving pieces. That creates challenges, but it also creates opportunities for people at every level to step up and grow.”

Beyond the immediate work, Willowbrook Farm promises long-term benefits for local municipalities and the surrounding Lehigh Valley region. Hundreds of new homes and apartments will bring consumers to local businesses and meaningfully add to the township’s tax base. Roads, utilities, and infrastructure upgrades completed as part of the project will serve residents for decades to come.

By the end of 2025, the Brubacher team aims to have all three phases of Willowbrook Farm running at full capacity. Beyond that, the project will continue into 2026 as homes rise from the ground and new neighborhoods take shape. For now, the focus, as always, remains on doing things the right way—safely, collaboratively, and with an eye toward excellence.

From overcoming delays to navigating site complexities, Willowbrook Farm demonstrates what sets Brubacher apart as a trusted sitework contractor. It’s a story of persistence, adaptability, and partnership—proof that when challenges arise, the Brubacher team finds a way to turn obstacles into opportunities while providing our signature Insight. On Site. at every step.