JDH Capital : News
Sinking Spring officials see retail project planned for ex-Boscov's site as key to revitalization
1 Jun 2009
Retail development at former Boscov's site would be enhanced by new two-lane street
The Sinking Spring Planning Commission is looking at the planned demolition of the former Boscov's West store at Penn Avenue and Shillington Road to kick-start the borough's revitalization.
"The retail project planned for the site will set the tone we want to see for our downtown overall," borough engineer Robert B. Ludgate Sr. said at a planners meeting last week.
Michael D. Hart, codes enforcement officer, said developer JDH Capital of Charlotte, N.C., has been working for the past year with borough officials to have its plans for the "Local Shops at Sinking Spring" dovetail with the borough's revitalization plans.
For example, a new two-lane street planned through the old Boscov's site from Queen Street would cross Shillington Road and continue west for a half-mile to Columbia Avenue.
The street would have shops, cafes and broad sidewalks similar to those on Penn Avenue in West Reading, Ludgate said.
The new street would run parallel to Penn Avenue and about 400 feet south of it, he said.
"The retail project planned for the site will set the tone we want to see for our downtown overall," borough engineer Robert B. Ludgate Sr. said at a planners meeting last week.
Michael D. Hart, codes enforcement officer, said developer JDH Capital of Charlotte, N.C., has been working for the past year with borough officials to have its plans for the "Local Shops at Sinking Spring" dovetail with the borough's revitalization plans.
For example, a new two-lane street planned through the old Boscov's site from Queen Street would cross Shillington Road and continue west for a half-mile to Columbia Avenue.
The street would have shops, cafes and broad sidewalks similar to those on Penn Avenue in West Reading, Ludgate said.
The new street would run parallel to Penn Avenue and about 400 feet south of it, he said.
Also, Columbia and Cacoosing avenues, along with Mull Avenue and Shillington Road, would be realigned to intersect with Penn Avenue at right angles to enhance driver and pedestrian safety, he added.
"The changes should help cut the daily 33,000 cars through that stretch by 10,000 cars," Ludgate said.
The demolition is tentatively scheduled for August.
JDH representative Mark A. Magrecki, director of land development for SESI Inc., Lebanon, said JDH is moving quickly with its two-phase plan to develop the eight acres.
He said the initial phase would have a 34,928-square-foot grocery store and four retail stores totaling 22,000 square feet.
The second phase would have a small bank and a retail store, Magrecki said.
He declined to identify any of the stores.
