South Strabane: The Fall of the Great Wall

SOUTH STRABANE: THE FALL OF THE GREAT WALL

By Judi Panasik
The Weekly Recorder
May 23, 2008

It has been described as the “Great Wall of Manifold Road,” but like the ancient wonders of the world it may be crumbling down. Like all things people like to jump to the fantastic and the dramatic. The truth is it may not be as bad as we are being led to believe, and if it is whose at fault? In the end will The Foundry be nothing more than legend?

Almost three years ago after the TIF was accepted by all boards, Premier Properties came into a South Strabane Township meeting and announced they were going to build a shopping center, whose square footage was more than Tanger Outlets, and they didn’t ask for any public assistance.

After years of arguing over giving away tax money residents were relieved to see a developer come without their hand out, and instead giving to us. Premier properties donated a pavilion in Driscoll Park worth over $12,000. They were always polite and honest when they came to board meetings.

But now in the wake of their financial problems and after delays on the project, which may have been caused by a local politician, The Foundry is not only at a standstill, but rumors are flying that the building is sinking.

However this is not a recent problem. This is a rumor that has been circulating for over a year. One of Premiers representative’s told us at a meeting that they were having issues with the ground because they had moved to build to quick. They never tried to hide the fact from anyone.

But now Bed Bath and Beyond has closed and is rumored to be breaking their lease. Other stores like Ross dress for less have closed to check their structure as well, for safety precautions.

Is it as bad as we think or is this nothing more than a publicity stunt to get out of a lease? Three papers carried the story. Everyone is in such shock. Really? Even the editor of this paper called me to tell me.

But I really wasn’t moved or excited. Then after talking to someone else and finding out about the lease I have to wonder.

Could Bed Bath and Beyond have miscalculated their move to this area? Are they looking to go to Tanger? Is there more than meet’s the eye?

If J.C. Penny’s and Ross, who are both next to Bed Bath and Beyond, are ok why are they closed?

Who’s at fault?

I was told one of the newspapers reported that the DEP stated they don’t approve projects, that falls to the township and the township engineers.

Interestingly enough Widmer Engineering, the firm South Strabane Township uses to get recommendations from and approve projects, may be the same firm that worked on the Wal-Mart project on Route 65 near Sewickly where a hillside fell over a year ago. When that occurred I called the local office that would not confirm or deny they were the same firm.

What could this mean to the township?

I was told that Supervisor Bob Koman was on the news saying that “we” are going to fix this. Who is “we”? Is South Strabane responsible?

It might be a good idea for Koman to try to stay out of the spotlight before he gets egg on his face.

And even if there isn’t a mammoth sized problem with the building, what is going to happen to the rest of the project is going to be the bigger question? Why aren’t people more concerned about that?

Why is everyone more concerned with a little dirt moving under the building and not concerned with the giant piles of dirt that aren’t being moved at all?

People dirt settles, businesses come and go but legends last forever!