Demolition of Granite Run Mall could begin this fall

By Bette Alburger DCNN Correspondent

Middletown Council, at its Feb. 9 meeting, learned that demolition of the distressed Granite Run Mall, except for the Boscovs and Sears anchor stores, could begin this fall. Thats the estimate of attorney Joseph Riper, representing BET Investments. The Horsham-based firm intends redeveloping the mall site as an upscale town center with residential, retail, restaurant and entertainment components.

Postponed twice, a status report on the proposed project was presented to council by Riper and BET President Michael Markman. It drew no negative comments.

Markman, who will develop the project with business partner Bruce Toll, has said it probably would take two years from start to finish. Development would take place in stages. The initial phase would be the mall tear-down, which he said would be a first for the Philadelphia area. At the same time, construction would begin on a high-end, 175-unit apartment building on the former Chi Chis Mexican restaurant site fronting route 352.

A second four-story apartment building is targeted for land abutting Oriole Avenue, near the current site of an AMC movie theater. This building would have some retail shops on the first floor. Both apartment buildings would have structured interior parking, whereby access to an apartment would be directly from the car. Each building would have a swimming pool, gym and other amenities. Average monthly rental would be $1,500, depending on whether the unit has one or two bedrooms.

Markman again emphasized that the second phase of development construction of a second apartment building and the retail component would not get underway until the first apartment building is leased at a threshold satisfactory to council. He stressed that residential use will drive the retail/restaurant/entertainment uses. He said Starbucks is expected to be one of the tenants in the town center, and at least half of the retail space has generated interest from other prospective tenants. Among them are a bank and a pizza shop.

Also, three different movie operators want to be here, said Markman, about a theater complex to be developed on the site of the Penneys store that will be closing in April and demolished.

Asked by township resident Nancy Geisel if a hotel could be developed instead of one of the apartment buildings, Markman said no major hotel has indicated an interest in being part of the project. Resident Timothy Sullivan pointed out that the malls name has a negative connotation. Responding, Markman said the town center will have a new name.

We really would like to get moving on this, Riper told council.

To move the proposed project forward, council unanimously introduced an ordinance that would revise several of the townships storm water management regulations dealing with redevelopment of sites. It would bring the townships regulations in line with the countys regulations, which are slightly less stringent. Adoption of the ordinance would allow the site to be redeveloped as proposed.

Read more:
Demolition of Granite Run Mall could begin this fall