North Franklin Approves Mall Redevelopment

The proposed zoning change is a key step in a potential transformation in paving the way for the creation of a $35 million investment of a Light Industrial Redevelopment Overlay District at the long-struggling Washington Crown Center property. Prep Funds representative Chris Salata confirmed that the investment group is under contract with the mall owner, but still in a 60-day due diligence period, with closing expected within 30 days if all goes according to plan. Salata emphasized that several existing tenants — including MAC Bid, Rural King, and the Crown Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram dealership — will remain in place, as they are independently owned. When asked about Marshalls, Salata said the store is under lease until October 2026 but could not confirm if the retailer plans to stay long-term. Supervisor Chairman Bob Sabot welcomed the change, calling the mall “a dinosaur” that has weighed down the community for years. In other matters, supervisors officially recognized a Disaster Emergency declared on June 16, 2025, due to storm-related flooding, and the board voted to discontinue the declaration effective June 25. “This will allow residents to be eligible for any future aid that might come from PEMA or FEMA,” Sabot explained. Supervisors also unanimously approved a resolution requesting that the Trinity Area School District Board of Education reconsider its recent pattern of tax increases. “They’ve raised taxes for six straight years. We’re tired of it,” Sabot said. The resolution urges the school board to commit to a five-year freeze on property tax hikes, citing the cumulative burden on township residents.