Washington Mall Redevelopment Plan Moves Forward

The South Strabane Township Board of Supervisors approved plans that will reshape the Washington Mall area. The redevelopment, led by 79-70 Associates, will bring a mix of new retail, commercial, and service-oriented businesses to the area, including a 16,000-square-foot retail building, a warehouse club, and a recreational vehicle dealership and service center. Along with the demolition of the existing mall, the majority of the construction for the Harbor Freight store and the RV dealership will take place later this year, with work expected to begin this summer. The Warehouse Club is expected to be constructed next year.The total cost of the development is estimated to range between $20 to $30 million. According to project spokesperson Nate Phillips, the redevelopment will be fully funded through private dollars, with no need for the township to use Tax Increment Financing (TIF) or any similar funding programs. In addition to the retail buildings, the approved plan also includes a fuel station as an accessory to the proposed warehouse club, and a vehicle rental, sales, and service business, as well as a vehicle repair garage. The board has also given the go-ahead for a recreational vehicle dealership and service center as part of the overall project. In other township business, supervisors have approved an employment agreement with Marie Coffman for the Position of Finance Director and a resolution for a Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Grant to begin the construction of a dog park at Community Park.