Chester County Press 11-20-2019 Edition

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Chester CountyPRESS

www.chestercounty.com

Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas

Volume 153, No. 47

Wednesday, November 20, 2019

JP Morgan Chase to unveil plans for White Clay Point on Dec. 16 By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Representatives from JP Morgan Chase will host a presentation at the New Garden Township Building on Dec. 16 that will inform the public about the company’s plans to develop the 187-acre tract known as White Clay Point along Gap-Newport Pike in the township. The announcement was made at the township’s Board of Supervisors meeting on Nov. 19. The property had previously been owned by the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT).

When it was originally pitched by PREIT representatives to the township more than 15 years ago, White Clay Point was designed to be a 187-acre mixed-use project that would provide for 84 acres of retail space, 52 acres devoted to a town center, and 51 acres dedicated to the construction of 83 single detached units that were planned to be built adjacent to the Hartefeld development and golf course, near Sharp Road. Potential tenants that were mentioned throughout its many hearings before the township were Kohls, Walmart and Sam’s Club; in addition, a conve-

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Christmas traditions return

The magic of the holiday season returns to the Brandywine River Museum of Art in Chadds Ford during ‘A Brandywine Christmas,’ opening on Nov. 29 and continuing through Jan. 5. For a preview of the annual event, see Page 1B.

nience store and gas station were planned for the other side of Route 41. The project also called for road improvements to Sunny Dell Road, Sharp Road, Sheehan Road

and the widening of Route 41, as well as some improvements on Route 7. In April 2019, PREIT sold the undeveloped land parcel to JP Morgan Chase for

$11 million – $8.25 million cash and $2.75 million in preferred stock. JP Morgan Chase is a global financial services firm that has assets Continued on Page 2A

Kristie Brodowski and David Unger: Two new voices for New Garden Township By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer Kennett Square Life magazine

As Nov. 5 turned into Nov. 6, the final tabulations listed on the Chester County official election results website spelled out the immediate future of the New Garden Township Board of Supervisors: Candidates Kristie Brodowski (D) David Unger (D) Richard Ayotte (R) Incumbent Randy Geouque (R) Incumbent

Votes 1,154 1,135 1,046 1,102

The numbers had ended a whirlwind day for both Kristie Brodowski and her running mate David Unger, who had spent the previous several weeks canvassing neighborhoods in the township’s three precincts, campaigning together on a platform of “Parks, Police and Preservation.” When they finally Democrats Kristie Brodowski and David Unger were elected to the New Garden Continued on Page 3A

Oxford Country Christmas guide

Oxford Borough awarded $736,000 state grant By Steven Hoffman Staff Writer

Kennett falls in playoff game...1C

INDEX Opinion.......................7A Obituaries...................2B Calendar of Events.....2C Classifieds..................4C

© 2007 The Chester County Press

Township Board of Supervisors on Nov. 5.

Oxford Borough has received a state grant to help fund a much-needed project that the borough wouldn’t be able to complete on its own because of financial constraints. State Rep. John Lawrence announced this week that Oxford Borough will receive a $736,000 state grant for sidewalk repair and safety improvements. Nearly 9,000 linear feet of sidewalks and curbing will be installed in areas where none exist or where deterioration dictates the need for replacement. ADA-compliant ramps will also be installed where appropriate. “This grant will be used to replace old, broken sidewalks in areas that have not seen repair for decades,” said Lawrence. “Receiving this grant is a real win for these neighborhoods and the Borough as a whole. This grant funding is very competi-

tive, and I strongly advocated on behalf of Oxford’s application. This funding will benefit both residents in town and school children from the entire Oxford Area School District.” At the Nov. 18 council meeting, Oxford Borough officials expressed their gratitude for the assistance from the state representative. Borough manager Brian Hoover said that Lawrence really went to bat for the borough to help secure funding for the project. Pauline Garcia-Allen, a consultant who helps the borough with the efforts to secure grant funding, noted that it wouldn’t be possible to get this kind of grant without the support of lawmakers. She said that both Lawrence and State Sen. Andy Dinniman have been good advocates on behalf of the borough. Oxford Borough estimates that the entire scope of the project will cost about $1.8 million. There is hope that additional funding might be possible because of the

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importance of the work being undertaken. The project will enhance pedestrian mobility and safety on sections of Broad, South Franklin, Nottingham and Garfield streets in residential areas of the borough. The work will focus on the area surrounding the elementary and middle schools in the middle of Oxford. “The Borough of Oxford would like to thank Representative Lawrence for his continued support in helping Oxford and its residents secure this important funding,” Oxford Borough Council President Sue Lombardi said in a statement. “This grant makes possible infrastructure improvements in areas around several of our schools where current sidewalk and curbs are non-existent or in need of replacement.” To contact Staff Writer Steven Hoffman, email editor@chestercounty. com.

Penn Township officials discuss Route 796 bridge project By Marcella Peyre-Ferry Staff Writer The Penn Township Board of Supervisors has the opportunity to decide how PennDOT will deal with the Route 796 bridge over Route 1 when the entire bypass and all of its bridges are reconstructed in the coming decade. PennDOT representatives were on hand at the Nov. 6 township meeting with plans showing two options – a three-lane bridge with turning lanes and traffic signals at both sides on and off ramps, or a two-lane bridge with roundabouts at each side to control traffic. The initial reaction in the room was in favor of the roundabout option, but the ensuing discussion raised the question of how well they would function if traffic volume at the inter-

section increases. The township is building a new sports park at one corner, Penn Medicine may expand at another, and there have been discussions of a major shopping center at a third corner. “I would have to believe that would have a detrimental effect on them,” supervisor Curtis Mason said. “You don’t want to put something here that’s not going to work.” The township will be gathering information from developers to give PennDOT as much traffic flow data as possible before they make a decision. The entire length of the Route 1 bypass from Kennett Square to the Maryland line is due to undergo reconstruction in five- to six-mile segments. Included in that work will Continued on Page 6A

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