Abrams Realty & Development is set to challenge Exton Square Mall rejection in court after West Whiteland's board of supervisors voted down its proposal to turn the struggling mall into a mixed-use development.
The $34.25 million purchase made by Abrams Realty in March included plans to transform the 75-acre property into a residential community with retail space, featuring 718 homes at the busy intersection of Routes 30 and 100. Despite months of presentations and revisions, including the removal of 73 townhomes, the project faced significant community opposition due to concerns over traffic and sewer capacity.
In August, West Whiteland's planning commission recommended approving the project, but Supervisors Rajesh Kumbhardare and Brian Dunn voted down the plan, citing complaints from residents and doubts about the township's ability to manage stormwater. The rejection has effectively halted the project, with West Whiteland Township Director of Planning and Zoning John Weller stating that this concludes the review process.
Abrams Realty Principal Peter Abrams plans to challenge the board's decision in court, expressing confidence in their "game plan" to get the project back on track quickly. With the exception of Boscov's store, most of the existing mall would be demolished, and a new Main Line Health facility would be relocated to a separate building.
The proposal had included 381 apartments, 172 townhomes, and 165 units for older adults, with plans for public events spaces, entertainment facilities, and fitness centers. The zoning designation as a "town center" means the township's approval is needed even if the master plan adheres to zoning laws.
Abrams Realty will now have to submit a revised master plan that complies with West Whiteland's updated zoning ordinance, which sets a density limit of six dwellings per acre. This would require further scaling back the number of homes included in the project.
The $34.25 million purchase made by Abrams Realty in March included plans to transform the 75-acre property into a residential community with retail space, featuring 718 homes at the busy intersection of Routes 30 and 100. Despite months of presentations and revisions, including the removal of 73 townhomes, the project faced significant community opposition due to concerns over traffic and sewer capacity.
In August, West Whiteland's planning commission recommended approving the project, but Supervisors Rajesh Kumbhardare and Brian Dunn voted down the plan, citing complaints from residents and doubts about the township's ability to manage stormwater. The rejection has effectively halted the project, with West Whiteland Township Director of Planning and Zoning John Weller stating that this concludes the review process.
Abrams Realty Principal Peter Abrams plans to challenge the board's decision in court, expressing confidence in their "game plan" to get the project back on track quickly. With the exception of Boscov's store, most of the existing mall would be demolished, and a new Main Line Health facility would be relocated to a separate building.
The proposal had included 381 apartments, 172 townhomes, and 165 units for older adults, with plans for public events spaces, entertainment facilities, and fitness centers. The zoning designation as a "town center" means the township's approval is needed even if the master plan adheres to zoning laws.
Abrams Realty will now have to submit a revised master plan that complies with West Whiteland's updated zoning ordinance, which sets a density limit of six dwellings per acre. This would require further scaling back the number of homes included in the project.
. I mean, it seems like they had a solid plan to revitalize that mall and bring in some new life to the area. And now it's just gonna sit there empty? It's not just about the money, either - this was an opportunity for them to create something new and exciting.
I don’t think those are made-up issues, but at the same time... it feels like the community is being pretty vocal about their disapproval. It's like they have a right to be skeptical, maybe even over-skeptical? But still, it's not like Abrams Realty just threw something together and expected everyone to go along with it.
. It'll be interesting to see if they can find a way to address the concerns without sacrificing too much of their original vision.
anyway Abrams Realty is gonna try 2 challenge the decision in court which i think has a good chance of succeeding tbh they seem pretty confident about their game plan 
so lets keep our fingers crossed that Abrams Realty can make this work in the end! 
I'm not surprised this happened 
. Sometimes these big changes can be overwhelming for communities, and it's totally normal that people get nervous about traffic & sewer capacity 
. But I still think there's a silver lining here 
! Abrams Realty is already planning to go back to court, which means they're not giving up 
. And who knows, maybe this will be an opportunity for them to come back even stronger and more community-focused 
. Let's keep our fingers crossed that everyone involved can find a solution that works for everyone 
!
. I mean, come on, 6 dwellings per acre? That's like, totally not realistic for a community that needs more than just apartments to be viable. And what about all those townhomes they were gonna remove already? It's like, can't they see how much community opposition is just going to keep popping up no matter how many times they tweak the plan? 
This is why developers need more flexibility and a better understanding of their audience. I swear, it's always about the numbers on paper, not what people actually want or need in real life 
The town center designation already limits development to a certain extent, but Abrams has to revisit and scale back their plans? It's like, come on, you've got the money, you've done your research... what more do you need? 
It's not like Abrams isn't aware of the issues, they've already made changes... now it's just a matter of finding a solution that works for everyone.
. Maybe some creative solutions will come out of this? 
It's not like they're asking to build a skyscraper or something! A 75-acre mixed-use development isn't gonna break the bank. And what's with all these concerns over traffic and sewer capacity? 
. What's with the Boscov's store tho? Are they just gonna leave it there or get rid of it entirely? 
Exton Square Mall has been struggling for ages and now it looks like we'll never see a revitalized version. I mean, 718 homes and retail space could've really worked but it's not meant to be 
. It's just crazy how the community opposition is still strong even after all those presentations and revisions 
. The new zoning ordinance is gonna be a big challenge for Abrams Realty - they're gonna have to scale back their plans, which means more tears from people who were hoping to see this project come together 
. On the bright side, I guess it's better than seeing the whole mall demolished in one go 
. It's enough to make you want to pull your hair out!