Zoning Change Approved, Finally, For Franklin Mint Site

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Delaware County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP, PA –  A decade after the Franklin Mint closed, its round museum building still sits vacant along busy Baltimore Pike in Delaware County.

Development of the prominent property has been plagued by opposition from residents, a slow economy, and – most recently – a legal battle among the developers.

But the plan took a step forward this week when a revised zoning ordinance won approval from the Middletown Township Council. The site, with more than 170 acres, could now have 350 townhouses, offices, retail space, and a hotel.

Its completion could take years. By that time, the site could become just one piece in a transformation of the heavily traveled Route 1 through Middletown.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20140301_Zoning_change_approved__finally__for_Franklin_Mint_site.html#61TJpi4ej4yS7q3Z.99

Granite Run Mall Management Addresses Middletown Council

Marquette Management, the new operators of Granite Run Mall, paid a visit to a Middletown Council meeting to share their plans for turning the mall around.  This news was met with much enthusiasm from council members and residents.  Middletown Township and the Rose Tree Media School District rely on the mall for a good portion of their tax base.

Marquette Management stressed Granite Run Mall is here to stay.  The company is committed to filling empty stores, making the mall more attractive, more secure and returning Granite Run Mall to its prominent place in the community.  When the forty empty stores are filled, it will add four hundred new jobs.  Marquette has eighty prospective tenants they are vetting to fill the empty space.

Marquette representatives will return to council in two months to update them on their progress.  We give Marquette Management two Roy’s Rants thumbs up for riding to the rescue and having a solid plan of action.

Former Franklin Mint Site In Delaware County Being Eyed For Planned Community

Image via Wikipedia

A 173-acre site, that includes the former Franklin Mint in Middletown, Delaware County, will become a planned community if developers have their way.  The mint site and two other adjacent properties will be developed into a new “walkable community”.  This project would take 5 – 10 years to complete and would feature 1,253 homes, 798,000 square feet of commercial space, 235,000 square feet of office space and a 225-room hotel.

The new community would enable residents to live, work and play in the same place.  This “town center” concept is becoming very popular.  Construction would create 4,748 jobs.  The number of permanent jobs this project would bring to Middletown is estimated at 2,800!

Tax revenue generated from this project, for the borough, school district and county, would be over $8.1 million!  The Franklin Mint, Middletown site has been closed since 2004.

Public hearings have already started and developers stated they are willing to hold as many hearings as it takes.  500 people attended last night’s legislative hearing.  The Franklin Mint redevelopment project is endorsed by the Delaware Valley Smart Growth Alliance and the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce.

The project is strongly opposed by a group called Save Middletown.

Here is a link to the developer’s website that will answer many questions you might have about the project:
http://www.transformingthemint.com/index.htm

Here is the Save Middletown website:
http://www.ourmiddletown.org/index_files/fms

You can read both sides and draw your own conclusions.