Ross Township and West View residents will get their first glimpse at what may be planned for the Shoppes at Northway when Akron-based developer Levey and Company holds a public meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. in the upper level of the mall, just outside the entrance to Dick's Sporting goods.
, according to Commissioner Peter A. Ferraro.
"It looks very promising on paper, this could be a very good development for the township," Ferraro told his fellow commissioners Monday night. "I'm talking millions of dollars for the township."
Ferraro said the plans are very preliminary, and far from finalized.
"They don't have any firm contracts yet, what they've discussed has been hypothetical. It's going to be relocating some of the establishments up there, they're talking about professional office space for doctors and lawyers, they're talking about a restaurant, they're talking about another grocery store," he said. "They have some big plans, I would recommend you try to attend the meeting on the 5th."
Ferraro said plans for the former school, now the temporary home of the Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, have yet to be revealed.
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Ferraro said anyone wanting to attend the Dec. 5 meeting should call the township at 412-931-7055 to give planners an idea of how big an audience to expect.
The Shoppes at Northway went on the market in June after Jefferson-Pilot Investments, acting on behalf of the original mortgage lender, bought back the Shoppes at Northway at an Allegheny County Sheriff's Sale on May 7.
The Shoppes at Northway are currently home to Dicks's Sporting Goods, PetSmart, Marshalls, Aldi's, and a number of other, smaller shops. However, it also was home to Borders, which closed in 2011.
The 385,000-square-foot shopping center complex at 8000 McKnight Road, which has been a local landmark since it was built in the 1960s, went on the block in October 2011.
The mall had been in receivership since February and is being managed by Compass Advisory Partners LLC.
The mall is believed to be the first indoor mall in Pennsylvania and among the first indoor malls to open in the United States.
What would like the developer to do with the Shoppes at Northway? Tell us in the comments box below.
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I will be there at that meeting to make sure that some of these facts will be preserved. Although it does sound that the new owners are NOT destroying it & will adapt their plans to the current mall structure. John Schalcosky President of the Ross Township Historical Society & West View Historical Society
The North Hills is lacking Red Robin, On the Border, Smokey Bones, Cracker Barrel, and plenty of chains not currently in the Pittsburgh market. Everyone has to go to Robinson or Cranberry for a better variety than what Ross has to offer. However, there are also few good independent restaurants in Ross and the North Hills in general. We used to have Johnny Garneau's, The Cimarron, Cranberry Hall, Blarney Stone, and plenty of others. Anything along these lines would be welcome, as would some unique dining/nightlife spots. In Charlotte, there is a restaurant, upscale bar, and movie theater in one package known as Mez. This sort of business would thrive in the North Hills, especially without anything similar within striking distance, plus would serve as a way to attract other businesses and bring more cash into Ross, especially from the 21-35 crowd. There is nothing for German cuisine in Ross, nor is there a good Irish pub. A carbon copy of Fitzgerald's Irish Pub (in Charlotte) would flourish, as would a great German restaurant in the mold of Schmidt's (Columbus) or Waldhorn (Charlotte). Let's expand cultural diversity through small business!
Duncan Books 1047 Perry Hwy Pgh, PA 15237
Why not use the historical aspect of the mall as a draw? The significance of it having been the first mall in the USA , demonstrates uniqueness and could draw the out of town shopper, and could be used as an advertising strategy. We want to improve the area, to attract people to want to shop in the North Hills which would provide jobs, revenue, and increase real estate values. In 1978, when I first moved to the North Hills, Johnny Garneau's restaurant overlooked McKnight road and Horne's Department Store, was in the mall. It was an asset to have this quality merchant and independent restaurant close at hand. Dick's has remained a quality store and hope it stays.Let's look to improve the area not cheapen it with Walmart who is keeping China going strong!