Clifton nursery in limbo as Wawa changes building plans
Plans to build a new Wawa leave Hillside owners in development limbo
CLIFTON HEIGHTS >> Wawa has reportedly changed its plans and will be constructing a convenience store in Upper Darby rather than a previously proposed location in Clifton Heights.
Baltimore Pike and Oak Avenue, Upper Darby, is the new site vs. the Clifton location a couple of blocks away on Baltimore and Jackson avenues, a status which is news to borough officials.
They were unaware of the move although rumors have been circulating. Wawa officials did not return calls to clarify the change in plans.
Caught in the dilemma is the Batchhelder family, the owner of the iconic Hillside Nursery, which had to relocate to make way for the Wawa in Clifton.
Upper Darby Mayor Thomas Micozzie confirmed the relocation after receiving a letter from the developer.
According to Micozzie, the Pizza Hut and Burlington Coat Factory buildings at Oak will be demolished to make way for the new Wawa.
“I received a call that they were going to move to Oak and Baltimore,” Micozzie said. “Apparently they believe it will be a better site location with better traffic patterns, demographics and visibility. This is huge for Upper Darby. Previously there was talk of a car dealership for that corner but this will be much better.”
Micozzie received notice from Wawa’s regional real estate manager of the decision to pursue development in Upper Darby instead of Clifton Heights and noted the owner of the Clifton property was notified of the decision.
Clifton Mayor Joseph Kelly and borough Manager Anthony Tartaglia heard the rumors but had not been notified of the change as of Monday.
“I don’t know anything about it,” Kelly said of the plans to relocate. “I heard the rumors. The developer already paid” for some of the permits for a 5,000 square-foot building with 50 parking spaces and eight gas pumps.
The construction had also received the nod of approval from the Delaware County Planning Commission and the borough’s planning board.
Tartaglia, who was not aware of the move, announced officials had plans to approve final land development for Wawa at council’s meeting tonight.
“Wawa has not pulled out but has slowed down development,” Tartaglia said. “The owner of the property (Hunt Realty Company) already demolished the houses and has had a lot of expenses.”
According to Jen Batchhelder, her father Joe Batchhelder, purchased a parcel of land on Jackson Avenue in back of the car wash to continue the nursery business last year when they learned of Wawa would cause them to relocate.
“We’re trying to move but Anthony Tartaglia won’t let us move,” Jen Batchhelder, 33, said. “He won’t let us pour concrete and we were told we have to have a parking lot, sidewalks, handicapped bathrooms and a water fountain. We were so happy when we received a building permit but now we are told we need an interior engineer to present plans to the borough.
“We have to move. Right now we have nowhere to go and we have to leave. We don’t even know when we have to leave. I wish they would tell us something. We are not allowed on our new property or allowed to sell there until he says OK. We are allowed to put up the shell of the pole barn. It’s just for storage.”
According to Jen, the family has owned and operated Hillside for 50 years as tenants on the property.
Tartaglia announced Batchhelder is no different than any other business owner that must comply with the borough code but hasn’t submitted building plans for a commercial property.
“They have a permit to put a pole barn up,” Tartaglia said. “Now they have to submit interior designs. We need specifics. I asked that they retain an architect and submit a set of plans. We have to safeguard the general public that will be inside the building.”
Vicki Thompson, of Drexel Hill, who has shopped at Hillside for almost two decades, wants people to know the business is still open.
“I’m a retired teacher from the area and have been shopping here 15 to 20 years,” Thompson said. “I like to shop where I made my living and I come here to buy gifts and supplies to do landscaping at my house. This is their busy season. Everybody should come and patronize them. I understand when you move you have to meet the codes but there are not many businesses like this. It’s a shame. Hopefully they can resolve the issue and still be in business. This whole situation is putting them out of business.”