Upper Chi aims to boost Route 322 businesses

UPPER CHICHESTER » Township Manager George Needles recently spoke to members of the Chichester School Board about the township’s plans to increase businesses along Route 322.

Needles said over the past several years, businesses have been reluctant to open along the corridor due to the pending expansion of the roadway. He added that the township will lose an estimated $35,000 and school district $400,000 in tax revenue with the reconstruction over the next three years.

“The community has felt the effects for years,” Needles said. “There has been a lack of investment along the 322 corridor due to the uncertainty of whether there would be a project, which is now coming to fruition over the next few years.”

He said Upper Chichester is the only municipality along the corridor that is involved in a revitalization plan.

Needles said the township contracted with the Delaware County Planning Department to develop a revitalization plan along the Route 322 corridor.

“Our objective is to do redevelopment and try to increase property values to make up for the lost tax revenue,” Needles said. “Our focus is on light manufacturing and industrial jobs to bring jobs to the township.”

Needles said a task force has been organized and asked for Chichester Schools Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Sherman to sit on the committee to represent the interests of the school district.

Board members questioned whether any of the displaced businesses have been encouraged or assisted in reestablishing in the Chichester area.

Needles said PennDOT has met with and offered assistance to some of the businesses to get new locations in the township.

“A lot of the hurt we have taken is due to the lack of investment in that corridor,” Needles said. “Route 322 has been a major thoroughfare for years and there has not been the level of investment that you’d expect.”

Needles also told board members that the township has applied for a state Department of Community and Economic Development grant which will be matched 30 percent by Upper Chichester for a streetscape program. He said the first phase will stretch from Laughead Avenue to Pleasant Avenue and include sidewalk and curbing replacement, decorative street lighting, new bus shelters, street sign, ornamental signs such as banners and a new welcome sign at the exit of 322.

“We are trying to accentuate the fact that Chichester is a very large, diverse municipality,” he said. “Our goal is to create a nice, safe route up Chichester Avenue ... There has not been a lot of business activity here (near Cherry Tree Road where the school board meets), but we are the first and last stop on I-95 in Pennsylvania. If you drive up and down the 95 you’ll see that many of the stops are destinations; commercial as well eateries and fast food places. We don’t have that right now, but we do have interest. We want to build this area up.”

Needles said he will be attending school board meetings on a quarterly basis to keep the board informed, and to try and get feedback.

Board President Ruth Ann Baiocco expressed appreciation to Needles, adding the board will send a letter of support for the DCED grant that Upper Chichester is hoping to secure.