Macungie Crossing’s Home Depot nears completion
Commercial users line up to join it
Months after construction began last November, Lower Macungie Township’s new Home Depot is on track to open this summer as the Macungie Crossing project also grows in scope.
The Home Depot, to be located at 5877 Hamilton Boulevard as part of the now fully approved development as of March 2, would be a one-story, 136,058-squarefoot location.
“The Home Depot opening at Macungie Crossing is a great win for local community members needing a close, convenient option for their home improvement and construction projects,” RD Management president Richard Birdoff said last year. “It’s also an important sign of what’s to come at the center as we work diligently to bring additional opportunities for retailers and restaurants to join the market.”
Nathan Jones, the Lower Macungie director of community development, gave an idea of what the project’s future looked like once the Home Depot was finished in a Tuesday interview with The Morning Call.
He said a second, one-story building across the parking lot from Home Depot, to measure at about 10,000 square feet and host anywhere from three to six businesses inside, will begin construction at an unknown date. While no tenants have been announced, these businesses will most likely include food-based and retail stores.
Any food user will be required to have an outdoor dining area to minimize COVID-19 risks.
As many as two or more additional buildings could join the second building as well, Jones added.
To address residents’ previous concerns of increased traffic because of the development, Jones said the township will continue to work with PennDOT and developers in refining the existing light signal synchronization at Hamilton Boulevard as developments are built.
Commissioners approved land development plans for the applicant, RB Grange Road Associates, roughly 15 years ago. However, aside from the construction of public improvements such as a parking lot access driveway, lighting and a storm water management system, the 20.8-acre site has been vacant for years, according to township documents.
Things picked up in February 2022 when the developer asked to modify the previous approval with reductions in required parking, and removing a previously planned separate retail building.
Macungie Crossing would be less than one mile from Hamilton Crossings and is close to Walmart Supercenter off Mill Creek Road.
Hamilton Crossings is on 72 acres along the Route 222 Bypass and includes a more than 500,000-square-foot commercial town center. Nordstrom Rack, Smashburger, Whole Foods and Costco opened their first Lehigh Valley locations at the site.