Barbara Babcock says she is excited to meet her new
neighbors, and she's not real fussy about whom they might be.
Babcock co-owns Woodward Landscape Supply Co., whose
next-door neighbor for nearly three years has been the abandoned Water World
Park in East Pikeland Township.
That 22-acre parcel, where weeds have sprouted around
barren pools, soon could be sprouting new life. The property is to be auctioned
next week.
"We don't really care what it's used for, as long as
it's not dirty, noisy, and loud," Babcock said.
In its heyday, Water World, about three miles from
downtown Phoenixville, would have been bustling during a hot spell like this
one. Until it closed in 2012, its side-by-side waterslides made it popular with
campers and families.
Babcock recalled that she did take pleasure in the
splashes and screams of busloads of kids cooling off.
Then Water World's owner decided to sell, and the
property was listed for $1.9 million. Interest was scarce, and it was relisted
with another firm for $800,000.
But after the property spent too much time on the market,
the bank holding the mortgage opted to auction it.
So on July 29, those interested are to gather at the abandoned
site and begin bidding.
Bob Dann, executive vice president of Max Spann Real
Estate & Auction Co., said he has high hopes for the property due to its
location on busy Route 724 in Chester County and its multipurpose zoning.
Stores and houses could be built there.
"It's a mix of everything people want," Dann
said.
Area business owners such as Babcock are crossing their
fingers for a successful sale, too. With a booming downtown just down the road,
the "more farmy" area is ready for its own time to shine, said
Anthony Storti Jr. of Tony's Family Restaurant, one block from the overgrown
lot.
Storti, who said he once had customers flocking for
cheesesteaks and perogies as part of a day at the pool, said his area is in
need of a little rejuvenation.
"There's no offices and no businesses, other than
mom-and-pop places," Storti said. "There's nothing substantial. We'll
take anything to draw attention to the street."
Years of effort by East Pikeland and neighboring
communities to attract developers to outdated and abandoned lots that paint a
"very negative image" of the area is finally paying off, said John
Colarusso, chairman of the East Pikeland Planning Commission.
A regional task force, which included local officials and
business people, was established five years ago, and created tax incentives and
redesigned zoning ordinances to accommodate developers, Colarusso said.
East Pikeland hopes to grab the attention of Phoenixville
residents who often travel there for the big-store items they can't find within
the borough.
Task force members held town-hall meetings to solicit
ideas. They are hoping to introduce new shops and "end up with something
that would be quite attractive," Colarusso said.
"We've had a momentum of attitudes and opinions on
our side," Colarusso said.
In recent months, plans have moved forward to develop two
large housing communities near the former Water World.
Longview Properties is planning an adult-housing
community on a 115-acre lot at Wall Street and Spring City Road. And within
walking distance of the Water World site, the David Cutler Group is aiming to
build another development, Colarusso said.
Next on the to-do list is the creation of a more
attractive environment for residents of the potential 600 housing units.
Colarusso said the Planning Commission will focus on creating sidewalks,
traffic crossings, bike paths, and technology-driven intersections that would
help business traffic flow while maintaining the "green" look of the
area.
"The vision is to have this pedestrian-friendly
multimodal connector, rather than this ugly-looking highway," Colarusso
said.
Source: Philly.com
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