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| Wawa abandons Super Wawa in Media |
This afternoon, Wawa Corporation formally withdrew their application to bring a Super Wawa to the corner of
Providence Rd and Baltimore Avenue. Much
like the situation with the Third Street Bridge, Borough Council again failed
to provide the necessary leadership towards one of the biggest projects of the
year. They didn't even communicate! In this instance, it wasn’t public
opinion that sunk the deal, but a borough council incapable of working through
issues which they were elected to lead on. After over a year of run-arounds, Wawa has had enough.
$5 million in building construction, $1 million in
contracting, 35 jobs and a consistent tax revenue vital to this town has been embarrassingly left to walk away. Yes, there were challenges to be worked out
which regarded traffic and zoning, but it was a business to at least explore further. Wawa, if anything was owed that.
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| This is as far as Wawa got with a Super Store. A concept |
Wawa will go on to build other stores, while we wait around
to see what might develop next for the gateway to Media. The bigger problem for the town will be
dealing with a borough council that’s completely broken and uncooperative to businesses looking to be a part of the community.
I'm embarrassed for this town.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad. The entryways were not planned with enough consideration for traffic. It would only cause headaches for locals. Not to mention it moves Wawa out of downtown for residents that walk there, especially after the bars close.
ReplyDeleteWhen can this board get ousted? Not soon enough. Sadly, politics, money and back scratching rule the roost. Everyone wants instant gratification, but sadly no one looks at the long term of CONSTANT tax revenue coming in for YEARS and YEARS. Employment for 35 or so people, which in turn means most likely the employees are local and will shop/buy (more tax revenue) in Media or at least locally with the money they earn. Such a shame that Wawa is/has been investing in their hometown before most of us have been born and we have a board of whatever you want to call them disregarding one of the few great things that are left to this town. Funny how this town struggles with the simple things like fixing a bridge and building a new store for YEARS, but can easily hand over $20,000 to a corrupt company in Florida.
ReplyDeleteBoth existing wawas would have remained.
ReplyDeleteRyan, Wawa planned to keep the current location open & the new Wawa would have been a second location. This would have made Wawa walkable for more Media residents.
ReplyDeleteDon't cry about the Wawa. Urban outfitters that is also local is going to get there and maybe Anthropologie.
ReplyDeleteReally, what is your source of information?
DeleteWhat a relief, Wawa is not the kind of store to be at the entrance to our HomeTown.
DeleteWhy not Wawa? Better Wawa than vacant lots especially at an entrance to town to make people think it's a ghost town
DeleteWhy not Wawa? Better to have something than a huge empty lot to have people believe that its a ghost town
DeleteNot only are Urban Outfitters & Anthropologie anti gay, they have also been known to rip off American artisans & have similar items made over seas.
DeleteNow Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie (don't forget Terrain in Glen Mills)are anti-gay because the owner contributed to a political campaign for a former PA senator? And for that, those stores would be unwelcome in Media? WOW! That is a disturbing sentiment. Should we check with each business owner's political views before we allow them to do business?
DeleteSounds like the Media Borough Council needs to GO! Ineffective and totally aloof of the needs and best moves for this town! This move is a dagger into the heart of Media....AGAIN!!!!
ReplyDeleteEither Vice President, Simpson or Robinson need to take the reigns of this council. Things have been getting out of hand for awhile now.
ReplyDeleteI also heard through my own sources that Wawa was very displeased with how they were treated by this group.
This is a disgrace. I hope everyone who follows issues like this and others plaguing Media will remember this come election time. Saying 'no' to thngs like jobs and infrastructure (bridge) while spending 2.5 mil on a grandiose library will surely send Media into it's own fiscal cliff.....so sad.
ReplyDeleteThis is very dissappointing. The super-Wawa would have brought vitality to the town. Residents overwhelmingly wanted it. Visitors to town are now welcomed by: We Buy Gold on the right, closed bank on the left, ugly empty lot on the right (proposed wawa sight), ugly empty lot on the left (past DD), Citibank branch closing on the right, etc. etc. The seeds of decay.
ReplyDelete"The super-Wawa would have brought vitality to the town". Have you ever been to State Street on any weekend night, or Wednesday during Dining Under the Stars? Are you serious?
DeleteMaybe it is time to start integrating Baltimore Pike into the overall plan of the town, and spread the vitality around. Vitality, life, people, not cars zipping through drive throughs or stopping for gas and a shorti.
WORST COUNCIL EVER!
ReplyDeleteIt's MRE fault. Trying to shoehorn WaWa into a sight with too much traffic already, and needing zoning changes. Nice idea but the wrong site. I'm on Council's side on this one, Tedman.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Michael Jordan on this issue. A mega gas station should not be the gateway into Media. MRE is at fault.
DeleteAnd how do you know Wawa didn't pick the site o gosh I guess you'really money didn't buy a well thought idea
DeleteMaybe they can install a greenway there instead man.
ReplyDeleteHampton Inn to Media: 'Psst, you know that lot over there where Wawa wants to go, well if by chance it becomes available we might be interested.'
ReplyDeleteNot happening. Media's about to become "Everybody's Dirtfields"
DeleteI love all these people who say because Wawa is not coming to that site there will automatically be a Dollar Store built. Are you kidding me?
ReplyDeleteAs sick as this makes me as an Upper Prov resident I and many others in UP have no say (according to various members on this council) I have to pick my battles and presently it's the dam(n) bridge/road. That being said I am disappointed in the decision and I for one think the traffic issue can and could be rectified. Have any of you ever tried to park in the Starbucks lot??? After multiple tries of congestion - regarding the parking lot not entering or exiting - I end up at WaWa! Local company & nice prices!!! Flavors aren't bad either!
ReplyDeleteMedia needs a very interesting store to be at the entrance of the town, NOT a Wawa. Fix up the store that is presently across from the Post Office, that needs some help. The town needs a store to blend with the charm of our Media shopping district, NOT another Wawa and gas pumps. Take another look at Pennell Road and Baltimore Pike Wawa. That is the store that you should not close.......
ReplyDeleteThe Baltimore Pike Wawa isn't big enough for gas pumps. The building and it's parking situation is awful. This new Wawa would have been ideal for this community and something needed years ago.
DeleteDean Keyes would make a fortune with a Super Wawa at Baltimore and Providence. That would be good for a Media business.
DeleteWhat is wrong with Wawa? Local, successful, good service, inexpensive, always clean and they are always modernizing their stores. Do any of the Super Wawas have traffic issues? Wawa is a solid professional company and Media success story... not sure if I can say the same for many of the "picturesque boutiques" on State Street. Maybe if Wawa carried jars of organic butter chicken sauce and California rolls in the grab-and-go fridge, the aesthetics police would have a change of heart.
ReplyDeleteNo, you all got it wrong - the problem with the WaWa was that they were told by boro council by way of FROGs that the driveways all had to be 'one way in' so no one could ever get out!
ReplyDeleteLOL!
Oh Dear Heavens Just for the heck of it I just looked at the internet blog Media, Pa News. Imagine that there is no news about WaWa pulling their application for building @ Providence & Baltimore Pike - Imagine that there is nothing about Judge Proud approximately 20 (+/-)days ago gave Media Council "30 days to cool off" - Imagine that this same blog is quick to point out that Upper Providence is no up to giving/bequeathing... several hundred thousand dollars to the MUP Library. This same individual gives off bad body language when anyone from UP has something to say at any borough meeting be it workshop or their 3rd Thursday monthly meetings. I have copied and am pasting a paragraph from Media, Pa News, see below: (I believe we are to assume the "I" in this case is the blog creator)
ReplyDeleteI strongly support the library project and believe it reflects the values of what Media and Upper Providence need: A local library for families to meet with beautiful aesthetics, common meeting room spaces for community groups, and improved parking over what we have today. Our current library is good, but is sorely needing structural changes, and is degrading rapidly. When you see the beautiful architectural work and the vision of the new building, it’s hard not to get excited by such a landmark in Media, and one which I believe will attract more residents to Upper Providence and Media alike.
To me and many other UP residents this situation is a "2 way street" - no pun intended!
Someone suggested a hotel at the former Media Inn location. Not going to happen. Not enough profit potential for the greedy Strine family.
ReplyDeleteLOL... Love it. Great point!
ReplyDeleteMedia Is NOT Everyone's Hometown! It's filled with Haters, old school politics and old school business owners who are obviously threatened by new business coming to town... to the degree they bash and talk behind backs waiting and hoping to see people fail! My Three Sons hasn't even opened their doors and I've heard through the grave vine, or gossip if you will people saying they'll be closed in a year. That's just messed up. Clearly these business owners need to focus on running their own business and keep their noses out of everyone else's. And how about wishing someone success in their new venture instead of hoping they fail! Jerks!
ReplyDeleteWhat is "the grave vine"? "Old school business owners"? At least half the businesses on State Street are less than 10 years old!
DeleteThere will always be gossip and speculation. Expressing the opinion that a business will be closed in a year is not going to make or break that business. Everyone in the MBA wants businesses in Media to succeed. Successful businesses bring foot traffic and potential customers to all the other businesses in the Borough.
Wow! I don't know what business owners you've talked to but everyone I've talked to is looking forward to My Three Sons & we love when a fellow small business comes to town. We all shop each others businesses & work together on a lot of projects. I'm not clear how Wawa withdrawing their application had anything to do with the businesses in Media or how we are jerks. I'm really sorry to hear you feel this way.
DeleteHeather, I've definitely heard the disgruntled grumbling along State Street when the proposed new business is a direct competitor with them. And it never seems to be the restaurants grumbling...
ReplyDeleteI think anything can be accomplished by simply floating a bond.
ReplyDeleteIs that you Kent Davidson? Known for three things: 1)Nobody goes to his blog. 2) is a FROG 3) "let's float a bond" for the 3rd Street bridge. (We don't want or need the state and county funding.)
Delete