“I should have known, but I did not know the strong community and outreach of Germantown,” said Burns, “If I had known that back 4 or 6 months ago, I would have started this process way back when... I’m sorry I did not reach out to you sooner.”
Burns’ statement comes a day after State Representative Rosita Youngblood sent a letter to local, state, and federal officials asking them to shut down work at the corner of Chelten and Pulaski Avenues. Youngblood believes that the proposed Sav-A-Lot and Dollar Tree stores are a surprise to the Germantown community, considering Burns was awarded development grants, which total $3 million in state funds. Youngblood also cites an asbestos environmental hazard as well, but Burns has stated that he is compliance with state and federal regulations.
The initial tension between Burns and concerned Germantown residents began when Pulaski Partners announced in a press release on February 24th that the Fresh Grocer at the corner of Chelten and Pulaski Avenues would shut down and that a new development called the “Chelten Plaza” would provide a Dollar Tree and a Save-A-Lot food store to open in its place.
The plan has since been heavily criticized for removing a local source of fresh foods in the area, adding just another dollar-store in Germantown, and how suddenly the plan has taken effect."Ownership has [had] this plan solidly in place… [they] have not been very forthcoming." says Sloane Folks of the Central Germantown Council, "the community doesn't want it; it is not very beneficial for Germantown."
Although Pulaski Partners is developing the Chelten Plaza, the corner will be maintained by Burns as a single-propriety owner. Folks and other residents of Germantown felt that Burns did not seriously take the community into consideration about these plans.
In a previous meeting with the Germantown Community Connection on March 2nd, Burns recalled his history with the site. According to the minutes of that meeting, Burns began the process to purchase the site during 2004-2005, which at the time was just an old Shop-Rite, for the purpose of building a 50,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art Fresh Grocer. After the purchase was completed, Burns later acquired the two adjoining lots, which used to be a beverage company and a gas station.
Burns’ team determined that the Fresh Grocer would not work financially at the location, especially with the Fresh Grocer that opened at the Shoppes at La Salle in 2009.
“The conclusion was that Germantown could not support two new Fresh Grocers,” as quoted from the minutes. The Fresh Grocer at La Salle won out, which would lead Burns and Pulaski Partners to the development of a new plan – The Chelten Plaza.
Concerned citizens of Germantown have organized several complaints against the proposed development. There was a zoning code violation found by Germantown lawyer Irv Acklesberg to use against Chelten Plaza.
Under the Philadelphia City Code, Section 14-1634, Article 3.E states that: “Within the area subject to Lower and Central Germantown Special District Controls, the following uses shall be prohibited… Retail sales of variety general store merchandise.”
“They can’t do it,” said Acklesberg, “the city code agrees with us, and it prohibits the Dollar Tree.”
Burns responded by hiring Carl Primavera, a noted “heavyweight lawyer” of zoning laws in Philadelphia, according to Acklesberg.
Acklesberg and an ad-hoc committee formed by the Germantown Community Connection has been meeting with Pulaski Partners to discuss what compromises the two sides can come together on for the corner of Chelten and Pulaski avenues.
Burns said on Thursday night that a Philadelphia natural food store, Weavers Way, is interested in one of the side stores, which drew heavy applause from the audience in First Presbyterian Church. This does not relieve the pressure on Burns, but has appeased some of the Germantown residents.
According to their first press release, Pulaski Partners set the original goal for Chelten Plaza’s completion by autumn of this year.
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