Politics & Government

Costco to Open by Fall 2014

Plans for the Hamilton Crossings Shopping Center in Lower Mac are being updated while developers put funding in place.

Costco got one step closer to Lower Macungie Township at the Thursday meeting of the Lower Macungie Township Board of Commissioners.

Granted, it was a very small step, however.

Commissioners heard from John Kingsley of the Lehigh County Industrial Development Authority regarding Tax Increment Financing, or TIF, that can be put into place to help fund the project.

Find out what's happening in Lower Macungiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

A TIF is an economic tool that provides money for development of a site that requires a large amount of money to pay upfront costs. In this case the costs involve mine wash remediation and addressing stormwater issues before it can be developed.

Ideally the township, East Penn School District and Lehigh County will jointly agree to their parts in the TIF.

Find out what's happening in Lower Macungiewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Jeremy Fogel of the Plymouth Meeting-based developmers the Goldenberg Group spoke next about tenants and what the complex will look like.

"It will have a 'town center' feel, and will look very much like the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley," he said.

Kingsley said approvals of the TIF for Hamilton Crossings is months away. What he sought -- and received -- at Thursday's meeting was the BOC's committment to naming a commissioner to the approval process.

Commissioner James Lanscek and Township Manager Bruce Fosselman were unanimously appointed to the job.


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