East Penn School District

Costco Could Net East Penn $1.5 Million Annually

The East Penn Board of School Directors Monday night approved a tax increment financing plan that could bring the Lehigh Valley its first Costco in 2014 and eventually bring East Penn $1.5 million a year in tax revenue.

After a lengthy discussion and two failed attempts to table the decision, the East Penn Board of School Directors Monday night approved a financing plan that could bring the Lehigh Valley its first Costco as soon as fall of 2014 and ultimately put an estimated $1.5 million per year into the school district's bank account. The plan approved by the board to help fund the proposed $140 million Hamilton Crossings shopping mall in Lower Macungie Township is what is known as Tax Increment Financing or TIF. Basically, a TIF is an economic tool to help develop a site that requires a large amount of money to pay up-front costs. In this case, the land – 63 acres off of Krocks Road between Hamilton Boulevard and the Route 222 bypass – needs …

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Is Costco Still Coming to Lower Macungie?

What's happening with the proposed Hamilton Crossings shopping center that will feature the Lehigh Valley's first Costco store?

The $140 million Hamilton Crossings shopping center in Lower Macungie—set to feature the area's first Costco—will be up for an important vote at next week's East Penn School Board meeting, according to a WFMZ report. The school board will be the first of three government bodies asked to approve a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) plan to help pay for the project. A TIF is an economic tool to help develop a site that requires a large amount of money to pay up-front costs. In this case, the costs involve removing waste from iron mining and addressing stormwater issues before the land can be developed. Ideally, the school district, Lower Macungie Township and Lehigh County will each approve their portion of the TIF. The school board meets Monday …

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Costco Plans Detailed

Developers looking to build Hamilton Crossings in Lower Macungie -- which will feature the area's first Costco -- are seeking some zoning variances from the township.

Costco Plans Detailed

Developers looking to build Hamilton Crossings in Lower Macungie -- which will feature the area's first Costco -- are seeking some zoning variances from the township.

If all goes well, the developers of Hamilton Crossings in Lower Macungie hope to break ground a year from now on the 63-acre shopping center that will include the area's first Costco.  Last week, representatives of The Goldenberg Group based in Blue Bell showed Lower Macungie Township commissioners several renderings of their plans for the shopping center proposed for land between Hamilton Boulevard and the Route 222 Bypass. Krocks Road runs through the middle of it. Most of the land is open space owned by the Catholic Diocese of Allentown. The developers are seeking several variances to township zoning laws that deal with regulations about such aspects as the height of fencing and the size of buffers. While showing the renderings, Jeremy …

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Lower Macungie Township

Costco vs. Target: Which is Better?

Here are some strengths and weaknesses of two stores that are coming to a brand new shopping center -- Hamilton Crossings -- near you!

Since new Costco and Target stores are part of the plan for the new Hamilton Crossings shopping center, a recent opinion column caught the eye of the ever-on-the-ball retail research team her at Lower Macungie Patch. Author Michael Neuendorff seems to have the credentials to compare both stores, and some of the facts are points to ponder. For example, Costco only takes MasterCard online, not in stores. We've all shopped in both Costco and Target. Which do you like better and why? Tell us in the comments. The comparison is interesting because plans are in the works to construct both stores at Hamilton Crossings a mere two years from now. It'll be here before we know it. Meanwhile, details are being worked out regarding funding and soil …

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Lower Macungie Township

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. 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. Jeremy Fogel of the …

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Lower Macungie Township

Costco in Lower Mac?

Rumors are flying.

Maybe some people just want it so bad they imagine it's reality. Rumors include that the Hamilton Crossings shopping center, which is running into several snags due to mining debris beneath it, will include a Costco, according to a Morning Call story. The popular retailer has been rumored to be coming the area for at least the last five years. "Yeah, I've heard that," said Lower Macungie Planning Director Sara Pandl, "Just not from Costco. "I'd love to see a Costco here," she chuckled, "But nobody has talked to me about it." Target is the only confirmed occupant of the Hamilton Crossings project so far. Lowe’s, BJ’s and ShopRite also have been named as possibilities, but even those may have changed.

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Ron Beitler

9:55 am on Friday, July 13, 2012

Wegmans. :)   more ›