Study to predict impact of $160M complex

Allegheny County officials are looking to see what kind of impact developing a $160 million retail, hotel and office complex on the Trader Jack's flea market property would have on surrounding communities.

Dennis Davin, director of the Allegheny County Department of Economic Development, said his office last week contracted San Francisco-based Economic Research Associates to do a market analysis of the area surrounding the 136-acre site off Interstate 79 in Collier.

"This will help us determine if there is a need for retail, office and hotel space in that area and, in general, will show us what the impact will be on other establishments along Route 50," said Davin, adding the cost for the study will be assumed by the developer.

Also, Davin said, his office soon will set up meetings for representatives of all three taxing bodies -- Collier, the Chartiers Valley School District and the county -- to begin committee meetings to start work on a tax-increment financing program for the proposed development, known as Collier Crossing.

Under the tax break, money that otherwise would be paid in property taxes would be used to pay for nearly $25 million in infrastructure improvements, according to Philadelphia developer Goldenberg Group Inc.

The proposed improvements include a ramp connecting I-79 to the development site and possibly widening parts of Route 50. Plans for the improvements still are in the design stage, Davin said.

The Route 50 Corridor Commission, made up of business owners along Route 50 in Bridgeville, Collier and Scott, is in favor of improvements along the road, chairman Lou Phillips said.

Local business owners have come forward at the commission's meetings to say they are willing to contribute rights-of-way for the road widening project.

To widen the road, developers will need to take land from the private property owners, Phillips said.

"That's really so exciting. Usually we have entities opposing to something like this," Phillips said. "But in this case, basically everyone is coming forward and saying, 'This makes sense. Let's get it done.'"

Bill Peters, co-owner of Peters Place restaurant, said he has seen additional turning lanes and other work done over the years to better Route 50, but traffic congestion is still a problem.

"Anyone of us (business owners) would want any type of improvement along Route 50," said Peters, adding his restaurant, which has lounge and banquet facilities, has been along the busy road for 20 years.

In August, PennDOT will start an $80 million resurfacing project on I-79 from Kirwan Heights to the Parkway West ramp, spokesman Dick Skrinjar said.

Goldenberg was hoping to save money by partnering with PennDOT to do the resurfacing and ramp construction simultaneously. The developer was trying to meet a mid-June deadline -- at which time PennDOT was going to begin the bidding process on the resurfacing project.

"We have all talked about that deadline. We could not have a TIF package completed by June. Everyone knew that," Davin said.

Davin said his office is working with the developers and PennDOT to review costs and designs of the project and public infrastructure improvements, determine a dollar amount for the TIF and develop a more realistic time schedule.