Crossing Broad
The big story in Montco is a potential land trade that could pave the way for industrial development along the Schuylkill River up here.
A warehouse developer’s proposal to trade land with the state in Limerick Township and beyond has blindsided local officials — and ignited fierce opposition from residents who fear the deal could clear the path for a data center.
The state would gain 559 acres across three counties, including what would become Delaware County’s first state game lands, according to the proposal on file with the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
In return, the developer, Limerick Town Center LLC, would secure a 55-acre property in Limerick. That land adjoins an industrial tract the developer already owns, which was formerly the site of the Publicker distillery.
The developer is basically sending C.J. McCollum and Corey Kispert to the state and the state is giving them Trae Young in return, but in this case Trae is a 55-acre plot that hugs the river on the other side of the old Pennhurst Asylum. It’s currently a tract of protected game land and residents are worried that it might be used for a data center, which hasn’t been proposed yet. There is, however, a data center proposal for the land next to the “Philadelphia” (Sanatoga) Premium Outlets, which is near the nuclear power plant and not far from this trade site.
In layman’s terms, the developer would give up some land in Berks and Delco and then basically do a pick swap in Limerick. It’s a good deal for the state, based on acreage gain alone, but the Montco residents are obviously against it because they don’t want more development in the area. They’re wary that the corridor could be turned into some sort of data center alley and just bothered in general that they were blindsided by the whole thing. Typical opposition, really, like wildlife and community impact, traffic, overdevelopment, no public benefit, etc.
The Game Commission votes Saturday on whether or not this will go through. Limerick officials can’t do anything other than voice their opposition since the Commonwealth owns the land.
My biggest problem with all of this is Delco. What did Delco do to deserve a bunch of game land at our expense? That’s some bullshit! How would you feel if we got a bunch of game land in exchange for a developer bulldozing Imperial Pizza and then turning it into a warehouse? For who? For what?
No land swap! Power to the people!
The post Limerick Land Swap Could be the Worst Deal Since Chip Kelly Traded Shady McCoy for Kiko Alonso appeared first on Crossing Broad.
