Politics & Government

What Went Here? Yorgey Supply

This week's column got a little confusing because the vacant property in question is actually scheduled to be demolished - the question is when?

 

Patch snapped a picture of the former Yorgey Supply Kitchen & Bath Design Center store at the corner of Orchard Road and Route 309, thinking it was a vacancy that retailers and readers would love to see filled because of its visibility on a highly traveled route.

Unfortunately, there's no chance that will happen. According to Greg Kotch, partner and vice president at Yorgey Supply, his company was forced to sell the building to the state, under eminent domain, so PennDOT can widen the intersection.

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

Apparently PennDOT has had plans to widen the western side of the intersection since the late '90s. On the eastern side of Route 309 the name of the road is different - it's Sand Spring Road.

Kotch said over the years the money that was earmarked for the expansion was redirected toward other projects in the state and the North Whitehall expansion project was put on the back burner.

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

When the new administration took over, the project got renewed attention and Yorgey was given a March deadline to move, Kotch said.

He said it took awhile to get funding, zoning approval and permits but by the end of July Yorgey Supply had moved into a new building that was built with money the state paid for the old property. Yorgey Supply is now farther north at 4185 Independence Drive - behind Ritas.

So, the question this week isn't what would you like to see in this vacant building, rather, when you would like to see construction on the intersection start?

Kotch said he "imagines LCCC really wants it to start soon" because traffic is horrible when classes let out.

"We couldn't even get out of our parking lot when LCCC got out," Kotch said.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

More from North Whitehall