Wal-Mart will become a reality in North Huntingdon, a corporate spokesman for the Arkansas-based retailer says.
A 200,000-square-foot Wal-Mart superstore is planned to anchor the proposed Mills Pointe-Huntingdon Marketplace, a retail commercial complex on Route 30 near the Irwin interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Rights-of-way and easement issues associated with a proposed relocation of a 1,500-foot section of Barnes Lake Road have stalled the project for nearly eight months.
PennDOT last month restored the part of Barnes Lake Road that had been ripped out to its original location. The busy two-lane traffic artery was supposed to be relocated to create a main access to Mills Pointe from Route 30.
Anxiety has grown since Wal-Mart pulled out of a similar project in Kilbuck and said its "next big development in the Pittsburgh area" will be along McKnight Road in the North Hills.
"Wal-Mart pulled out of developing the Kilbuck site for different, well-documented reasons," said Jim Davis, the retailer's Eastern Region director of corporate affairs. He was referring to the instability of the site, where there was a major landslide.
"Wal-Mart wants to build in North Huntingdon. That project is light years ahead of what we are potentially planning in the North Hills," Mr. Davis added. "Wal-Mart's objective is to do business in a growing Norwin community so we can grow along with it.
"Our agreement with DeBartolo Development Irwin to prepare and provide a suitable construction-ready site remains intact," he continued.
"Wal-Mart already has made a substantial investment of time and money in land acquisition and development of the North Huntingdon site. We own our site. What would motivate Wal-Mart to abandon the project?" Mr. Davis asked.
The 23-acre site is in the middle of the Mills Pointe parcel.
"People must understand that lengthy delays are not uncommon during development and construction of a project of this magnitude," Mr. Davis said.
"The original timeline for the North Huntingdon Wal-Mart to be built and running has passed," he continued. "We can't set a date until issues with PennDOT are resolved and construction actually begins. The ball's in [DeBartolo's] court."
"I don't feel PennDOT's restoration of Barnes Lake Road last month will affect plans already approved by the required governmental elements of the township. Nothing would change with the site. If it turns out that Barnes Lake Road is not relocated, the plan might need just a little minor tweaking," he said.
"The final plan for the Mills Pointe commercial-retail development was approved by the township two years ago. There shouldn't be a problem with resuming development of the project," said Richard Gray, chairman of the township Board of Commissioners.
First Published: October 4, 2007, 10:15 a.m.
