Laneco/Giant eyesore

Though Express-Times Reporter Courtney Lomax's writing once again presents a one-sided and limited view of a given situation, nonetheless, her article concerning the state of the vacant former Laneco/Giant building does bring a important issue to light.

It is easy to fault Giant over this situation, but it is somewhat disingenuous of the Forks Board of Supervisors (BoS) and the Township's Solicitor to lay the entire blame at the feet of Giant. Consider this-

1. Why did the BoS approve the new Giant without finding out their intentions and potential limitations of their old store?
2. While Giant did not exactly do the neighborly thing with all of these supposed deed restrictions and we deplore what they have done, it is their property and it is their right. Sadly it is a shrewd business move to keep would-be competitors out and businesses do this all the time.
   
3. Prior to building the Taj Mahal, err, new Municipal Building, how come the BoS did not listen to the residents who strongly suggested using this building for the new Municipal Building? It had been recently rehabbed, offered GREAT frontage to Sullivan Trail, it is adjacent to the township Park, great parking, and the facility is ADA compliant. Instead, a big chunk of our approximate $10 million (now, was around 12 million then) of debt is due to our showplace municipal building that also contain those really expensive tables.
4. Why isn't the BoS actively trying to assist CB Richard Ellis to lease or sell the property by courting a business like a bookstore, a high-end coffee shop, a computer/office supply/electronics store, a restaurant, or a smaller (i.e. Holiday Inn Express) hotel?

Though Giant is wrong, it is time for the BoS to stop blaming everyone else for this empty blight in Forks Township and get much more involved in the revitalization of this property.