Borough Council Pulls Back, “Most Likely” Not Voting on Wednesday

What a difference a week makes. The Times Herald reported today that the public will be provided presentations on the two proposals to redevelop the Verizon Building, the grass area next to to the Washington Fire Company, and the old fire house.  The presentations will be made during the Borough Council Meeting on Wednesday, August 21st.  Brandywine Realty Trust, which submitted an office space driven proposal, will present at 8:00 p.m. and Keystone Property Group, which proposed a hotel as a main feature of its proposal, will present at 8:45 p.m.

This didn’t appear to be the plan last week when the Times Herald reported that Borough President Paul McConnell said an actual vote on the selection of one of these plans would take place on Wednesday night. From the Times Herald:

Council members spent an hour in a closed executive session Wednesday night and decided they were ready to take the final vote Aug. 21, said council President Paul McConnell.

“The council members had done their homework ahead of time and people were ready to talk,” McConnell said. “There was talk about the content of the two proposals and about the selection process.”

In today’s article, McConnell is quoted as saying:

“My guess is that council will not make a selection on Wednesday night,” McConnell said. “As council people talk about the two plans, the world of questions will open up.”

It appears the public demand for an education on the proposals has caught up with Borough Council.  These meetings usually take place at Old Borough Hall at 8th and Fayette.  If that changes due to anticipated attendance, we will let you know.