The Foundry

When The Foundry in South Strabane was planned, it was billed as a major addition to the commercial corridor in northern Washington County. The plan called for a 575,000 square foot retail center, with the eventual development of several outparcels. However, since opening in the spring of 2007, all the major tenants including J.C. Penney, Ross Dress for Less and Bed, Bath and Beyond have closed their doors due to settling soil. While the settling wasn't as dramatic as the "shifting" of soil in Kilbuck Township at the formerly proposed Wal-Mart development it has caused concern that the retaining wall near Route 19 isn't going to hold. By the way, the extent of the "shifting" in Kilbuck is pictured below:


To make matters worse, the developer of the site has declared bankruptcy. Christopher White, the head of Premier, has had criminal charges filed against him, detailed here in the Pittsburgh Business Times. To develop a successful retail center in the Pittsburgh region you need a keen understanding of the region's topography as well as good business sense. Chris White seems to have had neither.