A Hilton hotel could be coming to Chadds Ford Township. At least that’s what’s being considered along with a 5,000 square foot restaurant and the completion of the fourth and final leg of the loop road around the intersection of routes 1 and 202.
The idea is still in the sketch plan only phase with no formal application yet presented, said Mark Eisenhardt, vice president of the Henderson Group. The site of the possible hotel and restaurant is on Henderson property west of Dickinson Road, in the Chadds Ford Business Campus at Route 1, and east of what could be the Hillman Drive extension.
Henderson also wants to build a restaurant on part of the property and is offering to extend Hillman Drive to Route 1 as the southwest segment of the loop road.
“That would be on our nickel,” Eisenhardt said of the road construction.
Eisenhardt said a current Hilton franchisee is interested in operating another Hilton franchise, this one in Chadds Ford. He also said “a high end” restaurateur also wants in the township.
He said the restaurant can’t be named yet, but said, “We’re looking at a local operator.”
He added that the restaurant would about the same size as the TGI Fridays in Painters Crossing shopping center.
Nothing will happen until a formal plan is presented. The property has two parcels in two different zoning districts. The front portion, along Route 1, is in the B Business District, but the second parcel is in the Light Industrial District. That parcel would have to be rezoned Business to allow for the hotel.
According to Eisenhardt, Henderson would also have to go through a conditional use hearing to get the 107-room, four-story hotel approved.
The whole bureaucratic process — rezoning and conditional use — could take at least a year, he added.
But, according to Henderson President Brian Coyle, “Henderson’s in it for the long haul.”
Coyle said he’s sensitive to the concerns of residents at Painters Crossing Condominiums and the Estates of Chadds Ford in regard to the loop road, but said Henderson would work closely with the township supervisors and planning commission members who would scrutinize plans and the work to ensure the safety of residents.
“They’ll listen to feedback from residents, consultants and regulations set forth by the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation,” Coyle said. “We will meet those standards. We have a good working relationship with the township engineer on how the road should be built.”
Coyle added that safety of residents coincides with Henderson’s need to maintain a safe environment for its tenants.
“Traffic is not only an issue for the Estates at Chadds Ford and for Painters Crossing, but also for Henderson tenants. We want our tenants to be safe. Our interests align with those of the community,” Coyle said.
Eisenhardt added that there is a new design for the Hillman Drive extension — one developed with township engineer Joe Mastronardo — one that doesn’t bring the road as close to the condominium property as the original plan.
That newer plan, he said, will pull traffic away from the condominiums, incorporates a berm, landscaping and a retaining wall to reduce noise and light pollution.
“It will provide a safe path to routes 1 and 202 for residents of the condominiums and the Estates of Chadds Ford,” Eisenhardt said.
Coyle added that completing the loop road benefits everyone in Chadds Ford, but admitted a slightly selfish reason: “”It’s more attractive for tenants in the Chadds Ford Business Campus. It’s helps with traffic [flow].”
Two of the loop road segments — State Farm and Brandywine drives — are complete and a third — Applied Card Drive — is being built as part of the Wegmans development.
About Rich Schwartzman
Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive. He is also an award-winning photographer.
(4 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)
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Turn down the YMCA but allow a hotel and restaurant? At least the Y would impact the community positively. Would certainly support the nearby residents in their opposition. When will the Chadds Ford “Business District” run out of room for businesses. Too much traffic and congestion already. Time to say no to further development….or yes to development near the “village.”