The ongoing concern over the proposed Shoppes at Concord shopping center at Ridge Road and Route 202 continued Friday as the group Save-Ridge.Org held a fundraiser. And members of the group did blast the plan and the developer, Retail Sites, for its proposal for the site. The event was held at The Crown Tavern on Route 202, across from the proposed shopping center.
The site in question is in Concord Township, but it abuts Chadds Ford. The original plan called for a gas station on the property, but that has since been removed from the amended plan.
Concerns right now are focused on proposed traffic pattern changes on 202 and Ridge.
Acting as the emcee for the evening was Alex Herzlinger.
“I’m excited about the turnout and the energy as we all work together to stop this crappy development.”
That comment was met with applause. He then commented on the removal of the proposed gas station. “The gas station is out, but we’re just getting started.”
That comment was met with more applause and yelps of approval.
The first speaker was Paul Lincoln, who lives in the Ridings.
He said he and his family moved into the Ridings in 2018, and he added, “I immediately fell in love with the community and the neighborhood, the bucolic feel.”
He went on to explain the history of the Save-Ridge group, how it came together in the autumn of 2025.
“We learned what Retail Sites wanted to do and we were horrified,” he said. “Things were being designed that were not compliant with zoning ordinances, which were not in character with our community. That was our motivation. Since then, it’s been a journey. We’ve had some success, reaching out to our neighbors, letting them know what we’re advocating. It’s really simple, we have our values, traffic, water, environment, and character of the community. That’s what we’re asking for.”
Lincoln went on to say the group has raised “significant funds to hire lawyers and expert advisors to challenge every dimension of this development as it impacts our neighborhood.”
The third speaker was Caróle Sinclair-Thompson, who said before addressing the crowd of about 50 people that she likened the actions of Save Ridge to those of an octopus.
“There’s great concern about what’s going to happen with the traffic situation. Now, we just have to inform people; we need to get people together. It’s like an octopus. It’s like the tentacles reach out for more people…We’ve had 50-plus people sign up for tonight. We have to think that every person has 10 people that they know, and hopefully, more people will get involved.”
A specific problem with the traffic, she said, is that the plan calls for an additional traffic light on Route 202 about 500 feet south of the intersection with Ridge Road, so vehicles can enter the site by making a left turn directly into the site from 202.
“There’s a pond there. What are they going to do, go through the pond? And I’m really worried about what they’re going to do on Ridge Road.”
The current plan calls for four eastbound lanes on Ridge, one a dedicated right turn lane, another straight through lane, and two dedicated left turn lanes. A single westbound lane would remain as is.
When she addressed the attendees at the fundraiser, Sinclair-Thompson said she came to Chadds Ford 38 years ago and “fell in love with the area, the rolling hills, the whole typography, the cloud formations, and the sunsets.”
Yet, she noted with an element of dismay about the number of parking spaces on the Retail Sites plan.
“The idea of 740 parking spots and a huge shopping center just really gets to me. I’m not saying that it shouldn’t be something, but my dream is to do what Crebilly Farm did and save the land.”
[Westtown Township rejected Toll Bros.’ plan to develop Crebilly and increased taxes to buy the property and keep it as open space.]
Sinclair-Thompson said she’d like to see a dog park or a museum dedicated to the Lenni-Lenape. Short of that, she said, she’d like to see a developer come in with a plan to build luxury homes.
Again, she brought up the analogy of an octopus.
“We’re going to put out our tentacles. We’re going to tell people about what’s going on and how much we love this area. Do we need more traffic? I don’t think we do…The congestion is enormous.”
Liz Moro, the Democrat who is again challenging state Rep. Craig Williams for the 160th Legislative District seat, also spoke.
“I hear you, and I’m here because this matters,” Moro said.
Moro acknowledged she’s running against Williams, but said she wasn’t attending in that capacity; rather, she said she wanted to share what she did for Crebilly.
She said she and her husband, who live in Pennsbury Township, started a group called Neighbors for Crebilly because they felt it better to say what they were for rather than what they were against.
“We were standing up against Toll Bros., one of the largest home builders. I had my Pennsylvania real estate broker’s license, and I was the manager of an office. I wasn’t very popular when I said I was going to shut that down because everyone wanted a paycheck,” she said.
She went on to say that saving Crebilly from Toll was the right thing to do. It was about the quality of life.
She then quoted Margaret Mead, who once said, “There’s never a doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world. For, indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.”
She advised people to continue showing up at meetings and continue talking to their neighbors.
“When things get broken in our community, neighbors, when they come together, can fix them,” she said.
Several of the people from Chadds Ford spoke from their tables, but one person from Concord Township also spoke.
Trish Young said, “I am tired of living where anything goes in Concord Township.”
She said it’s been that way for a long time, and how the farms have become developments, adding that she’s thrilled to be part of the Save-Ridge group.
“I’m thrilled to help. I’m in standing with Concord Township, and I’m fighting this. I do believe in development, I’m not entirely against development…but this is not smart growth, and that’s what we need to protect our water and the air.”
Young added that the traffic is already incredible and will only get worse.
“It scares me how much worse it will get,” she said.
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.
