Wawa plan to go before city officials

Aug 07, 2023

Aug 24, 2023

A Wawa store land development plan will go before Williamsport City Council on Aug. 31, according to the city schedule.

The property along Maynard Street is the former site of a foundry, directly across from the entrance to Penn College, in an area purchased by Famvest Inc., a State College developer.

Famvest recently bought property at the former Chi-Chi’s Restaurant along East Third Street in Loyalsock Township and is developing the former Lycoming Mall in Muncy Township into a mixed-use development with retail-residential purposes. They also purchased the former Animal and Avian Hospital on East Third Street and a property at the intersection of Routes 15 and 54 in Clinton Township.

Wawa stores are abundant in southeastern Pennsylvania, especially in the Philadelphia region.

The convenience store is considered to be a competitor and on par to Sheetz Inc., based in Altoona.

It offers plenty of food items, including its special brand of hoagies (subs for many in this part of Pennsylvania), soups, salads, bowls, pre-made sandwiches and wraps and drinks. Wawa’s have gasoline fuel pumps for motorists.

In Philadelphia each year, the Wawa Corporation has Hoagie Day, where it gives away hoagies for set hours.

The State College developer has indicated that it also was working with a national chain restaurant aimed for locating at the Maynard Street site.

The Maynard Street site is considered to be convenient and close to Interstate 180 traffic. It will also serve the Pennsylvania College of Technology students and faculty, many of whom will be able to walk from the campus and off-campus housing to the store and it will serve the neighborhood and region.

Famvest officials recently remarked on how the $20-million-plus Maynard Street development will provide many employment opportunities for those seeking jobs in the city and in Greater Williamsport.

In an early stage, City Council awarded the developer about $1 million in American Rescue Plan funds for the initial Maynard Street project infrastructure such as sewer and water. Those funds are related to COVID-19 relief and were a part of the $25.4 million awarded to the City of Williamsport, much of which has been allocated before the 2024 end-year deadline. The funds must be spent by the end of 2026.

Williamsport Municipal Water and Sanitary Authority officials said recently its board and staff are working closely with the developer at the Maynard Street site regarding water and sanitary lines.

A land development plan is a significant step the developer-builder must take and it may be adjusted before being presented to the council for its review.

For example, City Council asked a developer of a Dollar General store on Washington Boulevard to revise its plan after residents complained and council members saw some changes that they believed would benefit the neighborhood and the store itself.

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