StanAb, LP, a real estate development company based in West Chester, has proposed a Zoning Text Amendment that would pave the way to transform the 600 block of West State Street in Kennett Square.

Currently the site of two auto repair garages and a Hertz rent-a-car center, StanAb hopes to replace the derelict buildings that once were home to two auto dealers (Bill Luke Chevrolet and Bennett Motors) with 187 Class “A” apartments.

Victor Abdala and Tony Stancato of StanAb purchased the multiple parcels in two separate transactions assembling two-plus acres of State Street frontage at the borough’s western edge in 2014 with a vision of continuing the positive momentum that Kennett Square has enjoyed. The pair identified a need for quality rental housing stock within walking distance to the core of the quaint shops and eateries just four blocks to the east of the site.

“We saw the success and the momentum that was happening with Magnolia Place just two blocks south of this site and learned that there were no Class ‘A’ rental projects within nine miles,” said Abdala. “We realized this site really is a perfect location for that use. We initially proposed a project that would have been much too large and out of scale for the Kennett market in 2016. We attended several meetings with the Planning Commission, Borough Council, and the Borough Staff and Consultants and heard their concerns.

“So we went back to the drawing board to rethink our approach. After about a two-year break from the process, the newly appointed Borough Planning Consultant, Nate Echeverria, requested a meeting with him, Mary Hutchens of Historic Kennett Square, and us, where they encouraged us to restart the process incorporating the improvements that we had come up with.

“In November of 2018, we restarted the process and have had numerous meetings with the various committees, consultants, and staff to arrive at this point. We have submitted a text amendment that if approved by Borough Council would allow us to move to the next step in the journey.”

The borough has scheduled a public hearing for Monday, June 17 during its regular monthly public meeting. If approved, StanAb will be cleared to begin the regular review process, which they estimate will take an additional six months to complete.

StanAb is holding an informational meeting on Wednesday, June 5 at Victory Brewing Company on Cypress Street in Kennett Square from 5-6 PM for the public to review plans and ask questions.

StanAb specializes in transforming blighted and underutilized real estate into successful projects by working with communities. Past projects include Ravello (Kennett Township), Townes at Shannon Hill (West Bradford Township), and Chestnut St. Lofts, The Greentree Building Renovation, and Iron Hill Brewing (all in West Chester).

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