Oaks Shopping Center - One Year Later

Just a bit more than one year has elapsed since I began photographically following the progress of construction at the Oaks Shopping Center site. What a difference a year makes!

 

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Shopping Center Progress 8 March 2013

Cold weather and rain have slowed the pace of construction a bit, at the Oaks Shopping Center. I grabbed these overview photographs of the construction site on Friday. 

It was overcast. The ground was covered with snow in the early morning. By 10:00 what sunshine got through the clouds was enough to melt the white blanket.

The graders deposited a large mound of soil behind what looks like a rectangle shaped plot. I believe this is for Penn Liberty Bank, near the intersection of Egypt and Black Rock Rds. There are also sloughs lined with straw between the plot and the intersection. They are probably for drainage as is the same kind of slough near the intersection of Egypt and Mill Rds.

The next plot to the west on Egypt Rd., I believe is for Wawa. That dark square of soil will probably be the gasoline pumps area.

The houses that were once shielded by the train track and trees are quite visible from the road at this point. And, if I can paraphrase, contrary-wise, the saying on the back of a tractor trailer, "If you can see me in my mirror, I can see you."

I am pretty darn sure those homeowners never saw this project coming.

I am reminded of something the Roman poet Virgil once wrote:

Sed fugit interea fugit irreparabile tempus, singula dum

 capti circumvectamur amore, 

which means, according to wikipedia, 

"But meanwhile it flees: time flees irretrievably, while we

wander around, prisoners of our love of detail"

Obla-dee, obla-da!

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Shopping Center - Second Week of February

Groundhog's Day has come and gone and I didn't even take notice. Did he see his shadow? I guess I could Google it. No matter. I don't need no stinking groundhog to tell me spring is near. Evidence of spring can be seen if you just are observant.

I stopped by the Oaks Shopping Center construction site on Sunday, eight days after the groundhog's big day. The snow was melting. Puddles and mud covered the ground. Spring conditions if you ask me.

I stayed close to the intersection of Egypt and Mill Rds. The farther I walked the heavier my shoes became with the accumulating mud. I grabbed a few photographs of the construction progress.

The view from the site of the intersection of Egypt and Mill Roads shows a depression created for a large drainage pipe that will run from the back of the site to Egypt Road.

Two manholes, or is it person holes, in the back of the site along that drainage pipe are already underground.

More drainage pipe sits off to the side near the western limit of the site. The stone structure once supported the train tracks above several alcoves that probably held coal dropped from cars above.

Then I set to create some personal images.

I created a few images I liked. I found more evidence of spring. Even amidst the construction.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Oaks Construction - First Week of February

The rate of construction in Oaks, PA has increased in the first week of February. 

There is work being done at the SE corner of the Oaks Shopping Center site. 

Earth moving at the Chicago Grill / Pizzeria Uno site.

As well as at the eastbound exit of US 422.

There is quite a bit of activity near the western end of the Oaks Shopping Center site, at the intersection with Mill Road.

A grader and bulldozer with GPS units at each end of its blade are digging down below the street level.

Lots of earth is being moved. More than a half dozen pieces of equipment are doing the moving.

More drainage pipes have been buried under gravel.

The weather has been cooperative.

 No deep freezes.

 Very little precipitation.

 No storms or high winds.

Before you know it you will be able to smell the Wawa coffee at Egypt and Black Rock Roads.

©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

Progress Marches On in Oaks, PA

Progress at the two building sites in Oaks, PA is marching along.

The Chicago Grill site has a level pad and a berm near the cemetery wall at St. Paul's Episcopal Church. 

There is pipe on site that will undoubtably be buried as part of the infrastructure.

Concrete sewer castings are waiting to be placed.

The larger site across Black Rock Road also has signs of progress.

The Oaks Gardens building has been ravaged.

 A broken shell.


The lot has been defoliated, partially graded and rolled. It looks large. Much larger than before the work began. 


To defoliate, whole trees were eaten in one shot by an enormous piece of equipment.


There are graders, rollers, excavators, back hoes, dozers and other heavy construction behemoths on site waiting for their shot at progress.









The train tracks that ran along the western edge of the site were ripped out along with the trees on that grew alongside. 


Houses are now clearly visible along that edge of the site. I am guessing that the owners of those houses have a new clear view of the site, also.

Progress marches on.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved

New Views in Oaks, PA

Intersection of Egypt and Black Rock Roads from Bob Evans parking lot

For well over five years there has been talk of more commercial building on Egypt Road, in Oaks, PA. In the last month there is evidence of such development. The wooded lot was cleared between Black Rock Rd. and US 422 on the west side of Egypt Rd.

Looking east from Black Rock Road towards US 422

The talk on the street is that a Chicago Grill will be the first restaurant built. Originally Chili's was to go in first, but what ever reason, they delayed their efforts. Chili's may still be built but Chicago Grill will be ringing the register first.

Across Black Rock Road from the Chicago Grill site is the reputed site of a Super Wawa, and some restaurant(s)/commercial buildings. This site was cleared well over two years ago and has laid fallow for as long. There was some infrastructure work done over that time, but not much. The lot includes the Oaks Gardens business at the very far edge of the photograph. Oaks Gardens will be history when work begins in ernest.

So much time has past since the original Wawa development sign went up that it has since blown down. There doesn't seem to be any urgent reason to reinstall it.

If I may go back to the Chicago Grill site for a moment, I want to mention the view of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. I am not sure if this view of the church was ever available. There were quite a few trees between Egypt Rd. and the church. The view is available now and it is quite a sight. 

Credit:http://keeptron.blogspot.com/2011/04/collection-of-different-cuisines.html

Enjoy it while it lasts. Neon will block the view soon enough.


©Damyon T. Verbo - all rights reserved