Reports: Makemie at Whiteland Won't Be Built

Makemie at Whiteland, a "premier Senior Living Community" that was slated to open in 2013 on the western edge of East Whiteland, will not be built. Multiple news sources are reporting the project's sponsor has abandoned the project due to insufficient sales.

According to Philadelphia Business Journal, Presby’s Inspired Life issued a statement saying it decided to pull the plug after failing to meet a 70-percent threshold in pre-sales.

“Presby has not been able to obtain this despite its best efforts. Due to the shortfall in pre-sale deposits and the unlikeliness of an increase in the near future due to market conditions, the board of directors of Presby’s Inspired Life voted to exercise its right to terminate the asset purchase agreement and, thus, the Makemie at Whiteland project[."]

Depositors were notified of the decision Friday, according to the Daily Local:

Deposits remain fully secure and will be refunded by Fulton Bank, according to Presby’s Inspired Life, a not-for-profit, faith-based ministry that provides continuing care and affordable housing to more than 2,800 seniors in 29 communities throughout the Greater Philadelphia area.

Makemie at Whiteland entrance fees were to start at $338,000. The community was to have a 43,000-square-foot commons with an indoor pool, three dining venues, a beauty/barber salon, a wellness center and library.

The roughly 30 acres that Makemie would have occupied was once part of the Foote Mineral property, a contaminated Superfund site that was remediated with the help of the East Whiteland Environmental Advisory Council. Another development called Whiteland Village was planned for the site, but also failed to materialize.

The news that Makemie at Whiteland will not be built comes without much warning. On March 14, the East Whiteland Board of Supervisors approved revisions to the final land development plan for Makemie, having received a clean letter from the township engineer. A Makemie representative at the meeting explained that Phase 1 of the 55-plus community called for 201 apartments and bungalo-style detached units. Phase 2 would have included up to another 150 units.

In a press release in December 2011, Presby vice president Jim Polaski had expressed confidence in the project, asserting strong pre-sales and boasting upscale features in the development.

“Makemie at Whiteland is going to be a beautiful community in a great location with a lot of amenities both within it and nearby. We’ve sold 70 percent of the units already. We’re exactly where we want to be.”

Amenities will include formal and casual dining, salon and day spa, art studio, fitness and aquatic center, health clinic, landscaped gardens, performing arts center, library, walking trails, short-term and long-term nursing care.