Suburb of the week: Frazer Township (Pittsburgh, Johnstown: credit, homes, bankruptcy)

[eschaton]

Frazer Township is a largely rural township in the northeastern corner of Allegheny County. Its population as of 2010 was 1,157, around 100 less than it posted only ten years prior. It basically lacks any suburban characteristics, with nothing which could even be defined as a subdivision - just country roads weaving through largely undeveloped land with scattered, mostly early 20th century homes on large lots of land, and quite a few still active farms. There appears to be a small trailer park, but the Google Street View car barely traveled through the township, so there is little to show.

Frazer Township does have one major attraction with a troubled history however - the Pittsburgh Mills Mall. In planning as far back as 1981, the mall finally opened in 2005, and is the largest shopping complex in western Pennsylvania. The mall failed to live up to initial expectations (in part because there were supposed to be recreation complexes which were never included, like a NASCAR Speed Park). However, the partner who was supposed to provide the entertainment/lifestyle center component - Mills Corp - entered chapter 11 Bankruptcy in 2007 and exited the mall entirely, leaving it to Johnstown-based Zamias Services to operate the mall. Without the destination element to its portfolio, it soon became a dead mall, as this area of Allegheny County is just too underpopulated to support such a large retail structure. It has lost all of its anchor tenants besides Macy's, and has over 50% vacancy. It was auctioned off for only $100 in January of this year - although it was only a technical auction, since it was bought by creditors who are owned nearly $130 million. What makes the farce of the mall even worse is Allegheny County offered $58 million in tax breaks to the mall in 2002. The ultimate fate of the mall remains unknown - the detached stores nearby, like the Walmart and Lowe's seem to be doing fine, but the mall space itself is valued at less than 1/10th of what it was when it initially opened.

[Lost_In_Translation]

As a resident of Green Tree, I'm getting tired of all these F'ing townships!! Can't wait until we get to G

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Lost_In_Translation

As a resident of Green Tree, I'm getting tired of all these F'ing townships!! Can't wait until we get to G

That's next week, but it will be another four until we get to Green Tree.

[Lost_In_Translation]

Originally Posted by eschaton

That's next week, but it will be another four until we get to Green Tree.

Ha, I'll be an old man by the time you get there and I'll be able to tell YOU the history.