Ara Kervandjian, Manager, Vice President, and Secretary for Famvest Partners Famvest Partners, LLC., has just announced a Hilton Hotel and Wawa have committed to move into the site of the former Lycoming Mall, in addition to Bass Pro Shops. The Bass Pro will be four times the size of the Best Buy building that is located there now. The Bush House cottages and barn will be torn down to make way for the new development as well as portions of the Lycoming Mall building. DAVE KENNEDY/Sun-Gazette

A crowd, estimated at around 500, attended a public open house seeking to learn more about what is being planned for the former Lycoming Mall property and they couldn’t have been disappointed as representatives of the developers, FAMvest, announced that a Wawa and a 107-room Hilton-branded hotel are planning to build at the site of the Bush House, which will be razed unless a buyer can be found for that parcel.

It was also revealed that plans are to demolish the entire mall to make way for redevelopment.

“We’re hoping the whole thing is going to be demolished. We bought it focusing on redeveloping it with brand new national tenants,” said Jon Jahanshahi, president of FAMvest partners.

“We could have taken the easy road…We want national tenants coming here that can spend money, not only on the project and the development, but also in our community. So we are focused on getting a national tenant that’s going to be a good fit. Since the Bass Pro announcement, we’ve been getting a lot of interest the last seven months. We’re in negotiation with some major national tenants, and they were asking us when is Bass Pro going to go vertical, so it is very crucial for us to move this project forward for Bass Pro and we hope to be able to break ground for five months, but our goal is to bring national tenants for the mall and razing it for redevelopment,” he added.

It was standing room only in the former Best Buy building and judging by the response to the announcement by Ara Kervandjian, executive vice president and partner at FAMvest, a majority of the crowd were pleased to see movement in the project which began three years ago with the mall property, which has been renamed The District at Lycoming Valley, three years ago.

Last year, it was announced that a Bass Pro Shops store had been secured as the anchor store and would occupy the former Best Buy building and expand the footprint of that parcel to include what has now become a 78,000-square-foot retail store at the site.

From the beginning since the property was purchased by FAMvest, local residents have been anxious to learn what comes next, which was obvious from the turnout at Sunday’s event. Kervandjian explained that Bass Pro Shops are very selective about where they build their stores and that they don’t move quickly.

“They take their time to ensure the market is right and that the developer is committed to a long term growth strategy. They don’t want to be on just an island by themselves. They want to be the foundation of something transformational,” Kervandjian said.

“It took nearly two years to reach last June’s announcement, and we thank this community again for your patience while we work through that process. We knew that if we got it right, it would unlock much, much more, and it already has,” he said.

He pointed out that within three weeks of announcing Bass Pro Shops, FAMvest had secured commitments from the latest two businesses and that they are close to finalizing another national retailer that is looking at the former Big Lots location.

“We’ve been contacted by several other major retailers expressing interest in the redevelopment of Lycoming Mall or The District, but many of them are waiting for one thing. They want to see construction to begin, and that’s why today matters. Bass Pro has now submitted its land development plans. We’re actively working through township, county, DEP, the Department of Environmental Control and Army Corps engineers processes, so we can begin construction late this spring, with the goal of opening next year,” he said.

“You know, Bass Pro isn’t a car dealership or a Costco, not that there’s anything wrong with that. There’s been some speculation that this will be a small Bass Pro but the impact Bass Pro Shop brings to the community, particularly its commitment to wildlife education and conservation awareness for younger generations, cannot be measured by square footage alone,” he said.

“This is more than retail development. It is an opportunity to celebrate and amplify the outdoor heritage that defines our region, and it is an opportunity that will benefit this community for decades to come. But this development is more about just one story. It’s about transforming The District at Lycoming Valley into a vibrant, dynamic destination, a place where retail, dining, hospitality and community life comes together, not to mention all the wonderful jobs that it would create in this market. Bass Pro is the catalyst. For sure, it is the anchor that creates energy and momentum. But it’s not the end of the vision. It’s just the beginning. We are excited about what this unlocks, not just for Muncy Township and eastern Lycoming County, but for the entire region,’ he added.

The development of the property will have a profound effect on local taxes as well as providing jobs for area residents, it was noted by several of the local elected officials who spoke at the open house.

“The facts of life are this: between now and 2050 Pennsylvania is going to grow, but they’re going to grow very small, less than 2%,” said state Senator Gene Yaw.

Yaw explained that everything the government does is based on population. He pointed out that Lycoming County had a population of 120,000 in 2000. In 2016 it decreased to 116,000 and the latest estimate has it at 113,00.

“Everything we do is based on the grant broadband, the money where the money goes, it’s going to go where the population is. That’s why it is so important. We’re talking about health care. Look around how many pharmacies have we seen close? It’s very simple. And I know some people say, well, we don’t really care. We don’t want any more people around. Well, the problem is that we’re not going to have medical care. We’re not going to have emergency responders…Those are the issues that come with the lack of population,” Yaw said.

“A project like this also has this effect. When people drive by and they see this mall is dying or a dead mall, what do they think of the people here? Do you think the people are like, they don’t care, and there’s nothing going on. Why would I ever stop at that place? Why would I ever consider living there,” he said.

“We need to show that this is a vibrant area that people are here. They’re working. They are willing to explore, take chances, support a business like Bass Pro,” Yaw added.

Some people have questioned the use of state and local monies to help develop the mall property. Yaw addressed those concerns.

“The projections are this Bass Pro store…will generate about a million dollars a week in sales. I mean, to me, that’s amazing. And then you think of the jobs that supplies and the taxes that are being paid. Yes, there’s some state money involved in this…the sales tax alone, will recover every cent that’s put into this within five years. That’s a really good investment,” he emphasized.

Scott Johnson, president of the Muncy School Board, shared that the district has lost just under $700,000 in tax revenue since the retail establishments at the mall left.

“We should extend a hand to these developers and say how we can help you with this,” Johnson said.

Lycoming County commissioners Scott Metzger, Marc Sortman and Mark Mussina were also present at the event.

Metzger, like Yaw, underscored the need for economic growth in the area.

“The Board of Commissioners is about growth. We want growth in Lycoming County. We have continuously heard about everything leaving over the years and how we have decay here and we need growth,” Metzger said.

Referring to Bass Pro Shops, Metzger said, “We believe that the number one retailer in the United States is the perfect fit for the Pennsylvania Wilds. They’re the perfect anchor story to bring additional growth to our former mall property,” he added.

Since the beginning of the year, with the change in leadership in Muncy Township, there have been some issues raised about delays in the Bass Pro construction project.

Terri Lauchle, chairman of the Muncy Township Board of Supervisors, emphasized that the role of the township officials is to “ensure that any development moves forward in compliance with our ordinances, our zoning regulations and state law. That structure protects everyone: resident, the business community and the developer alike,” she read from a prepared statement.

“We want to see progress and investment, and we also want to see proper procedure, clear documentation and consistent application of the rules,” she added.

Jason Fink, president and CEO of the Williamsport.Lycoming County Chamber of Commerce, moderated the open house. Rep. Joe Hamm also spoke of the benefits of the project.