No Recommendation Yet For Target and Dick's Sporting Goods Stores at South Hills Village Mall

The Simon Property Group presented their revised plans to develop Dick's Sporting Goods and Target stores in the old Boscov's building at South Hills Village Mall to the Upper St. Clair planning commission on Thursday night. The planning commission members unanimously voted to table the application until the next meeting on March 17, to give the Simon Property Group more time to address the planning commission's concerns.

"We're not at a point to recommend this," planning commission member James E. Sekela said. "There's a lot of work to be done."

There are a number of items the planning commission said they need more information about. 

"Parking is clearly an issue," planning commission member David Wade said.

The Simon Property Group is asking the planning commission for a modification on the township's parking ratio. Michael Takacs, who presented for the Simon Property Group, said their research shows they will have enough parking spaces for the stores. The planning commission would like to wait to get a recommendation from their engineering team.

The planning commission would also like to see an easy and safe way for people who use the T station be able to walk to the stores on the other side of the mall. The Simon Property Group plans to build sidewalks from Washington Road to the Target store and from Macy's to the Port Authority garage. The pedestrians would have to walk through through the mall to get from one side to the other. But what happens when the mall is closed?

"After hours for pedestrians needs to be addressed," Sekela said.

In addition, the planning commission wants proof there will be enough buffering between the parking lot and the residential neighborhood across Washington Road.

Takacs presented multiple drawings of the stores for the planning commission on Thursday night. He said the plan is to renovate and use the existing building, and also add 8,000 square feet of retail space. 

The Target would operate on the entire first floor; Dick's Sporting Goods would operate on the second and third floors. Takacs said Target would be isolated from Dick's. Customers would have to use the mall entrance on the first floor, climb up the steps and enter Dick's through the second floor mall entrance of the building.

There would be no elevator in the Target. Dick's would have an elevator operating from the second to third floors.

Included in the highlights Takacs presented, a total parking lot renovation. Takacs said the lot would be turned into a traditional, 90 degree lot layout, with added landscaping. There would be one tree for every five parking spaces. The plans also include new light fixtures.

"It will be a significant upgrade to the site and to the township as a whole," Takacs said.

If the planning commission votes to recommend the application at the March 17 meeting, a public hearing could be scheduled for the May 2 board of commissioners meeting. The representatives for the Simon Property Group said they need approval by early this summer for business reasons. New Target stores only open during three months of the year, March, July and October.

The former Boscov's building has been vacant for about two years.