ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — After years of debate, Walmart will not pursue development of a new store in McCandless Township.
Many people speculated last week that a land purchase by Giant Eagle could end Walmart’s fight to build the supercenter. A community group spent two years fighting the construction of the Walmart, and the township said the legal fight cost taxpayers about $75,000.
Walmart spokesman Phillip Keene issued the following statement Wednesday:
“After much deliberation, we have decided not to pursue development of a new store in McCandless.
"We greatly appreciate the support we received from the community and many others as we worked through the legal and development process over the last several years.
"We are committed to serving customers in and around the Pittsburgh and Allegheny County area and look forward to continuing to innovate our services and invest in improving our existing stores throughout the state and region.”
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The group of citizens against McCandless officials’ approval for a Walmart to be built on the lot off Blaizer Drive said they had high hopes that the proposal would be off the table after Giant Eagle bought the land.
“We are hopeful, but (we) don't want to celebrate just yet. We will wait until the fat lady sings,” McCandless Township resident Rita Martin said last week.
Giant Eagle officials declined to say what they’re going to do with the property. According to the land deed obtained by Channel 11 News, one of the two parcels included in the grocery chain’s $1.3 million purchase was directly in the way of the Walmart supercenter
"We look forward to communicating with neighboring property owners and McCandless area representatives to determine how we can best use the property to make a positive contribution to McCandless," Giant Eagle officials said last week.
Channel 11 News learned that there are restrictions to Giant Eagle's land buy. The land cannot be used for industrial warehouse purposes, auto showrooms or a car wash. It was not immediately clear what will happen to the land.