Handel’s building developments

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream and Yogurt, a cornerstone staple of the Conestoga community, le its home at 576 Lancaster Ave. last year. e ice cream emporium has since relocated across the street, but the fate of the old building remains uncertain.

In December 2019, Todd Pohlig of Pohlig Custom Homes and his team, David Della Porta and Don Tracy of Cornerstone Tracy LLC, proposed their development plan for the strip of now entirely abandoned buildings along Lancaster Avenue eir development would be “a four-story, 150,000-squarefoot mixed-use development with Handel’s and one or two small retailers on the ground oor, luxury apartments above, and a public plaza in the center. e complex also would have a two-story, 228spot parking garage,” according to a Philadelphia Inquirer article written by Steven Falk.

“ e neighbors appealed that decision (of the developers obtaining the waiver) to the Chester County Court of Common Pleas. Now that’s not unusual: people don’t like change to start with,” Pohlig said.

e court process took about a year, ending with the judge ruling in favor of the development team obtaining their variance.

However, the neighbors appealed the decision a second time to the Commonwealth Court. At this point, those involved with the project were facing a delay for at least another few years.

“At that time, Jason Dempsey, who was doing the (Fritz Lumberyard development) across the street approached our group and said he could make it work without the variance,” Pohlig said.

“One thing we didn’t want to happen was to have something occur there that interfered with the (Fritz Lumberyard development) that we were doing, so we approached the other developer and suggested that we perhaps take over the project,” Dempsey said.

Pohlig explained that once Buck Buchanan, the owner of Handel’s, decided to move, the team took Dempsey’s o er. e project is now set to be “a mixed use three-story, 107unit luxury apartment building, with scaled back retail space,” according to a Main Line Times and Suburban article by Ray Ho man. is is similar to DP Partners’ development across the street at what once was the Fritz Lumberyard.

e timeline for the project is dependent on when DP Partners decides to start, and from then, Dempsey believes it will take anywhere from 18-24 months to complete.

“ e Wellness Fair is for all students to participate in; it will be a day of activities for students that promote wellness of body, mind and spirit,” assistant principal Dr. Nicole Jolly

On Wednesday, Jan. 18, 10th and 11th graders will attend an assembly led by a representative from Common Sense Media, an organization that advocates for the safe usage of technology and social media. On Thursday, Jan. 19, Katy Kessner, an activist for the prevention of sexual assault, will speak to 12th graders about healthy relationships and recovering from trauma.

Friday, Jan. 20, the last day of the rst semester, will be a Cornucopia-style day in which teachers can let their students participate in schoolwide events throughout the day. During rst period, the student group that planned the week will premiere a video of the week’s highlights and introduce the activities in which students can participate throughout the day. en, the Wellness Fair will run throughout the remainder of the day. According to Jolly, the sta is expected to not give any tests on Friday.

“One thing I really like about Friday is that it fits all personality types. There is a quiet room for people who are more introverted and want some time alone. Then there are loud, fun rooms with games and dances for the people who are more extroverted and want to let out some energy,” Presa Vespa said.

According to Presa Vespa, each day of Wellness Week will have its own theme. Tuesday’s theme will be paying it forward; Wednesday’s will be self-a rmation; ursday’s will be community and friendships; and Friday’s will be self-care.

John Jones, the faculty adviser for the student-run initiative, found that other teachers have championed the initiative, as well.

“I do think teachers realize the importance of raising awareness for mental health. In general, there has been cooperation from the entirety of the faculty and 100% support from the administration,” Jones said.

Presa Vespa’s team hopes to make Wellness Week an annual and established initiative for Conestoga, even after they graduate.

“As a student body, we are the ones that need to speak out when we need some sort of break to help us,” junior and Wellness Week organizer Harshini Elavarasan said. “I’m really proud of the team for making sure that is something Conestoga can have.”