Quaker Bridge Mall considering expansion

Mall owner has approached Lawrence officials, municipal manager says.

By: Lea Kahn
   The owner of the Quaker Bridge Mall is considering expanding the regional shopping mall, located on a 100-acre parcel at the intersection of Route 1 and Quakerbridge Road, according to Municipal Manager William Guhl.
   Kravco Simon Co, based in King of Prussia, Pa., has approached township officials to find out how receptive they would be to a "significant" expansion of the mall, Mr. Guhl said Monday.
   The mall contains 1.3 million square feet, including four anchor stores and many smaller shops.
   An expansion of the Quaker Bridge Mall would trigger a review by the Planning Board, Mr. Guhl said. Township officials would have to consider amending the Land Use Ordinance to allow for an expansion, because only 1.3 million square feet is permitted in the Regional Commercial Zone.
   An application has not been filed with the township Community Development Department.
   "We don’t know the order of magnitude of the expansion, except to say they are considering a significant expansion," Mr. Guhl said. "They have told us they are considering one or two anchor stores, plus complementary smaller stores."
   The Quaker Bridge Mall is anchored by Sears, J.C. Penney, Lord & Taylor and Macy’s department stores. The four anchor stores occupy a combined 609,000 square feet, and the remainder is divided among the smaller stores.
   Mr. Guhl said that "any significant" expansion of the mall would require the construction of structured parking — a parking deck or parking garage. The mall has 5,600 surface parking spaces.
   The Quaker Bridge Mall, including the four anchor stores and smaller stores, is the second-largest taxpayer in the township, according to the township tax assessor’s office. The four anchor stores and the mall itself generated $4.4 million in property taxes for 2004.
   Kravco Simon Co. did not return several calls seeking comment.