Save the 250-yr old Covered Wagon Inn in Chester County, Pennsylvania from Demolition

Save the 250-yr old Covered Wagon Inn in Chester County, Pennsylvania from Demolition

Started
January 23, 2016
Petition to
Tredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors and 5 others
Petition Closed
This petition had 4,371 supporters

Why this petition matters

Started by Save the Covered Wagon Inn

A landmark of Philadelphia's Main Line, the historic Covered Wagon Inn (circa 1780) located on E. Lancaster Avenue, in Tredyffrin Township, Chester County, PA is in jeopardy of demolition.

On January 21, 2016, Summit Realty Advisors submitted a preliminary land development application to Tredyffrin Township's Planning Commission for the redevelopment of 625/629 East Lancaster Ave, a parcel located on the corner of Old Eagle School Rd. and Lancaster Ave. The developer's plan is to build a large CVS pharmacy with attached drive-thru and includes the demolition of the 250-yr. old Covered Wagon Inn.. Unfortunately, Tredyffrin Township does not currently have a historic preservation ordinance to protect its historic resources from demolition.

The proposed redevelopment site is approx. 1.73 acres (75,358 sq. ft.), a significant redevelopment parcel. (Click here to see the aerial view of the property and note the small building in lower right corner is the Covered Wagon Inn). The historic Covered Wagon Inn is not located in the center of the property but rather its location is at the edge, on the far corner. A tiny speck on the aerial map, the historic building is only 1200 sq. ft. in size (on the 75,358 sq. ft. parcel).

The Covered Wagon Inn is a physical link to our past. Yes, we’ve all heard that before. But it’s not just about saving an old stone building, but about saving the layers and layers of information about our lives and those of our ancestors. Without that, we’d erase the stories of our past, as if the people came before us never existed.Well-known on the Main Line for fine dining and dancing, in its heyday the Covered Wagon Inn featured big name bands and performing artists such as Count Basie and Duke Ellington and their orchestras. 

We are not seeking to stop Summit Realty Advisors from developing the property, we are simply asking that they not demolish the Covered Wagon Inn in the process. We need concerned citizens like yourself to add your voice to those who are seeking its protection.

Please sign this petition and help us send a unified message to the leaders of Tredyffrin Township, Summit Realty Advisors and CVS Pharmacy to save the historic Covered Wagon Inn. Thank you.

Petition Closed

This petition had 4,371 supporters

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Decision Makers

  • CVS Pharmacy
  • Tredyffrin Township Board of Supervisors
  • Summit Realty Advisors
  • Warren KampfState House of Representatives - Pennsylvania-157
  • Tredyffrin Township Planning Commission