Owners Want to Raze P.J. Whelihan's

P.J. Whelihan's owners will ask the South Whitehall Township Zoning Hearing Board for permission Monday to raze the pub and replace it with a new $4 million restaurant more than twice its current size.

The public hearing is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. at the township building, 4444 Walbert Ave.

Some residents and neighboring businesses have opposed the expansion of the pub at 4595 Broadway. They say the building, which dates to 1870, is worth preserving, others say the restaurant's customers often park illegally and litter across the street at Josh Early Candies.

Owners Robert Platzer and Polaris Corner L.P. said they want to expand the parking from 60 spaces to 114 spaces. Their plans call for a 9,240 square-foot, 250-seat restaurant that would extend up the block to 4570 W. Tilghman St. 

The restaurant is the chain's second location in the township after P.J.'s at the Walbert, which opened in 2000 at 1658 Hausman Road.

The section of South Whitehall at Broadway and Cetronia Road has been undergoing lot of new development. 

St. Luke's University Health Network recently opened the West End Medical Center in the former Builder's Square and Univest Bank has started construction of its new local headquarters down the street near Tilghman Square Shopping Center. A 450-unit luxury townhouse/retail development has been proposed near Cetronia and Schantz roads on the Bortz farm.