Fifth time extension sought for West End, now controlled by Milton Hershey School 

By Sean Guay

Derry Township, Pennsylvania — A fifth time extension is being sought from Derry Township at the May 27 board of supervisors meeting by developers of the Hershey West End project, a 245-acre mixed-use development between Waltonville and Bullfrog Valley Roads.

Hershey Inn & Suites is currently under construction in the new development, but otherwise lots have sat vacant since the initial phase of site work began in 2022. Road construction of a new roundabout at Waltonville Road and West End Avenue completed in 2023.

In 2024, township supervisors were not satisfied with the lack of overall progress of the development when a third time extension was being sought. A fourth extension was similarly received.

Planners have now revised their approach for the long awaited project. The Hershey Trust announced it will hand over all operational and developmental oversight of West End, and all future development projects, to the Milton Hershey School. The Hankin Group will remain as the West End property developer. An updated plan has been submitted to address concerns of Derry Township.

The updated plan will still include commercial storefronts featuring both small and large retailers. The biggest change is that the new development will now offer a combination of purchase-only single-family and townhome units, as first reported by abc27.  The revised plan has now eliminated apartment rentals and reduced the total number of units by nearly 50%.

The new arrangement with Milton Hershey School assuming operational and developmental oversight of Hershey Trust projects could have potential implications on the fate of the construction of the new Cocoa Packs non-profit food bank building, which currently is half complete. The skeleton of the partially completed steel structure stands visible in the field north of Route 322. However, construction has been halted, and a $1.1 million mechanics lien has been filed against the owners for non-payment, as well as a “Notice of Claim” filed against Hershey Trust Company.