PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Tuesday night’s storms caused extensive damage to a retail construction project underway in the Lawncrest section of the city.

The addition to a strip center along Whitaker Avenue was nearly complete.  Now, workers have a major rebuilding job on their hands.

The powerful winds blew out most of the windows, peeled away the roof, and ripped all the ductwork and steel framing into pieces that on Wednesday morning dangled limply from the rafters.

A partner involved in this project says his group had big plans for this project.

“We have ten retail shops plus a banquet restaurant, about 11,000 square feet for the first and second floor together.”

He says the impending grand opening has been postponed.

“It’s supposed to be done within one month. Now we have to wait another six months, at least.”

Reported by Paul Kurtz, KYW Newsradio