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Battle Rages On Over Massive Development Project Planned For Delco

7/1 Update: The Archdiocese of Philadelphia confirms the controversial Cardinal Crossing development, planned for the former Don Guanella property in Broomall, is off. The sale did not close on Thursday with the developer who planned to build several hundred homes and some box stores. The church says it still plans to expedite sale of the land.

MARPLE TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) -- This is a battle.

It's a highly visible battle that has raged on for more than a year. It's a pending sale between the Archdiocese and a realty firm to develop 200 plus acres of forest in Marple Township. It is the site of the former Don Guanella School on Sproul Road.

But, we've learned the plans for development, known as Cardinal Crossing, seem to be growing less and less certain.

"The development he wants to put in there is four times the size of the Granite Run Mall. It's huge," said Maureen Stewart.

Stewart is with Save Marple Greenspace, a group formed early on to fight what it says would be a devastating loss to green space in Delaware County. Plans called for a Wegman's Store, several hundred homes and other commercial buildings.

For some, it's just too much.

The Archdiocese confirmed in an email that they still expect to close the $47 million sale on Thursday, but three days out, Marple Township's manage told Eyewitness News that leaders now believe the most attractive option may be to leave the land "as is."

It wasn't immediately clear if such a position, by the township, would upend the sales agreement. Marple leaders declined an on camera interview with Eyewitness News. Without the support of the township, it's unclear how much of the land could be developed under zoning regulations.

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