A Philadelphia development firm last night presented the Coatesville Redevelopment Authority with a conceptual plan for the part of the Flats south of the arched railroad bridge that included a 40,500 supermarket along with office space and restaurants.

Mosaic Development Partners is teaming up with Iacobucci Homes who in April offered $5 million for the 26-acre site that is a critical component of the city's revitalization efforts. Iacobucci plans to build 112 townhouses selling between $175,000 to $225,000 on the north side of the railroad bridge.

Last night Mosaic presented conceptual plans for the south section of the Flats that included not only a full-service supermarket, but also 87,500 square feet of retail space and 27,000 square feet of second-floor office space.

"We are actually touring the area shortly with Acme," said Greg Reaves, a principal partner in Mosaic. Reaves described Mosaic as a full-scare real estate development firm with the ability to call national retailers on the phone and get an immediate response.

The teaming up of Iacobucci Homes and Mosaic follows an earlier suggestion by Ian Jones, vice president of Baker Residential, that Iacobucci would deal exclusively with the residential portion of the Flats and a development firm specializing in commercial and retail development would be sought out to develop the south side of the Flats which is closer to the city main business district. Baker Residential and Iacobucci Homes are both subsidiaries of Baker Companies, a national homebuilder.

Tim Smith, director of planning and site development for Iacobucci Homes, told the RDA last night that a great deal of effort was made to find the right partner. "Our feeling is their the folks for the project," he said.

"I know you spent a lot of time to find the right fit," said RDA Member Regina Horton.

But before anything can happen, the RDA and city council must decide on a price for the Flats. Jones had earlier put a $3 million value on the north section of the Flats and a $2 million value on the south side. Smith said no decision has yet been made on how the purchase price will be divided between the two firms. He said Baker Companies could purchase all 26 acres and then sell back to Mosaic the section needed for retail development. "There are a lot of possibilities," he said.

Also, city council has the final vote on how the Flats is development. Mindful of that, the RDA last night formally voted to encourage Iacobucci Homes and Mosaic to make a similar presentation to city council. "What we are trying to do is make certain council and the RDA are on the same page," Horton said.

While the Mosaic/Iacobucci plan drew the favor the RDA, another development firm hoping to develop the Flats questioned Mosaic's ability to bring a major supermarket to Coatesville. "No full service supermarket has any plans to build in Coatesville for the next five to ten years. I know because I've spoken to every one them," said Joe Jesuele, president of JEB developers of Philadelphia.

At the April RDA meeting, JEB offered $1.5 million for the same section of the Flats that Mosaic is interested in developing. Jesuele then said he had investors lined up and construction of a smaller urban-sized grocery store of about 18,000 square feet could be under construction by January. He said all that was needed was an agreement of sale from the RDA.

RDA Chairman Joe 'Zeke' Disciullo said he was not interested in seeing a large convenience type grocery store built on the site. "A store that size (40,500 square feet) will be a destination place. It will bring people into Coatesville," he said.

A conceptual plan previously submitted by JED failed to show a connecting road into the residential section planned by Iacobucci. Jesuele, when questioned by Horton at the April meeting, said he had meet with Iacobucci, but could not reach a working relationship. "We decided to go our own way," he said then.

Meanwhile, Mosaic laid out a plan last night that called for small retail stores and restaurants boarding the the proposed Riverwalk. Leslie Smallwood, of Mosaic, said it was important for the riverwalk to be aesthetically to attract high-quality dining that would feature outside seating. She also suggested a book store, Starbucks, sporting goods, real estate offices, and electronic stores for the site.