The future of The Foundry shopping center, which opened last year in South Strabane, seems to be a mystery to everyone.

The center on Route 19, which has been shut down by shifting soil, has only one open business and the development firm is involved in bankruptcy proceedings.

Township administration hasn't been notified about the status of the project or been informed about property management.

"We haven't heard anything officially," township Manager John Stickle said.

Three stores in the Foundry have been temporarily closed due to problems with shifting soil. Bed, Bath & Beyond, Ross Dress for Less and JCPenney stores closed May 21, May 22 and June 6, respectively. Max & Erma's restaurant, which sits on the front end of the property and is not attached to the other stores, remains open.

South Strabane Supervisor Edward Mazur said the fill is moving.

And, the construction of a nearby retaining wall is a separate issue from the shifting soil, although earth behind the wall is moving, said Gary Stokum, district manager for Washington County Conservation District.

The group conducts ongoing monitoring of erosion and sedimentation control. Some of the land still needs to be graded, seeded and stabilized, Mr. Stokum said. Residents have complained for months about the unsightliness of the area, which includes large piles of dirt.

The township's Director of Public Safety, James Barnes, said he sees workers mowing grass and sweeping sidewalks.

"It's sad that the development is just sitting there like that," Mr. Barnes said.

Premier Properties USA Inc., based in Indianapolis, developed The Foundry. The company filed for Chapter 11 reorganization bankruptcy in April, but a judge reclassified the bankruptcy to Chapter 7 liquidation May 30.

In the original bankruptcy filing, Premier listed debts of more than $2.8 million to 20 creditors, excluding millions of dollars of unpaid bills.

Meanwhile, Premier founder and CEO Christopher White was charged Monday with three felonies. Carl J. Brizzi, prosecutor for Marion County in Indiana, filed charges claiming Mr. White knowingly defrauded The National Bank of Indianapolis, committed check fraud and stole at least $100,000 from the bank.

Mr. White also faces lawsuits alleging loan defaults and illegally redirected rent payments.

There's probably going to be a change in management for The Foundry, said Regina Corvo, a project manager for Max & Erma's Restaurants Inc. in Columbus, Ohio.

The corporation hasn't received any notice of changes yet, although DeBartolo Development LLC based in Tampa, Fla., has been mentioned as possibly becoming the new property manager.

There are no plans to close or move the restaurant, which opened Oct. 15. Ms. Corvo said she hopes someone will be able to complete the center.

"We know there's a change coming but we don't know what that change is," she said.

Randi LaFerney, director of development and leasing for DeBartolo, said she can't comment at this time but information may be available next month.

A manager at the Max & Erma's location at the Foundry, said there are no problems at the restaurant, which isn't next to the stores that closed and doesn't have any shifting soil issues.

"From our standpoint, I know we're doing OK," said the manager, who didn't want to be identified.

Although Ms. Corvo said the stores' closings haven't had any effect on business, the manager thinks it may.

"People are not really sure if we're still here or if we're not," he said.

JCPenney, which opened in The Foundry in March 2007, closed June 6 based on the recommendation of engineers hired by the company, said Tim Lyons, spokesman for JCPenney Company, Inc. in Plano, Texas.

The shifting soil caused some movement in the building and there are cracks inside and out. The damage is mainly limited to one corner of the store.

Some inventory has been moved from the store and employees will be paid through Saturday.

Red and white signs have been posted on the doors:

"JCPenney is temporarily closed due to a soil problem at the Foundry Shopping Center. The safety of our associates is our primary concern. We are currently monitoring the soil around the store with the assistance of professional engineers and the shopping center owners. At this time, we do not have a confirmed date when the store will reopen."

There's no definite plan for fixing the problems or who ultimately will pay for them. It doesn't appear as though the issues are going to be resolved quickly, Mr. Lyons said.

"There are a lot of things we don't know at this point," he said.

The company is considering different options about how to handle the merchandise and the ongoing operation of the store, he said. No decision has been made regarding the possibility of reopening at the previous location in Washington Mall, which sits near the same road a short distance away.

"As we know more about the situation, we'll know more about what our options are," Mr. Lyons said.