I like that this thread exists; there is so much more development we can talk about! I'm pretty interested at what has been happening in Phoenixville. It's a really great urban center along the Schuylkill between Chester and Montgomery counties, with a ton of Victorian-era charm and post-industrial re-use from it's steel-producing heyday. Very quietly Phoenixville has been a
great success story for historic preservation and reuse while adapting to modern urbanism.
This month they should be wrapping up the
Phoenix Village development: 275 rental units and 20,000 sqft retail mixed-use. It's right in the center of Phoenixville, along Bridge Street, a quickly-growing restaurant and beer destination.
Additionally, right across French Creek is a 350 rental unit development called Riverworks that is
under construction right now as well. Personally I think this development is quite ugly... the previous renderings, the ones I intended to show you until I found these new ones, were much better actually.
Right along Bridge Street,
Chatty Monks is moving into and renovating the former Superior Beverage Bottling Co.
Bluebird Distilling moved into this formerly-abandoned dry cleaning property on the corner of Bridge Street.
The Phoenixville Foundry building is another great re-use project
As is Byrne Lofts, the coversion of another former textile mill.
On the North Side, the redevelopment of the Franklin Commons complex has had a huge community impact. It use to be a huge textile mill. This was the best (and only) photo I could find.
But now.. it serves as an event space for community functions, has art galleries, a day-care, and now
Renaissance Academy Charter School is moving there and adding athletic facilities.
And of course, the classic
Colonial Theater is going to be expanding as well. Ahh if only we could get train service out here, then things might REALLY take off!
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