18-Unit Complex Proposed For Vacant Phoenixville Civic Center

PHOENIXVILLE, PA —A developer asked Phoenixville Borough Council Tuesday night for permission to renovate the former Phoenixville Civic Center at 123 Main St. into an 18-unit dwelling with 15 parking spaces.

MEK2 Property Group, LLC asked the council to grant conditional use approval for the project to proceed.

Following an hourlong presentation, Jonathan M. Ewald, council president, said the hearing would continue on July 11.

Michael Murray Jr., a Pottstown lawyer representing the developer, said the developer plans to maintain the historic architecture of the building.

“We are trying to preserve an important, culturally significant building in the borough,” he said.

Murray said the building would provide convenient housing for people working in the borough.”

Meghan Shomper, a landscape architect with In Land Design, West Chester, said the proposed project would contain 85 percent impervious area.

Shomper said the plan also calls for a walkway and courtyard area landscaped with large trees. She said there would be new sidewalks, a drainage area, a trash area, and a green space.

Thomas W. Carnevale, an architect who is working on the concept for the project, said the building was constructed in 1907 and 1908. He said the units would range from 450 to 1,200 square feet.'

He said the Main Street side of the building would be preserved. He said the Jackson Street windows would be reopened.

Resident William Wettstein said the project will cause parking issues in the neighborhood.
“We are not against development,” he said. “But we are concerned about the parking.”