POTTSTOWN PA – Progress continues in Pottstown, under the guidance of Pottstown Area Economic Development (PAED), in reconsidering the streetscapes of three borough business areas.
A PAED-organized public meeting, first announced during August, will introduce two contracted planners with which it is working on the project.
During the sessions, their representatives will begin to seek area residents’ thoughts on redesigning the appearance of Pottstown business spaces. They will specifically look at downtown, its “western gateway,” and the Circle of Progress near the airport.
That meeting is scheduled for Thursday (Sept. 18, 2025) at 5:30 p.m. in the Student Commons (Main Foyer) of South Hall at Montgomery County Community College, 101 College Dr., Pottstown. Advance registration for the meeting closed on Sept. 8 (Monday), and additional unregistered attendance may be unavailable.
However, a second meeting is scheduled for Dec. 10 (Wednesday) to present a draft plan of the streetscapes. The draft is anticipated to reflect public input gathered in September. Registration for the December meeting has not yet opened, but may soon be found online.
Three Areas, One District
PAED in May began accepting proposals from qualified contractors for “development of a comprehensive Streetscape Plan and Design” for the three areas, considered as one district or “commercial core.”
Its intent, it said then, is “to elevate the perception of this district, highlight its aesthetic appeal and walkability, and enhance cohesive branding for the Borough.”
PAED also “seeks to unify the Borough’s visual identity while celebrating the distinct character of each area.” The planners’ major focus, representing 85% of their efforts, will be on East High Street and downtown.
Founded in 1965 and labeled as the borough’s “leading economic development organization,” PAED says the project will align with “strategic recommendations from the Urban Land Institute.” The well-known, Washington DC-based organization has played a role in advising Pottstown leaders on real estate development issues since 1976.
PAED expects to spend about $90,000 from a Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development grant to complete the planning. It has retained two firms – Simone Collins Landscape Architecture, and Seiler + Drury Architecture, both of Norristown PA – for this phase of the work.
Earlier, during July, PAED conducted a “community perception survey” that sought views from Pottstown residents, business owners, and visitors on the downtown area “and its sense of place.” The collected results are being used “to guide future revitalization strategies,” PAED told The Pottstown Mercury newspaper.
Photo by Kenny Eliason on Unsplash, used by Travels With The Post under license
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