Pottstown Development Opens Door for Workforce Housing

Developer interest in downtown Pottstown could create opportunities to build workforce/affordable housing. 

Across the street from the Washington Street Park sits several abandoned and worn down buildings along the 500-block of Chestnut Street, including the former Levengood Dairy site. New Britain, Pa.-based Elan Shirman, who, with partner Andrew Maye, have an agreement to buy the 16,800 square-foot property for $575,000 from Philadelphia-based JDL Property Management LLC, which purchased the property at a judicial sale in 2015 from Robert Sieracki for $20,000, according to the documents accompanying the zoning application.

This request will be before the Zoning Hearing Board on Oct. 1 because the developer is seeking several variances, including for building height and parking. Under the current zoning, two parking spaces per apartment are required. However, the builders only have space for 36 parking spaces for the 24 market-rate apartments they propose on the now blighted site. 

At the Sept. 3 Pottstown Council meeting, Mayor Stephanie Henrick asked if the developer would make at least one of the 24 apartments “workforce” for those with moderate incomes. Their attorney, Michael Murray, said that point is  “open for discussion,” adding that their end goal is to add people to Pottstown with more “disposable income.” 

One thing limiting new affordable housing in Pottstown is a “minimum livable space” requirement of 800 square feet. These apartments would be between 750 to 900 square feet, have central heat and air conditioning as well as steel appliances, hardwood floors and granite countertops, Shirman told the council. 

So, a variance for square footage is required as well. With a smaller square footage minimum, more apartments could be built (thus increasing a developer’s potential income and the ability to charge lower rents). 

Meanwhile, Councilman Ryan Proscal said he has concerns about increasing the height (to four stories). In another, related development: 

Mercury building redevelopment 

• Council has 45 days to render a decision on this conditional use application. The plan from developer Dwight City Group includes 25 luxury, market rate apartments and 25 parking spaces behind the Mercury building (a reduction of 10 apartments from the last version). 

• The frame and facade of the former newspaper building will be maintained.

• All of the public comments had to do with parking. I said there is adequate parking on-site and most municipalities require too much paved parking.