Low Income Senior Housing Does Not Create Riverfront “Magic”
POTTSTOWN, PA – Is this some kind of joke? At a recent Pottstown Planning Commission meeting, a presentation was made by The Partnership for Income Restricted Housing Leadership (PIRHL), a Cleveland, Ohio-based owner, developer and general contractor of affordable single family and multifamily housing, on a proposal to build 55 low income rental housing units for seniors along the Schuylkill River in Pottstown.
Not to be rude, but can someone explain to us where the ‘value add’ is of low income seniors in the revitalization of Pottstown? Folks living on fixed incomes in low income rental units do not have the disposable income to spend money in Pottstown and pump up our economy. That’s just a no-brainer.
Who has the money these days? Young unmarried, childless adults…just like those who come into Pottstown every day to attend classes at MCCC. What proactive steps are County and Borough officials taking to keep these young adults within Pottstown’s borders?
Last year, the Urban Land Institute recommended that Pottstown “create a place of magic on five blocks of riverfront in downtown.”
We very wholeheartedly agree. Here is the presentation and report that was issued after the two day session, which took place last October:
ULI Advisory Services Panel Report
It is expected that Pottstown Borough Council will be given a presentation on this ill-conceived project at their September meetings. While it is still very early in the stage of the project, it’s important for folks to remind Council that the information contained in the Urban Land Institute’s 2009 findings need to be followed.
All one needs to do is read Sue Repko’s August 23 post on her blog, Positively!Pottstown:
The Arts and Community & Economic Development
“You do a study and then everybody wants to do another study. They don’t want to pay attention to the study that was done.” Local activist and retired Mercury employee Thomas Hylton commenting on the series of plans and studies done since 1986 to advise the Borough on how to attract jobs and people.
You just have to believe that we’re magic…nothing can stand in our way!
I’m not sure sick joke really details my feelings on this one…
This idea is such a blast to what Pottstown should be trying to accomplish. Almost anything new sounds good, at first, but just because it’s new doesn’t mean it ‘fits the bill’. No disrespect intended but Pottstown NEEDS more active, gainfully employed young adults – those people ‘promised’ to be attracted here with some of the past efforts the Borough has made. I’m not suggesting blame be cast on anyone or collective of people for the challenges the Borough currently faces. I am suggesting the Borough get collective and use information they have paid for and take action to combat some of the problems we do have.
You have to pick your battles and currently the Borough seems to be doing that effectively, in my opinion. Balance that with the vision for the future and you get a comprehensive plan – worthy of recreating the policies that govern our daily business practices. As Amy Francis recently stated “we have to figure out who we are, what we want to be.” (I think that’s the basic thought she expressed.)
To that end – does Pottstown want to be a mecca for low income seniors OR something more lively and lucrative. Riverfront real estate just doesn’t seem to beg for a project like this one. Personally, I think we are being targeted and potentially about to become ‘type cast’.
I think this project idea needs to be squashed in favor of another more appropriate project that will create energy and economic growth!!
The LAST thing Pottstown needs is more low income housing of any shape or form. If every township and borough would simply house its fair share of the poor/near poor, economic disasters like Pottstown would be far less likely to happen.
Call me an elitist out to “gentrify” Pottstown…. I don’t care what you say or what you call me. Pottstown CAN NOT AFFORD to provide housing for any more poor people. It is economic suicide.
In the August 23rd article you reference on Positively!Pottstown, there are some great follow-up comments made regarding the Pottstown Partnership/PAID group. The need for this group has been written about in several plans and studies that exist. Once this organization is settled, their mission is to bring economic development to our town. What would they think about this project? Prime riverfront real estate used for the purpose of low-income housing rentals? That just doesn’t make economic recovery sense to me.
why is this idea being proposed for our prime riverfront area? hasn’t anybody else read the uli studies attached to this article??? wtf?
why doesn’t pirhl purchase rupert elementary and build their “affordable” housing there? it’s close to the post office, mcd’s and the hospital – well known hang out spots for seniors. pottstown has way too much affordable housing – aren’t there already senior housing projects in pottstown? how about the two near the library? they must be close to 40 years old. has having those types of housing projects helped pottstown’s revitalization? i don’t think so. sp is right – old people on fixed incomes bring nothing to the revitalization table. send them over the river to norco.
c’mon people – get your heads out of the box. stop typecasting pottstown.
Oh do tell, was it mere conicidence that this developer selected Pottstown for this low-income housing project or did someone within the hollowed halls of local government wooo this developer?
Love your choice of photo’s SP! That’s the vision.
I posted this over at Code Blue and figured I’d add it here too. Thanks for bringing this to our attention… although the Olivia Newton John isn’t really doin’ it for me.
The Borough has the potential to come up with a real knock-out redevelopment plan for the riverfront & the transition area into the downtown. The Borough even owns some of the land in this area. They can control their own destiny. They don’t have to wait around for other people to propose things in an ad hoc fashion.
In fact, I’ve heard that this project would be built on land that the Borough now owns, which raises several questions. Was this proposal solicited and if so, by whom and in what manner? Where does The Pottstown Partnership fit into the picture? Why would the Borough and, perhaps, the County Redevelopment Authority – I believe they were at the meeting advocating for the project – settle for something like this and give up a key asset – riverfront land – for such a small return?
As I move through the planning series over on my blog, I’ll return to this. Thanks for a really good post –
Sue
Positively!Pottstown
Now here’s a vision of loveliness for our river front, found on the opinion page of the Merc. today
http://pottstownmercury.com/articles/2010/09/03/opinion/srv0000009180770.txt
I think the first step is to get Norfolk Southern to abandon their railroad spur that blocks meaningful develop between Hanover and Washington. Then we need a coherent plan to develop this area in a way that attracts a demographic that will walk downtown, eat, appreciate arts and entertainment and spend money. Steps need to be taken now to prepare that area for development, almost like the concept of “shovel ready” and then collectively, we have to monitor all the ideas put forth and vehemently reject the bad ones ie. low income housing (omg!)
Why we never pursued a full service hotel on the space where new homes are being built at Industrial & Hanover is way beyond my comprehension.
I think it’s agreed that we need much more than a promenade or common area by the river. Conshohocken has hotels and offices and high apartments built on the flood plane – it’s parking beneath the buildings and the lobbies are on floor #2, so proximity to the river is not an issue – except that river proximity is usually reserved for higher end development – let’s stick with that model, but let’s get the condemnation of the tracks moving now. Occidental Chemical, nor a company that will use those rail spurs on that Occidental property is likely to appear so remove the tracks.
First and foremost – thank you to Save Pottstow!
It is the best Anti-antiPottstown media in the area.
As for what is the best use for the riverfront land, I’d like to know. THat is, I’d like to know what the homeowners of Pottstown think the best use should be.
Personally, I do not believe that housing should be the first thing one sees when driving north on Hanover Street to enter Pottstown from Chester County. I did not believe that housing on the Smith Pie lot was acceptable.
I do believe that whatever sets on South Hanover Street & Industrial Highway as our “Gateway to Pottstown” should be a ” W O W ” !!!
I would like to know what the other homeowners of Pottstown think the BEST USE for the riverfront land should be.
Perhaps Save Pottstown! would be cooperative with my question. Perhaps Save Pottstown! would conduct a survey and report the results to the Planning Commission and Borough Council.
Thank you in advance for your support,
. Dan Weand
Borough Councilor
I think that is a really good idea, Dan! SP!!, please consider doing this.
Thanks for all of your hard work, Dan. I think you are doing a great job!
We love you Dan and SavePottstown…THAT’S THE SPIRIT!!!
lotos owner: Exactly. Your point about the spur is well-taken. And the Borough must be pro-active in developing a vision and a plan that supports it. You hit the nail on the head with the idea of “preparing that area for development.” You can’t make developers come, but if they at least know the parameters of what a town wants and it’s ready to go, they have something they can rely on when they run their numbers and decide.
Mr. Weand: Your enthusiasm and offer to get resident input is huge. Really outstanding.
SavePottstown (whoever you are!) and my Pottstown friends: I’ll blog about this possibility – what this process could/might look like. If you think I can be of any help, count me in, anywhere, anytime.
Sue Repko
Positively!Pottstown
Sue, you are invaluable to the process of revitalization in Pottstown, what a jewel we have in you. Your knowledge and communication skills are exceptional and just what this community needs. I am learning so much from you, thank you. Do you happen to have or know where to find examples of exceptional river fronts, not only in this part of the country but world wide?
It would be neat to explore them. In order to provide quality answers to Mr. Weand’s question it would be helpful to know what has been done and what is possible here. I have visited towns with cool river fronts but I don’t think I’ll make it around the world in time to experience first hand all the amazing directions we could explore!! But I am super excited about the creative energy we can bring to this redevelopement.
Thanks, WhirledPeas! We’re on the same wavelength. I’m going to find some examples of towns of similar size and similar economic history, and also look at plans that other Schuylkill River towns are trying to implement or have implemented. While there’s always something to learn from everybody, big city waterfront projects will present different stories that might not be as relevant. Also, it will be useful to look at plans/projects that didn’t work out as intended and consider the reasons why and how to avoid those pitfalls.
Sue
Positively!Pottstown