DeMutis Presents Plans for Arts and Entertainment Trail

Two months after submitting his plans for Lot "O" of the steel site, Manny DeMutis was back in front of the Planning Commission with a new project named The Fairway, envisioned as an arts and entertainment trail that would replace what is currently the Schuylkill River Trail. From the Steel Site blog:

Phoenix Steel Site developer Manny DeMutis presented to the Phoenixville Planning Commission Thursday a plan to improve the Schuylkill River Trail located next to the proposed downtown development. The 7 acre site is adjacent to a temporary trail that was constructed as a make shift effort to have a trail in the downtown.

The plan that DeMutis presented would have amenities to compliment the trail plan. The plan would work as part of the proposed development as the temporary trail will be moved approximately 12 closer to the stream as the parcel will be realigned to accommodate the development.

“We seek to have the trail amenity be a integral part of the development,” DeMutis said. It is important to the project to have our retail located next to the trail be part of the festival atmosphere which will be created by the development. We are going to create a trail destination with unique shops and food establishments located along the trail.”

The plans call for the 800-foot segment of the trail to be enhanced by two gateways that will define the area, which will become the arts and entertainment portion of the trail. The area will serve as a festival marketplace as the stores along located on the new street which abuts to the trail will be marketed to artisans and crafts people. The area will serve as a destination for those along the trail.

Read more about the proposal at The Phoenixville Steel Site blog.

Several Local Businesses Closing Up Shop

Over the next couple of months, three local businesses will be closing their doors.

On Saturday, February 16th, Polka Dots will be closing their store at 246 Bridge Street. The shop, a women's clothing boutique, opened nearly two and a half years ago but has recently found business slow.

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Originally, (owner Susan) Randels said that the store was doing well, but that the momentum could not keep up.

"The things that sold in Paoli didn't sell in Phoenixville," she said, adding that some customers thought that the store was too expensive or the sizing did not go high enough (size 12 being the highest size sold). "We tried everything."

Randels also said that parking was an issue for many of her customers who could either not find spaces or did not feel safe parking behind the store.
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Polka Dots remains open until the 16th, with hours on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. The phone number is 610-935-5914. Clothing and shoes are bei…

Public meeting to discuss future of Melchiorre Park scheduled for Nov. 29th

On Thursday, November 29th, the Borough is holding a 'brainstorming session' in which plans for Melchiorre Park will be discussed with its park planning consultants. The event will be held at the High School and will begin 7pm.

For those of you who do not know about Melchiorre Park (of which I am included, even though I apparently live across the street from it), it is a 23 acre park located south of High Street on the land between it and French Creek. It appears, based on the drawing on the Borough home page, to be the land that is next to Westridge Village and across the street from the new Northridge Village community.

As part of the meeting, the consultants will 'provide a brief background of the project and present a pre-final master plan for the park'.

Source: Phoenixville Borough Website

La Crêperie Café Bis Opens

Yesterday, Phoenixville's newest cafe opened. La Crêperie Café Bis, located at the corner of Bridge and Gay Streets at the base of the Gay St. Bridge, opened its doors at 11am. As you can probably guess by its name, La Crêperie features both sweet and savory crêpes which, owner Marietou Fanny says, are made with only fresh ingredients. Fanny also owns a restaurant in Center City in Philadelphia called La Crêperie Café, which has been open for nine years.

La Crêperie is open seven days a week. Hours are Monday-Friday from 11am-10pm, Saturday 11am-11pm and Sunday from 10am-7pm.

Best of luck to Marietou and her staff!

Source: The Phoenix

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