***NOTE : Upon careful consideration, submission deadline is being extended to 4 PM on Friday, May 30.***
POTTSTOWN, PA, May 12, 2025 – Pottstown Area Economic Development (PAED) is accepting proposals for the development of a comprehensive Streetscape Plan and Design for Pottstown’s Downtown, Western Gateway, and Circle of Progress. This initiative aims to elevate the perception of this district, highlight its aesthetic appeal and walkability, and enhance cohesive branding for the Borough.
Funded through a 2024 LSA (Local Share Account) upon PAED’s application, the project seeks to unify the Borough’s visual identity while celebrating the distinct character of each area. “(LSA) is a program funded by a portion of the gaming revenues generated in Pennsylvania… to support projects in the public interest, improve the quality of life for citizens and foster economic development within Pennsylvania communities.” The Plan will provide a strategic vision for improvements including uniformed branded signage, outdoor street furniture & gathering spaces, planters and landscaping, public art, lighting, trash receptacles, bike racks, traffic calming methods, and more. The full Request for Proposal (RFP), including design guidelines, boundary maps, and FAQs, is available here.
The project aligns with strategic recommendations from the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI)* 2019 Advisory Services report, which emphasized placemaking efforts such as temporary parks, outdoor activities, wayfinding signage, and photogenic gateway features to help activate underutilized spaces and support local businesses. This report builds upon ULI’s previous work in Pottstown in 1976, 1989, and 2009.
“This is more than beautification. It’s about shaping a downtown experience that attracts people, supports local businesses, and reflects Pottstown’s evolving identity,” said Peggy Lee-Clark, Executive Director of PAED. “We’re excited to take this step for the LSA Grant Streetscape Plan, as we support the Borough’s long-term vision for revitalization.”
Once a thriving heavily industrialized community, Pottstown experienced a significant decline when those industries closed and left behind vacant environmentally challenged properties. As the leading economic development organization since 1965, Pottstown Area Economic Development (PAED) was established to stimulate investment, which helps maintain and enhance the tax base, retain and create job opportunities, and restores, utilizes or removes under-utilized buildings.
*THE URBAN LAND INSTITUTE (ULI) “is a global, member-driven organization comprising more than 46,000 real estate and urban development professionals dedicated to advancing the Institute’s mission of providing leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide.” To learn more visit Uli.org.
For more information about Pottstown Area Economic Development (PAED), please contact Peggy Lee-Clark, Executive Director at 610-575-7233.
Desired Deliverable + Outcomes:
The improvements are intended to elevate the perception of this commercial core.
The Consultant is to formulate a plan for Downtown Pottstown as well as the Circle of Progress that includes the following elements:
• Recommend aesthetic improvements that reflect Pottstown’s character and historic charm
• Devising methods for making Vacant Storefronts visually attractive
• Outdoor Street Furniture & Gathering Spaces
• Lighting
• Trash Receptacles
• Bike Racks
• Planters and Landscaping
• Public Art
• Uniform Branded Signage
• Traffic Calming Methods
View the full Streetscape Design Guidelines Request for Proposal (RFP) document here.
Answers to most commonly asked questions regarding the RFP:
Question 1.) Can you share a Map indicating the entire area, as well as the three separate, individual areas?
West High Street (5% of the Plan), Circle of Progress (10% of the Plan), East High Street & Downtown (85% of the Plan)
See the boundaries map here.
Question 2.) What is the Budget?
$90,000
Question 3.) Can you please share the latest (2019) ULI Report and which considerations should be given to specific highlighted items ?
- Install temporary streetscape features to draw foot traffic to the currently vacant areas, such as miniparks, outdoor activities, or other gathering places.
- Continue efforts to improve the pedestrian environment, with street walls and wayfinding signage that naturally guide a visitor to High Street corridor.
- Invest in gateway signage that is photogenic and mission/brand based.
Question 4.) Please explain “uniform branded signage”. Does this refer to signage by the Borough only – for regulatory or wayfinding (i.e., “to public parking”) – or, is this referring to a font and style that can be / (must be) utilized by the private sector in some manner? Or something else?
The goal is to provide a variety of design guidelines for business owners to use to improve standardization in Downtown.
Question 5.) Is the strategy for “making vacant storefronts visually attractive, design outdoor areas for recreation and social gatherings, give the walking corridor the feel of a safe, and welcoming atmosphere” applied exclusively to the Circle of Progress Business Park area.
The goal is to accomplish that for all areas, yet also based on the percentages assigned Circle of Progress 10%, West High Street 5%, E. High Street & Downtown 85%
Question 6.) Does the inclusion of lighting include the areas of the Downtown that already have pedestrian scale lighting? Please confirm – this does not entail removing existing lighting?
Correct. We are not removing lighting. We will continue the project to connect the canopy of lights throughout the downtown.
Question 7.) Does the study area include the area of the historic train station proposed for the new passenger rail service?
The study does not include the train station area.
Question 8.) Please share image files of Borough site details/street plans/blueprints.