Beech Street Factory project progressing on schedule in Pottstown

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Beech Street Factory project progressing on schedule in Pottstown

Beech Street Factory project progressing on schedule in Pottstown

By Gabbie O’Grady
Posted from the Reading Eagle News

Special to the Reading Eagle: Sandi Yanisko | Work is progressing on schedule at the Beech Street Factory, formerly the Fecera’s Warehouse, which is being turned into apartments and a new space for ArtFusion’s classes, gallery and offices.

The $14 million Beech Street Factory construction project in Pottstown is progressing on schedule and is expected to be finished in February, according to Judy Memberg of Genesis Housing Corp.

“Nothing major has come up in construction, but you have those little things that come with every project,” Memberg said. “Sometimes you get small, unexpected issues like when we opened a wall, and a beam had a crack in it.”

The Norristown-based Genesis and another nonprofit, Housing Visions of Syracuse, N.Y., worked together to obtain funding for the project. It involves converting the former Fecera’s furniture warehouse at Beech and Evans streets into 43 apartments, including six for mentally challenged individuals.

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Genesis Housing is currently working on a marketing plan for the apartments.

“We’ve started taking people’s names who want to be notified when we will start taking applications,” Member said.
Additionally, ArtFusion 19464, a Pottstown art gallery and school currently located on High Street, will occupy part of the building. The Beech Street site will provide space for art projects, classes, a gallery and more. The space, however, will not be a retail location.”It’s such a beautiful space. I’m really excited about this project,” said Erika Hornburg-Cooper, co-founder of the nonprofit ArtFusion.
A formerly enclosed porch will become an entrance for ArtFusion, and a back door will allow for receiving heavy items or boxes.
“This will be so much nicer than having to drag all that heavy stuff upstairs all the time, like we do now on High Street,” Hornburg-Cooper said.
ArtFusion is planning a pottery studio, glassblowing space and a computer station for animation. The Beech Street location also will open up new opportunities for the nonprofit.
“We were missing out on a lot of opportunities from the college (Montgomery County Community College) and The Hill School because our location wasn’t ADA compliant,” Hornburg-Cooper said.
The 60,000-square-foot warehouse was built in 1912 to house the Leibowitz Shirt Factory. Fecera’s Furniture occupied the building for many years, but it has been vacant for the past 12.
Contact Gabbie O’Grady: 610-371-5021 or gogrady@readingeagle.com.

Special to the Reading Eagle: Sandi Yanisko | Erika Hornburg-Cooper, co-founder of ArtFusion, Pottstown, points out the area where pottery classes will be held.

Special to the Reading Eagle: Sandi Yanisko | Construction is underway at the Beech Street Factory, formerly the Fecera’s Warehouse, which is being turned into a new space for ArtFusion’s classes, gallery and offices. In a partnership with Genesis Housing and Housing Visions, the space will also include 43 apartments at the corner of Beech Street and Evans Streets in Pottstown. Beech Street Factory, Beech and Evans Streets, Pottstown, Friday, 09/16/2016, Special to the Reading Eagle, Sandi Yanisko

Special to the Reading Eagle: Sandi Yanisko | Erika Hornburg-Cooper explains that the original large metal doors of the Fecera’s Warehouse are being saved for use in other parts of the building. Construction is underway at the Beech Street Factory, formerly Fecera’s Warehouse, which is being turned into a new space for ArtFusion’s classes, gallery and offices. In a partnership with Genesis Housing and Housing Visions, the space will also include 43 apartments. Beech Street Factory, Beech and Evans Streets, Pottstown, Friday, 09/16/2016, Special to the Reading Eagle, Sandi Yanisko

Special to the Reading Eagle: Sandi Yanisko | The original brick will be exposed on the interior walls of the Beech Street Factory, formerly Fecera’s Warehouse, which is being turned into a new space for ArtFusion’s classes, gallery and offices. In a partnership with Genesis Housing and Housing Visions, the space will also include 43 apartments. Beech Street Factory, Beech and Evans Streets, Pottstown, Friday, 09/16/2016, Special to the Reading Eagle, Sandi Yanisko

Special to the Reading Eagle: Sandi Yanisko | Work is progressing on schedule at the Beech Street Factory, formerly the Fecera’s Warehouse, which is being turned into apartments and a new space for ArtFusion’s classes, gallery and offices.

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Special to the Reading Eagle: Sandi Yanisko | Erika Hornburg-Cooper, co-founder of ArtFusion, Pottstown, points out the area where pottery classes will be held.

Buy this Image

Special to the Reading Eagle: Sandi Yanisko | Construction is underway at the Beech Street Factory, formerly the Fecera’s Warehouse, which is being turned into a new space for ArtFusion’s classes, gallery and offices. In a partnership with Genesis Housing and Housing Visions, the space will also include 43 apartments at the corner of Beech Street and Evans Streets in Pottstown. Beech Street Factory, Beech and Evans Streets, Pottstown, Friday, 09/16/2016, Special to the Reading Eagle, Sandi Yanisko

Buy this Image

Special to the Reading Eagle: Sandi Yanisko | Erika Hornburg-Cooper explains that the original large metal doors of the Fecera’s Warehouse are being saved for use in other parts of the building. Construction is underway at the Beech Street Factory, formerly Fecera’s Warehouse, which is being turned into a new space for ArtFusion’s classes, gallery and offices. In a partnership with Genesis Housing and Housing Visions, the space will also include 43 apartments. Beech Street Factory, Beech and Evans Streets, Pottstown, Friday, 09/16/2016, Special to the Reading Eagle, Sandi Yanisko

Special to the Reading Eagle: Sandi Yanisko | The original brick will be exposed on the interior walls of the Beech Street Factory, formerly Fecera’s Warehouse, which is being turned into a new space for ArtFusion’s classes, gallery and offices. In a partnership with Genesis Housing and Housing Visions, the space will also include 43 apartments. Beech Street Factory, Beech and Evans Streets, Pottstown, Friday, 09/16/2016, Special to the Reading Eagle, Sandi Yanisko