POTTSTOWN PA – The warm glow of a new light canopy (at top) – intended to add visual appeal, create a welcoming feel for visitors, and enhance public safety – is brightening up the night in downtown Pottstown.
The “Light Up High Street” project is an effort by Pottstown Area Economic Development Inc. (PAED) and downtown business owners to create an ambiance that attracts customers to the borough’s increasing number of dining, beverage, and entertainment establishments, PAED Executive Director Peggy Lee-Clark said Thursday (May 18, 2023).
The cost of the initial installation of lighted bulbs, currently on a portion of East High Street, was covered by fund-raising over several months within the business community, she added. Its design is similar to lighting that already brightens Smith Family Plaza near borough hall.
“We were on board right away with this project,” Jim Hoffman, owner of Laserworx Custom Laser Engraving at 236 E. High St., said. “We think it will make the town more beautiful at night, and has the added bonus of making the town safer. When the whole downtown is lit up at night, it is going to give Pottstown a unique charm that not many places have.”
Other business and property owners grew equally convinced, according to Lee-Clark, as measurements were taken, sketches made, and planning took shape. Supporters were interested in the consistency of the design, the quality of the commercial-grade lighting system, and its final appearance.
The canopy stretches from buildings to curbs across an entire section of sidewalk. Its look and feel will be duplicated as other sections are added. “We can’t wait to see the end-product,” Hoffman added.
Part of the motivation, Lee-Clark reported, is the continued desire to successfully emerge from the now-ended public health emergency that was the COVID-19 pandemic. Creation of what she describes as a “place-making projects,” those that help the borough stand out from other municipalities as a location of visitors’ choice, became “a priority” for the business community, she said.
The first section was installed by area electrical construction contractor A.N. Lynch Co. Its third-generation owner, Nev Lynch, said he holds “many memories of Pottstown as a child,” and enjoys seeing downtown bustle with activity. “I am hopeful people enjoy shopping, dining, and visiting High Street,” he said, where the lighting “presents a safe and appealing environment to be out on the town.”
Efforts are already in the works to extend the light canopy to other downtown blocks. To that end, Lee-Clark confirmed, PAED is working “diligently on additional funding opportunities, and coordinating with Pottstown’s downtown building owners and businesses.”
PAED is a non-profit corporation, originally formed in 1965, to promote commercial and industrial development in Pottstown.
Photo provided by Pottstown Area Economic Development Inc.
