EASTON, Pa. (WLVT) - Hundreds used to work at what was once the Stewart Silk Mill in the city's south side. The site was later the home for Black Diamond Enterprises, but since a fire in 2016, nothing has happened there.
Until now.
The Mill at Easton is a major redevelopment project that will bring housing, retail and more.
"It's a transformative project, because it takes a blighted property and puts it back into the tax rolls and makes it a viable place for people to live, a commercial place where people maybe to shop," said Mayor Sal Panto, Jr.
"I'm very happy that we're finally going to get something in that development, because it's been an eyesore," said Councilwoman Sandra Vulcano, who lives and represents the south side.
Vulcano said the project complements others nearby, including an apartment complex called Easton Yards and the construction of a new school for Cheston Elementary.
"It'll be close for the students to walk to school, and hopefully the retail that [they're] hoping to put in will accommodate everybody over here," she said.
As crews work to tear down what’s left of the mill, they’re making room for 55 apartments. They’ll have energy-efficient appliances, as well as washers and dryers. Panto calls it "attainable housing."
"What we're talking about here is the working poor -- people who are working, but they just can't attain a house yet," he explained. "This is a good place for them to live until they get it."
"We need housing for individuals that have that low to medium income and to help folks get the footing that they can to be part of the community -- and we all work together and make it happen," added Jill Piperata, who lives in the south side.
Plans for the commercial development include bringing a grocery store, health clinic and a bank. Developers say the whole project will offer a better quality of life for residents.
"You're cleaning up the area. It's going to improve housing values in the area. It's going to prove bringing jobs to the area," said Lara Schwager, the vice president of development at PIRHL (Partners in Residential Housing Leadership). "It's really going to make what I would say a catalytic change to the south side of town."
The city and developers shared details with the community at a meeting Thursday night. Residents, for the most part, said they're on board with the project, but the impact to neighborhood traffic is a concern, with retail and 55 more apartments coming in.
"Which, of course, does not mean 55 more vehicles, generally," noted Lynn Rogers, who lives a block away from the project. "There would be an increase from that number in vehicles. So, I'm concerned about where they're going to land."
The project goes before the Easton Planning Commission on Tuesday. Mayor Panto said it's possible the commission could require the developers to do a traffic study. As the project develops, he said it will boost the local economy and help more than just the south side.
"This adds almost $500,000 in the city budget," he said. "We can only keep taxes level in the city and possibly reduce them if we keep development growing."
Right now, the city owns the property, so it could get a $750,000 grant from Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) funds to clean up the site. It will get turned over to developers after that.
Schwager said construction is expected to start in June and will take about 16 to 18 months, which means the apartments should be ready to move in by September 2021.
Construction will occur during the hours of 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. For questions, comments and concerns during the demolition or soil remediation process, contact InfoNJ@pirhl.com or 609-498-7213.
