Lifting the Curse: DeMutis Group Hopes to Develop Steel Site Parcel

That sprawling chunk of land sitting near the French Creek may get some life. The planning commission recently saw plans for a 7.2-acre parcel on the Phoenixville steel site.

In all, the steel site, as its known, spans 120 acres. The plans presented to the planning commission Feb. 10 dealt with one of the parcels on the land. That parcel has 400-linear feet of frontage on the 100 block of Bridge Street, nestled between the 101 Bridge St. and Phoenix Cycles.

The plans are the same as those submitted for the parcel in 2006 by a different developer, though the apartment density on the 2011 plans is different. Now, the property is part of a private equity group of The DeMutis Group.

The plans for the mixed-use development include a 30,000-square foot office building, 90,000-square feet of retail space and 275 apartments. A 630-space parking garage is also planned for the site.

Cassidy said the property may include work-life units, where business owners can live in the rear of the shops, as well.

“A lot of people are excited,” said Barry Cassidy, property manager. “I think everyone wants to get behind the project because it’s in the best interest of Phoenixville to continue economic growth.”

The 120-acre steel site is split up into several parcels with several owners. With a long and storied past, the land sat dormant for decades as the town around it went through revitalization.

Cassidy pointed out a curse put on the property in the 1700s by a woman who was losing the land to the sheriff. According to stories about the property, the woman asked that no owner would ever find success on the land.

Though the land changed hands numerous times and property owners did in fact see their share of troubles, Cassidy said this time it will be different.

“This time we’re actually going to do something,” Cassidy said. “We’re going to keep this on everyone’s front burner.”

The DeMutis Group closed on the parcel on Dec. 30, 2010. A site dedicated to the property can be found at thephoenixvillesteelsite.blogspot.com. The site lists pricing for retail units on Bridge Street. For a 1,300-square foot space, the price is listed at $182,000, or $140 per square foot.

Cassidy said the developer plans to work with the borough to get the best plans possible for the site. He said the plans will come before the Phoenixville Planning Commission again on Thursday, March 10 at 7 p.m. Cassidy hopes to get everything approved to start construction at the end of this year or early next year.

“This will complete the streetscape,” Cassidy said.