Grant awarded for downtown housing in Pottsville

Amy Marchiano, Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.
·2 min read

Nov. 20—The plan to transform the upper floors of the former Schuylkill Trust building in Pottsville into 60 market-rate apartments took a step forward as a $3 million grant was awarded for the Pottsville Centre Apartments project.

Located at 101 N. Centre St., the building currently houses Beyond/Hello, a medical marijuana dispensary that opened in December 2021, on the first floor. The building is owned by Jushi PA LLC, according to the Schuylkill County parcel locator.

Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Twp., and Rep. Tim Twardzik, R-123, Butler Twp., announced Friday that Pottsville Centre LLC was awarded money for the project by the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program. It is administered by the state Office of the Budget and is for acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational and historic improvement projects.

The amount requested was $3,484,190. The grant will be matched with a private investment from the owner of the building, Argall said.

"This competitive grant doesn't just help address the ongoing housing shortage gripping our region, but also continues the significant progress made in recent years to revitalized downtown Pottsville. You can see it all over the city, from the new Pottsville CollegeTowne campus of Alvernia University, to the new businesses that have opened their doors. I'm excited about the future of Pottsville," Argall said.

Twardzik said the project will "breathe new life" into the city.

Mayor Dave Clews said he was thankful for the support by all who made the project a reality.

"It's truly exciting to have a project of this magnitude happening in downtown Pottsville," Clews said.

Savas Logothetides, executive director of Pottsville Area Development Corp., said the funding is a "game changer" for the city.

"The upward trajectory of our downtown is certainly noticeable, and this is another piece of the puzzle toward growth in our city," Logothetides said.

Contact the writer: amarchiano@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023