‘The Little Apple’: Easton PA… Great things are happening here and NOW!
March 2012: Easton is only 65 miles from New York City, along the Delaware River on the edge of NJ and conveniently sandwiched between routes 22 and 78. Rich in history, Easton is one of only three cities (Philly & Trenton) where the Declaration of Independence was first read! Spectacular architecture in historic downtown and ‘College Hill’ areas (Lafayette College) inspires many to be a part of the renaissance here. Join the many artists, investors, families, restauranteurs, and young professionals that are now calling this town home.
Commutable, diverse, eclectic; an area within striking-distance of Manhattan and Philadelphia, and so affordable. Historic Easton houses the 3rd most-visited children’s museum – The Crayola Experience, and many fantastic restaurants, stores, recreation. Access to routes 22 and 78 within minutes.
Despite the recession many exciting development projects are happening here. 10 reasons why to live / invest in Easton:
1. Delaware waterfront redevelopment project Easton & the Delaware Bridge Commission invested over $4Million to landscape and redevelop its waterfront parks in 2010. Now complete, it features 2 awesome playgrounds for children, a covered ampitheatre, and fabulous new stage where Lehigh & Delaware rivers convene.
2. Third Street/College Ave corridor; north gateway to Lafayette College arts campus / Easton
Lafayette College has purchased this entire block that bridges the Bushkill creek, and now holds the northern gateway to downtown Easton. Over $4Million is being spent here to beautify and redevelop this area where they house their arts campus. Lafayette’s new documentary film school is in the works – their whole creative campus is here on the north front of the city, no. 3rd st.
3. The historic Pomeroy’s building project. Once a destination-department store that even New Yorkers would frequent, the Pomeroy building had been vacant for decades. Just off the West-spoke of Easton’s center square, mixed-use retail and residential, located next to Easton’s new Sigal’s museum. West NJ developer VM Development renovated this 70,000 Gross SF front building into over 22 luxury apartments (opening this May) and 10,000 SF of retail on the first floor. Floors 2 and 3 will be 22 residential apartments with an exposed courtyard. AND, a fabulous french bistro restaurant is coming this summer. See a sneak peek of the luxury apartments here, in Laini’s exposé. It’s rumored that there is now a phase II in place, to develop the building here that backs up to Pine Street.
4. 225 Ferry st. – Industrial Chic, unique building for sale.
On Easton’s hot ‘restaurant row’ you will find this fantastic former mid-1800s stone church. Owner has peeled back the layers to create amazing space … so unique & cool, many popular brands are conducting photo-shoots here – you may recognize the space in Neiman Markus’ the BOOK, j.Crew’s, & west elm catalogs.
5. 3rd & Ferry St Oyster House: local developers are putting the final touches on this beautiful restoration project, formerly a completely-stucco’d furniture store facade. 6-townhome rentals & a seafood house, coming soon.
6. south 3rd street approach into downtown (from route 78): Easton has recently acquired all key properties and is designing street-scape beautification project along this southern-approach into historic Easton. Landscaping, new decorative street lights, and a new parking garage / retail space/ coach museum on tap… see Mayor Panto’s vision, in Elucidator Magazine’s recent interview.
7. Bushkill creek corridor bike path project: $9+Million bike-path project is now happening, 2011. Easton & Lafayette College partnered up and developed a lovely bushkill creek corridor Karl Stirner sculpture trail. November 2011 is the official opening of Easton’s first dog park here.
8. Simon Silk Mill: site of Easton’s Movies at the Mill… Easton Redevelopment Authority is currently managing ‘phase II’ of this redevelopment and an investor has been secured for this creative/retail/housing project along 13th street & Bushkill, that involves the Simon Knitting mill buildings & acres of land along Bushkill creek. It ties into the city along the lovely Bushkill Creek via the Karl Stirner Sculpture trail/dog park, and will eventually tie into more biking paths in the lehigh valley.
9. EFM: the longest-running-outdoor farmers’ market in the nation! has over 30 vendors and is incredibly bustling, every saturday a.m…. easton farmers’ market re-opens on May 5, 2012.
10. Twin Rivers Brewpub, Easton’s landmark building the Mt Vernon, where George Washington once dined! is now being completely renovated into a microbrewpub by local beer-lovers. Twin Rivers Brewing Company will open this summer, and now completes the ‘bermuda triangle’ in this West Ward neighborhood gateway – along with Black&Blue and Porters Pub.
easton is moving forward
