Phoenixville council approves $302,563 design contract for proposed Bridge and Main square despite parking concerns

Councilmember Berkley moved and Councilmember Weiss seconded a motion on Sept. 9 to award a design-and-engineering contract of $302,563 for the proposed Square at Bridge and Main; the motion passed 6-2.

The proposal would convert an existing 35-space parking lot at Bridge and Main into a permanent public square. Proponents at the meeting said the lot’s use as temporary event space during the Inside Out street closures shows demand for a year‑round downtown gathering place. "Inside Out provides a public space in the downtown for about 60 days of the year. This would create an opportunity 365 days a year," said John McPhee, business manager and co‑owner of Diving Cats Studio gallery on Bridge Street.

The vote capped a lengthy council discussion that mixed economic, legal and access concerns. Councilmember Weiss summarized borough parking data cited during the meeting: since 2017 the borough has added roughly 975 downtown parking spaces; peak weekday parking utilization is about 53 percent; and nearby lots such as the SmithWorks lot and a newer…