DOWNINGTOWN, PA — The old Sonoco Paper Company site is on its way to revitalization in Downingtown as construction begins at River Station.
Hankin Group broke ground this week for Phase One construction of its River Station project in Downingtown that was approved by the Borough late in 2019.
Hankin Group explained it planned the mixed-use, transit-oriented project to ultimately include over 400 luxury apartments and 10,000 square feet of retail space, encompassing the future site of the new Downingtown AMTRAK/SEPTA train station. It will feature a pedestrian bridge connecting Downingtown’s Johnstontown Park to the east bank of Brandywine Creek.
The site that was once the Sonoco Paper Company will be revitalized to offer a new kind of urban development for the Downingtown Borough and surrounding communities, Hankin Group said.
Hankin said it is excited to expand into the budding Downingtown market with this prime location in the heart of the borough near local restaurants and businesses.
Hankin emphasizes it is committed to the communities they are a part of, and Downingtown is no exception. “The opportunity to build a mixed-use development next to a train station in a great place like Downingtown doesn’t come around often,” said Neal Fisher, Hankin’s Vice President of Development. “We are truly excited to become a bigger part of the Downingtown community and look forward to developing a first-rate transit-oriented development at the site of what we hope will be the new train station.”
River Station Phase One, projected to open in spring of 2023, will include 203 luxury apartments and be the newest multi-family community to join Hankin Apartments’ award-winning, diverse portfolio. Apartment amenities will include a state-of-the-art clubhouse with resident lounges, fitness and yoga studios, work share spaces, a private viewing room, a private conference room, a resort-style pool, a pet spa, and more.
Phase One will also include divisible retail space locations in two buildings totaling approximately 10,000 sq. ft.
Downingtown Borough has stated, “Downingtown is experiencing a revitalization with many new projects currently underway, as well as, proposed projects which will enhance our future growth and provide many types of opportunities for our residents. … River Station will provide opportunities for new commercial businesses, restaurants and residential living with easy access to transit and pedestrian trails.”
Hankin Group also developed Weatherstone Town in Chester Springs, a 300-acre community that is a walkable social hub with dining, entertainment, professional services, a preschool, luxury residences, and green space.
On the heels of the success of the season’s first market, Hankin Group and Growing Roots Partners are coming together to host three more events this summer in Weatherstone Town Center. The second installment of Craft & Mercantile will be held on Friday, July 16 from 5-8 PM.
Last month’s event attracted more than 850 people from the surrounding community for an evening of shopping, food and drink, and live entertainment. Weatherstone’s anchor tenant and the Hankin Group’s newest restaurant, Revival Pizza Pub, held its grand opening in conjunction with the market.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better kickoff event in Weatherstone,” said Brooke Rightnour, Marketing & Public Relations Manager for Hankin Group. “The entire community came together and just seemed to really enjoy each other’s company and the market offerings. There was a little bit of something for everyone with over 25 craft vendors, four food trucks, and a dynamic, talented musician to top it all off.”
The free event will return monthly from July through September with some new and returning vendors, along with local food trucks and rotating musicians. Magic Memories, a daycare located in Weatherstone, will be hosting a kid’s activity in the town square to round out the three-hour event.
“Craft & Mercantile is a fun, family friendly event,” said event organizer Christy Campli, owner of Growing Roots Partners. “We really take into consideration the demographic and feedback from the community to curate the markets. It’s amazing to be able to provide a stage for these local artisans to share their work with others.”
More information will be released here and on the Weatherstone Town Center and Craft & Mercantile social media pages. Later this summer, Weatherstone will also host a music performance in coordination with Point Entertainment, as well as a movie night in September. The full event lineup can be found here.
We’re proud to announce University of Pennsylvania‘s Tangen Hall has just received #LEED Silver certification by USGB. LEED, or Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is a globally recognized symbol of excellence in green building.
LEED certification ensures electricity cost savings, lower carbon emissions and healthier environments where people live, work, learn, play and worship. Learn more about our sustainability efforts here: https://www.hankingroup.com/sustainability/
Our team worked with Hunter Roberts Construction Group, KSS Architects, The Stone House Group, LLC, Pennoni, The Harman Group and Bala Consulting to bring this project to life.
As the pandemic-related business slumps abate, three life sciences companies made long-term commitments to the region. They’ve each signed leases for headquarters in Chester County, writes Natalie Kostelni for the Philadelphia Business Journal.
After exploring several options, Castle Creek Biosciences extended its lease for 10 more years on the 86,500 square feet at Eagleview Corporate Center in Exton. The property will receive $20 million in upgrades to the manufacturing and research space.
Nearby, Frontage Laboratories also signed a 10-year renewal on its headquarters at 700 Pennsylvania Drive in Eagleview. In addition to the 80,000-square-foot space, the company signed another 10-year-lease for 70,000 square feet in a nearby office park, where its landlord, Hankin Group, recently constructed new labs.
Meanwhile, XyloCor Therapeutics has signed a lease for a 3,800-square-foot space at 1550 Liberty Ridge in Chesterbrook. The property will serve as its first headquarters. Previously, the gene-therapy company, currently developing cardiovascular disease treatments, used temporary offices at Life Sciences Pennsylvania offices in Wayne. It has since outgrown that space.
Read more about the leasings in the Philadelphia Business Journal.
Published on 6/15/2021 by Dan Weckerly from Vista Today.
News link: https://vista.today/2021/06/three-life-sciences-companies-chester-county-hqs/?fbclid=IwAR37gTaaXAFWGYAr-TS3dYlyMobr411QM2nmEIHO9_3P74OsH9Kev62cThs