This year, the Schuylkill River Heritage Center is honoring Marian and David Moskowitz at its Ninth Heritage Award Celebration on Thursday, Oct. 18 from 6-9 PM at The Foundry, located at 2 North Main Street in Phoenixville. Admission is $75 per person.

Marian and David Moskowitz are being recognized for their amazing transformation of a former industrial site in Phoenixville into Franklin Commons, an innovative educational and business center.

In 2006, they purchased an empty, dilapidated, 225,000-square-foot site in Phoenixville. Originally built as a silk mill in 1903, the complex later became the Polychem Corporation, a branch of the Budd Company.  It ceased operations in 2003.

Marian and David Moskowitz transformed this property into Franklin Commons. Thanks to their creative and dedicated work over the past decade, it has now become a business, educational, culinary, and cultural hub for the region. It’s an extraordinary example of how innovative ideas can support both the community and economic development.

Franklin Commons houses all levels of educational facilities, from pre-school to college. Stepping Stone and the Children’s Learning Center are two pre-schools located there. Renaissance Academy, a charter school, has more than 1,000 students from K-12.

This year’s theme is “Celebrating the Gathering Place” in Renaissance Park, which is adjacent to the Phoenixville Mural wall. SRHC owns the park property and has now brought back the Phoenixville Mural as a digital reproduction of the original mural. The plan for park improvements includes new evergreen plants that won’t overtake the mural, appropriate lighting for the mural and the park, perennial flowering plants, and a gathering place in the park.

The proceeds from this event will support the SRHC’s initiative to restore Renaissance Park and make it a green place where people can also gather to view the iconic Phoenixville Mural. Those interested in attending can call 610-935-2181 or click here to purchase an admission.

The SRHC thanks its sponsors who have made this event possible: Aqua America; Allan Myers; Beausang, Butera, Cohen & Brennan, Attorneys at Law; Colonial Gardens; Events That Entertain; Jim & Karen Gerloff; Frank & Andrea Giardina; Gilmore & Associates; Hankin Foundry Partners; Stock & Eleanor Illoway; Miller Designworks; James & Joan Moore; OWM Law; PECO; Phoenixville Federal Bank & Trust; Phoenixville Hospital – Tower Health; Queen of Hearts Catering; and Sly Fox Brewing Company.