A former struggling retail center in Berwyn owned by Echo Realty is now a brand new 250-unit apartment building, writes Paul Schwedelson for the Philadelphia Business Journal.

The transformation is the result of a partnership between Bozzuto Group and Echo Realty. The property at 400 Swedesford Road sits between two other shopping centers. To rehabilitate the struggling center, Bozzuto’s Pete Sikora proposed six years ago to demolish the middle center and build apartments in its stead.

The plan was turned into reality and the four-story Ember at Berwyn apartment building is ready to open its doors this month. The building has three studios and 146 one-bedroom, 86 two-bedroom, and 15 three-bedroom apartments. The majority of units have balconies.

There are also 9,000 square feet of amenity space with coworking space, a fitness center, an outdoor pool, as well as barbecue grills.

Although the building has no commercial uses, it is described as “horizontal mixed use” by Sikora, similar to the Echo Realty-owned shopping center located just west of the property. Meanwhile, just east of the property is a shopping center.

Read more about the transformation of Ember at Berwyn in the Philadelphia Business Journal.

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