Moving Forward

I want to take this time to thank you for your support on this important issue. Since August we have been biting our nails hoping that we would not see the wrecking ball swing knocking the Airy St Prison to the ground and leaving a grassy knoll. At the very last minute, the commissioners granted the building just a little more life and took a pause to re-evaluate. While it was not exactly what we asked for, it is the best step towards preservation. We fought a long hard battle and have won this stage, but not the war. I owe a huge thanks to you all for being with us at every step of the way, coming out and speaking at meetings, and spreading the word getting other people onboard. All of you entered into my Thanksgiving thoughts this past holiday.

However, as you know, the war is not over. We still have to convince the Commissioners to withdraw their applications; the demolition application, the HARB application, and the appeal. We need them to take us back to August before this whole mess started, and look toward a new future. A future where the prison is breathing a new life having a functional purpose in the municipality of Norristown. A future where the building is a destination for the town and brings in interest, dollars, and pride. That is the true end to the war. For this to happen we need the promise of our elected officials, the will to make it work, and your continued support.

It is not too late to give a tax deductible donation to the cause through our fiscal sponsors, Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. You can click that Donate button on the homepage of the blog to do so. In addition, you can continue to share the blog link to your friends and family so that you are updated on all the progress forward. The Friends of the Prison group will do our part too by meeting with the elected officials, making sure the county’s Request for Information (RFI) gets plenty of interest, and of course keeping you informed. 

Again, thank you all for your continued support in this effort to Save the Airy St. Prison.