Open House To Be Held On Airy Street Prison In Norristown

NORRISTOWN, PA — A public open house on the future of the Airy Street Prison redevelopment project in Norristown will be held next week, officials announced.

The event will take place on Monday, Oct. 7 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Suite 202 at One Montgomery Plaza.

The prison is an iconic aspect of the Norristown streetscape and skyline which has been rescued from demolition, but whose future remains murky as competing visions of its future have jockeyed for sway over the past year.

"Interested community members can stop by anytime during the open house to hear about the prison redevelopment public survey results, learn about next steps for the redevelopment project, speak with county staff, and enjoy some light refreshments," officials shared.

Related: Airy Street Prison Redevelopment Seeks Shape In Norristown

The development must fit in with the municipality's town center zoning district, which aims to promote uses "compatible with the historic character" of the area as well as uses oriented towards walkability.

Montgomery County is currently at work on a Request for Expression of Interest (RFEI), a document meant to serve as a guideline to prospective developers. The county's RFEI for Airy Street "encourages a combination of architectural preservation, private development, and additional county facilities," according to officials.

Some have pointed to the James A. Michener Art Museum in Doylestown, which was the site of the Bucks County jail for decades before it was transformed into an art institution in the 1980s.

Some 700 local residents have already provided feedback to the county on the future of the prison, officials said.