Attracting families to Pottstown
decided to sell their house in Spring City
Pottstown’s best champions can be
and buy one in Pottstown. Singer works
those who already live and work here.
as head of maintenance for an Exton
Late in 2006, Ryan Procsal, a proapartment complex, so the commute
fessional woodworker, bought a duwas about the same.
plex at 352 Walnut Street. “I was in
“Our son Silas was having trouble at
the construction business, and I rechis school in Spring-Ford,” Noah says.
ognized the house was built much
“But as soon as he enrolled in
better than houses they’re
Pottstown, he did a 180-degree
building today,” he says. His
turnaround. He immediately began
tenants on the second floor
to thrive in Robin Anderson’s kinhelped pay his costs until the
dergarten class at Lincoln School.”
summer of 2009, when they
The Singers were also impressed
moved out. Procsal then began
with the quality of Pottstown’s
converting the building into
housing. “Our house in Spring
a single family dwelling.
Commentary by City was less than 1,100
That same summer, he
Tom Hylton
square feet,” Noah says. “Here
met Athena Singer, a
in Pottstown, we bought a
Pottstown teacher‘s aide
3,000 square foot home for
who was renting an apart$89,000 in move-in condition.
ment nearby. They married two years
“In fact, we felt something like kids in
ago, and Athena was subsequently
a candy store. We didn’t want to spend
promoted to teach art at Pottstown’s
more than $100,000, and we had lots of
Rupert Elementary School.
houses to choose from selling for less
Meanwhile, Ryan was elected counthan that.”
cilman representing Pottstown’s first
The Singers bought a house just a few
ward.
doors down from the Proscals,
Athena spoke so enthusiastically
Now, they don’t just have a great
about Pottstown’s schools that her
house, they’ve got great neighbors.
brother, Noah, and his wife, Devon,
Councilman Ryan Procsal, far right, with his wife, Athena, and
their newborn son, Asher, stand in front of their home at 352
Walnut St. At left are Athena’s brother, Noah Singer, and his
wife, Devon, with children, Silas, 6, Caelan, 4, and Magnolia, 1½.
The Singers recently bought a house at 378 Walnut St.