Two tenants named for transformed textile mill in Bucks County

The first company to acquire loans through a Bucks County economic development program unveiled its plans for a nearly $5 million adaptive reuse project in Quakertown at a media conference Tuesday afternoon.

Jerry Gorski, president of Gorski Engineering, a design-build general contractor and engineer of Collegeville, described his plans to transform the 60,000-square-foot Best Made Hosiery Co., a predominantly vacant textile mill, into new office, technical and laboratory space for three companies. Gorski is the owner and developer of the site at 18 S. Fifth St. in Quakertown.

Gorski said he will repurpose the building for three tenants and rename it "Best Made Center." When it's complete, the building will be 45,000 square feet.

Roselon Industries Inc., a company that occupies space in the building that will be torn down, will move to a new 10,600 square-foot-space inside the renovated building on June 1, 2014, Gorski said. In the meantime, Roselon will continue operations by temporarily relocating to another site.

Roselon (previously Spinlon) has occupied the building for almost 50 years and is maintaining its corporate headquarters, office space and research and development activity in the new space. Roselon will continue its operation of texturing synthetic fiber to make specialty yarns for athletic clothing, socks and gloves but will not be manufacturing products at the site. Manufacturing operations ended in 2002.

"I have a lot of emotional attachment to the building, but it's the right decision," said Robert Adams, CEO and owner of Roselon. He said he was happy to stay.

At its peak business operation from 1995-2001, Roselon hired 175 employees, Adams said.

Synergis Technologies Inc. will be the primary tenant and will occupy 33,000 square feet of the building. Synergis is comprised of two independent divisions – Synergis Software, developers of Adept Engineering document management solutions, and Synergis Engineering Design Solutions, an Autodesk solutions provider in the mid-Atlantic region.

Synergis now leases space in two separate locations on nearby California Road in Richland Township and would like to combine operations at one location.

Synergis has 107 employees and plans to grow over the next three to five years to 135 employees.

The building will have room for an additional tenant, with 7,500 square feet of available space.

Re:Vision Architecture of Philadelphia is the architectural firm for the project.

A FIRST FOR BUCKS 2 INVEST

The project marks the first loan project approved through Bucks County's "Bucks 2 Invest" economic development program, created earlier this year to spur business activity throughout the county.

The Bucks County Industrial Development Authority, an agency overseen by the Bucks County Board of Commissioners, manages several loan programs for the county's "Bucks 2 Invest" initiative.

For this project, Gorski received low-interest loans totaling $400,000 from the New Economy Fund and $70,000 through the Bucks Rebuilt program.

"We looked at so many projects that resonated with us," said Mary Smithson, chairwoman of the Bucks County IDA. "It was a vision that I saw we could do here in the county. This project simply states it will improve the economic vitality of the area."

Synergis wanted to be in a community environment and that was a big part of their decision, Smithson said.

Gorski said construction costs would be about $2.8 million; the total project, including purchase price and investment, is estimated to cost nearly $5 million.

Univest of Souderton supplied the biggest part of the investment, Gorski said.

'SCULPTING FROM STONE'

Gorski said he plans to integrate technology into the facility to inject the Quakertown landmark with new life.

"It's a lot like sculpting from stone," Gorski said. "There's some beautiful parts in there, you just have to find them. We're gonna find the best pieces and make sure they stand out."

David Sharp, president of Synergis, described the move as a great opportunity for revision to use new available technology at the site. He plans to move the company on Sept. 1, 2014, and said he has a long-term commitment to be in the building for 20 years.

"When we saw this, we knew this was what we wanted to call home," he said. "It's perfect for us, and we're looking forward to being here for many years to come."

Sharp said his company's clients include manufacturers, engineers, building contractors and governmental agencies.

"When we make these types of investments that were high tech buildings at one point; it adds so much value and good things to the borough," said Rob Loughery, chairman of the Bucks County Board of Commissioners.

He noted that this project took much collaboration between organizations to make it a reality. These included Quakertown Borough Council, Upper Bucks Chamber of Commerce, Bucks County Economic Development Corp., Bucks County Industrial Development Authority and several state agencies.

U.S. Rep. Mike Fitzpatrick thanked the private sector for stepping up to redevelop the building.

"Second chances are a wonderful thing," he said. "Textile factories in old boroughs, they are the heart and soul of the borough."

The influx of new employees in the building also will build business in the nearby downtown shops, as people are likely to go to local merchants and restaurants, said Pete Krauss, executive director of the Bucks County IDA.

Source: LVB.com