The Lansdale Freight House: GOALS

Because of the Freight House’s centralized location, visibility, and significance to the borough, and thanks to the completion of the parking lot and Liberty Bell Trail segment, our goal is to rehabilitate the entire building:

• Operating the original shipping office area as a Welcome Center for visitors and newcomers to Lansdale, pointing guests to dining, shopping and services in town.
• Creating a display area spotlighting the railroad history and industrial heritage of the Borough.
• And designing a one-of-a-kind rental venue for community events and private celebrations.  

Benefiting the Borough

The majority of the 3,900-square-foot facility, which has received its certificate of occupancy and is now available for rental, is being operated as a multi-use rental venue to support the upkeep of the building and utilities. 

Civic organizations and events are at reduced fees. But other potential clients would include business meetings and events, merchants for markets, artists and crafters for displays and sales, promoters and performers for musical and theatrical presentations, and the general public for celebrations such as birthdays, weddings and anniversaries. Unlike many other rustic venues in the area, the heating and AC systems allow for year-round rental. And the operability of several freight doors offers the option of indoor/outdoor events. 

We expect the renovated and reopened Freight House to provide a wide range of societal and economic benefits to the borough.

We intend to employ area contractors in the restoration efforts (to the extent possible given grant requirements), and work with local services and financial firms, thus keeping the benefits of the expenditures within the community. 

The Welcome Center’s key location on the Liberty Bell Trail will carry hiking/biking/jogging traffic from the surrounding suburban counties. The iconic stone structure is also situated on a major motor route into the center of town, with designated parking. And it’s clearly visible from SEPTA’s Doylestown Regional Rail Line and easily accessible by foot from Lansdale’s Passenger Station. 

As such, the Welcome Center will serve to send visitors to the borough’s dining and shopping options, tourist attractions and service providers. 

The venue also will attract large-scale private events, from weddings to class reunions, into the heart of the borough, benefiting local catering firms, musicians, event planners, florists, cleaning firms, and other suppliers in our market. 

And perhaps most important, the venue’s size and scope promise to turn the Freight House and the adjacent lot into a community focus for fairs, markets, concerts, shows, and just meeting neighbors in its trail-side courtyard. 

This is our vision — but we can't achieve it without your support!