Bethlehem (May 5, 2026) State Senator Lisa Boscola today announced that the City of Easton has been awarded a $2.3 million state grant through the Mixed-Use Housing Development Pilot Program for the redevelopment of the Easton Iron & Metal site (EIM) into “The Foundry,” a mixed-use community to include 200 rental units and 20,000 square feet of commercial space.
“The redevelopment of the 14-acre Easton Iron & Metal site into residential units and commercial space will have a tremendous economic impact for the City of Easton and provide much needed housing stock for our region,” Senator Boscola stated. “The Mixed-Use Housing Development Pilot program is another example of the Commonwealth’s effort to assist in public-private partnerships that will provide affordable housing opportunities for residents of Northampton County.”
The EIM site was acquired by the Redevelopment Authority of Easton in December 2019 and title was subsequently transferred to the City. In 2021, Easton issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) to identify a developer to work with the City to redevelop the site through a public-private partnership. Through that RFP process, the City identified VM Development Group (VMDG) as the “preferred developer’ for the project.
“The Foundry” is a $60M+ mixed-use community with 20,000 square feet of commercial space and parking on the buildings’ first floors, 200+ residential units on the upper floors, and unique architecture focused on environmental sustainability, nature and art. VMDG estimates that the project will eventually result in annual real estate tax and earned income tax (EIT) revenues of approximately $600,000 and $240,000 respectively.
The Foundry will also have synergies with the nearby Simon Silk Mill (also redeveloped by VMDG), building upon VMDG’s success in attracting commercial tenants that create jobs and foster new business owners and entrepreneurs. Finally, The Foundry embraces enhanced pedestrian connectivity via the continuation of the Karl Stirner Arts Trail through the site and the improvement of pedestrian facilities along Bushkill Drive.
The Mixed-Use Housing Development Pilot Program received 104 applications statewide requesting more than $469 million in funding. Only 7 seven projects were awarded funding totaling $10 million.
# # #