The city of Coatesville now has a new venue that can be used for a variety of purposes such as weddings, special events, meetings and other gatherings.

A joint venture called Midway Arches has transformed what were formerly two church properties into modern and functional spaces for the community to use.

The two venues that make up Midway Arches are St. Cecilia's, 99 N. Sixth Ave., and St. Stan's, 209 W. Lincoln Highway. The properties had been sitting vacant until New Heritage Properties and Activated Capital saw their potential and came together to revitalize the two sites. Community members, local business owners and state, county and local officials recently gathered to celebrate the grand opening of Midway Arches and to see the transformation.

Among those in attendance were Joshua Burrell of Activated Capital and co-owner of Midway Arches; longtime venue coordinator Jane Darnell, director of marketing and events at Midway Arches; Midway Arches co-owner Crosby Wood; Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz; and Rep. Dan Williams.

When they began the project, the Midway Arches team members were looking to not only re-develop the property, but also to intentionally develop community and get individuals excited about what is going on in the city. Burrell expressed that the collaborative effort between his team, community leaders and the city of Coatesville has facilitated the meeting of minds and brought the project to completion.

The larger of the two venues, St. Cecilia's Event Center, is home to an event space with vaulted ceilings, outdoor options, a neighboring bridal suite and lower-level meeting rooms. On the other side of the city, St. Stan's is a boutique-style venue for more intimate gatherings. The redesign of the space was done by designer Beth Elvanian. The venues have a full line-up of preferred caterers and recommended vendors, but also allow outside vendors.

Midway Arches and the upcoming projects of New Heritage Properties and Activated Capital strive to be a catalyst in enhancing the opportunities and options in the city. The partners are also the developers of the Flats Project in the city. The Flats is a 30-acre, $50 million project set to develop a sports facility. This project aims to build Coatesville into an international destination with a transformative impact on commerce and opportunities for generations of residents.

For more information or to book an event at Midway Arches, visit http://www.midwayarches.com or call Darnell at 610-996-2760.