Four historic buildings are being renovated and restored in a major revitalization project that will create 17 residential, upper level apartments on the 100 block of West Broad Street.

The initiative represents the largest single infrastructure improvement in the heart of downtown Tamaqua since a $3 million Victorian streetscape project of 2006-07.

“Banks on Broadway” by the Alliance of Building Communities will focus on four large structures, two of which are former bank buildings and two former business and commerce centers.

The project will restore the appearance of the Berwick House Apartments, at Broad and Berwick streets, to resemble how it looked in its heyday as the 1903 Tamaqua National Bank. In the 1960s, a newer entrance was created on Broad Street, a modern lobby and an elevator installed. Those changes and other modifications significantly altered the original character of the building.

On the exterior, a wire mesh and foam coating was applied to the lower portion of the facade about 20 years ago. Work crews are busy removing that facing, accessing higher levels from the bucket of a crane. Top floors of the four-story building are made of granite blocks.

The structure is owned by the ABC company and consists of rental apartments.

A few doors away, the project will restore three large apartments, long vacated, over the Tamaqua Historical Society Museum, 116 W. Broad St. The building originally served as the 1905 Tamaqua National Bank.

Also included will be restoration work at the museum annex, 114 W. Broad St., formerly offices of the Tamaqua Area Chamber of Commerce.

The project also will restore 112 W. Broad St., an unused commercial building that once served as Lazarchick’s Music Store. There, too, upper level apartments will be created with a few parking spaces installed at the rear of the building at Cottage Avenue.

The museum and annex are owned by the nonprofit Tamaqua Historical Society. The former music store building is owned by the ABC corporation.

All three brick buildings, as well as the Berwick House, are considered to be strong contributing resources to the Tamaqua National Historic District.

Dale Freudenberger, society president, said the restoration and improvements of all of the buildings will benefit the community, and the planned improvements at the three buildings on the south side of Broad Street will maximize their potential.

“All three buildings will be returned to full use,” he said.

As part of the agreement, the society agreed to let the ABC group manage the rental portion.

“We entered into a long-term lease for the upper floors to be rented out. The society also will occupy the first floor of the former Lazarchick building to allow expansion of the museum.”

Freudenberger said the museum building’s upper floors will receive new windows and re-pointing of brickwork in addition to substantial interior work. The former music store will receive a restored facade and new upper floor windows, in addition to interior work required to create apartments.

“The museum will remain open during construction,” Freudenberger said.

Mayor Nathan Gerace said quality rental units can play an important role in a community, and the availability of 17 new units will be a plus.

“As our community grows, housing is an important factor in a downtown. I’m thankful to Sen. (David) Argall and Rep. (Jerry) Knowles for fighting for funding for these projects. Tamaqua has an abundance of hardworking citizens and groups that help Tamaqua grow and thrive every day. This is a great example of the projects that continue to help Tamaqua take the next step of continued revitalization.”

This project is the latest in a series of Tamaqua revitalization projects undertaken by ABC, which operates the ABC Tamaqua Hi-Rise. The company also developed the Hazle Street Apartments at the former Tamaqua Shoe and Boot Manufacturing Co., along with Liberty Hall, or “Liberty Place,” at a former gymnasium and showroom. Those projects represented a $7 million investment.

The total cost of Banks on Broadway is $5.7 million.

The project received a $350,000 Affordable Housing Grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, a $500,000 grant from the PennHOMES program, and $485,000 in low-income tax credits from the Pennsylvania Housing and Finance Authority. The remainder of the funding comes in the form of equity from Riverview Bank.