The site looks down and out, and only a few people have tread this ground in the past year, but the borough property along Front Street might be the catalyst that Catasauqua is looking for to revitalize the community.

Last year, the borough purchased the brownfield from FL Smidth with plans to add a new municipal complex and develop the remaining acreage with commercial and residential units.

"We need to attract developers to the site so they can see what we have," Councilwoman Christine Weaver told The Press in an interview.

With an eye toward marketing the property, Weaver met with borough Manager Eugene Goldfeder and Main Street Business Association President Kimberly Brubaker to formulate a marketing plan.

"We decided to have an inaugural party on site at the old plate/rolling mill," she said. "The idea is to get the word out in the community on what is available at the site and invite local residents to the site."

The celebration will be a noteworthy event. Last month, the borough branded the site as Iron Works Catasauqua PA.

"We like the branding name and are working on a logo for the site," Weaver said. "In keeping with the name, we called this opening event the Iron Works Blast."

Tentative plans call for the party to begin at 6 p.m. Nov. 8, with limited opening remarks and a display of artistic renditions of plans proposed by Spillman Farmer Architects tacked up on the walls. However, the party is not envisioned as a boring presentation.

"The plate mill building is huge, so we have space to set up a lot of different events," Weaver said. Food and drinks will be available.

"We plan to have at least five food trucks under the roof," said Brubaker. "We will get a group photo from an elevated crane platform that we can tweet."

Historical Catasauqua Preservation Association will get a temporary liquor license for the event to sell beer and wine. Invitations will be extended to local craft brewers to attend. Catasauqua business owners will have a hospitality tent where they can talk to residents and guests about their business and pass out coupons while still enjoying the festivities. Goldfeder is putting together a map of Catasauqua businesses that will be on display at the event.

Music will be provided by Tavern Tan and strolling guitarist Juan Carlos. Other performances contacted but not committed are the high school marching band, and maybe a dance performance from Gas House Dance Studio.

"We can open up parking at the north end of the site. It would be great to line the walkway from the parking area to the mill with the high school band," said Goldfeder. "We are also looking into having search lights at the site. Similar to those you would see at a premier opening."

Neither the site nor the walkway have been used for nearly a decade. Temporary lighting will be provided by Diefenderfer Electric. The borough will provide generators to run the lights and provide golf carts for those who need a lift from the parking lot. With potential for colder than normal weather, propane heaters will help warm the air.

Want to contribute to the celebration? The committee is searching for a designer drink, Iron Works Blast, to be served at the event. Send your concoction's recipe to the Facebook page dedicated to the event Iron-Works-Catasauqua. Any other ideas you have are welcome, but might not make the cut.

"I'm expecting a large turnout and this may be the forerunner to other events that we have at the site," said Goldfeder.