neighborhoods near AstraZeneca

[crandolph]

Hi DrJeff -- we were discussing "boring" over in another thread. Walkability of a neighborhood, and non-stripmall-ness, will be something we will either be seeking or will miss. So....for the investment potential of being west of 202, do we lose some of the eclecticness of say the Ardens? Or am I laying out too stark of a tradeoff?

[doctorjef]

You know I've never driven around the Ardens neighborhoods, so I'm not sure about what they have to offer apart from the homes themselves and a community center. I don't think you can walk to shopping anywhere here except in Trolley Square to some extent (although the supermarket there is inferior and you'd still have to drive a significant distance for serious food shopping). Trolley Square is charming IMO, although it wouldn't be everyone's cup of tea. In Greenville/Westover Hills you can be close to some basic shopping and a couple of places to eat and drink. You also have charming back roads to get up to Concord Pike (202) for the necessities up there. I still think one is better off west of 202, though much of that is aesthetic preference on my part. I love being just off 52/Kennett Pike/Pennsylvania Ave (three names for the same road). This is the same road that takes you up to Centreville, Winterthur, and that you can use to get on up to Chadds Ford/Glen Mills in one direction or Kennett Square in the other direction. The only boutique supermarket, Janssen's, is located in Greenville, as are Cromwell's Tavern and Pizza By Elizabeths, in addition to Buckley's Tavern in Centreville.

[jskirwin]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

You know I've never driven around the Ardens neighborhoods, so I'm not sure about what they have to offer apart from the homes themselves and a community center. I don't think you can walk to shopping anywhere here except in Trolley Square to some extent (although the supermarket there is inferior and you'd still have to drive a significant distance for serious food shopping).

Dude I'm a Republican and even I like Arden. You shouldn't just drive through: park your car and walk around. It's quite nice - although it's character is slowly draining away due to the fact that you have to be pretty well heeled to live there thesedays. I'm also annoyed with the tendency for some to buy, bulldoze and replace existing old homes with much larger modern ones.

I'm surprised you can walk anywhere in Wilmington in all honesty. This isn't New York City: one cannot live here easily without a car.

[doctorjef]

Agreed that one cannot live here easily without a car -- like most of America actually. There are only a few cities that are exceptions to that rule. Yet distances in Wilmington can be short. I do drive a lot less here than was the case when I lived in Austin, TX. I just don't like the fact that I have to drive everywhere, even if it's a short trip. Where I live here, I'm not quite close enough to do any practical errands on foot. Again, the Trolley Square area is one of the few exceptions to this.