Greeville / Centerville, Delaware vs. Philadelphia's Main Line? (Greenville: house, to buy)

[vpo61073]

- How does Greenville or Centerville, Delaware / Chadds Ford, PA compare to Philadelphia's Main Line?
- Are there many rural / heavily wooded areas along the Main Line?
- How does the architecture compare in each?
- Does Chadds Ford resist becoming a McMansion zone?
- Greenville / Centerville, DE doesn't seem like it's running the risk of becoming very overdeveloped, but I honestly don't know. Any ideas?
- I would appreciate any information on these areas....

[doctorjef]

Some of Greenville-Montchanin-Centreville are protected from development by the presence of state parks, Winterthur, and large estates. However, there are some current threats to the area, with the PA-based developer Stoltz being the main issue in terms of initiatives to try to sell the County on further commercial development. There is some vigorous opposition to this. The area is beautiful. Chadds Ford-Glen Mills seems to me to be much more given to ongoing commercial and residential development. I think the northern bit of DE is definitely preferable. Residential property in the area is pricey and it is very hard to find anything below half a mil, even in the current market (sorry, I'm talking about the Greenville area now). If your price point is 650 yo 750K that will give you much greater choice and flexibility.

[vpo61073]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

Some of Greenville-Montchanin-Centreville are protected from development by the presence of state parks, Winterthur, and large estates. However, there are some current threats to the area, with the PA-based developer Stoltz being the main issue in terms of initiatives to try to sell the County on further commercial development. There is some vigorous opposition to this. The area is beautiful. Chadds Ford-Glen Mills seems to me to be much more given to ongoing commercial and residential development. I think the northern bit of DE is definitely preferable. Residential property in the area is pricey and it is very hard to find anything below half a mil, even in the current market (sorry, I'm talking about the Greenville area now). If your price point is 650 yo 750K that will give you much greater choice and flexibility.

Thank you so much for your help. I love historical / classical architecture, but my husband is really set on a wooded area with a rural feel. We are beginning to explore Greenville-Montchanin-Centreville and the area seems to have a great mix of beautiful architecture and green / wooded space.

My main concern is overdevelopment. I didn't want to buy / build a home and have a housing development or some commercial enterprise pop up next door.

I am glad you informed me of the development threat by Stoltz. Hopefully the residents will be successful in their opposition. Do you know the nature of the project they are pursuing?

[doctorjef]

Scroll down this page to see the various Stoltz proposed projects and info about them: BobWeiner.com - Friends of Bob Weiner

I do think that most of the area is pretty much safe from development. If you succeed at finding a house in your price range on the back roads of Greenville or Centreville, you should be very happy and secure with the beautiful wooded area. I love this little bit of Delaware -- it's a true treasure!

[vpo61073]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

Scroll down this page to see the various Stoltz proposed projects and info about them: BobWeiner.com - Friends of Bob Weiner

I do think that most of the area is pretty much safe from development. If you succeed at finding a house in your price range on the back roads of Greenville or Centreville, you should be very happy and secure with the beautiful wooded area. I love this little bit of Delaware -- it's a true treasure!

Thanks for all your help!

[from PA]

Originally Posted by doctorjef

Scroll down this page to see the various Stoltz proposed projects and info about them: BobWeiner.com - Friends of Bob Weiner

I do think that most of the area is pretty much safe from development. If you succeed at finding a house in your price range on the back roads of Greenville or Centreville, you should be very happy and secure with the beautiful wooded area. I love this little bit of Delaware -- it's a true treasure!

I agree with doctorjef. I grew up on the Main Line and although it has it's charm, there is no comparison between the two areas. This area in Northern DE is more spread out and countrified where as in the Main Line if you do find something similar, the cost will be prohibitive.