Where to live in Buck's County? (Quakertown, Perkasie: school, shop, estate)

[cremebrulee]

[quote=Jamel;1506307]

Originally Posted by cremebrulee

Yes, quakertown is still relatively cheap, but a dead beat town...

Creme Brulee, I take offense to your characterization of Quakertown.

It would be easy to find fault with every town you mentioned, so let me start by saying Quakertown is not as bad as you make it seem. It is arguably one of the best values in Bucks County. You can still buy a decent home here for under $300,000 and you can spend up to a million, if you so desire. The town -and it is a town compared to a collection of buildings by the side of a road that people have become tired of-- has interesting architectural styles, a colorful history, a better recreational parks system than Dolyestown, a decent school system, a library and community pool that are the envy of many surrounding communities, and an interesting mix of unique retailers. The fact that you cited Target and Walmart as your idea of the only decent shopping says a lot. People are now searching the country for small towns and Quakertown, though not perfect, fits the bill nicely. Although not in the downtown, the current and upcoming offerings of Route 309 and the Promenade Shops in Center Valley are enough to satisfy most shoppers and we're actually quite happy to have them "out there" and not on top of us.

There is a strong sense of community here. The borough council cares about the local residents and though overwhelmed at times by slick outsiders and union representatives, it serves the people to the best of its ability. Keep in mind, serving on borough council is still a part-time position, so you can't expect the reaction of a state or federal representative. Recent elections have made it clear that the locals have raised the bar and now expect more activity from this group. To say the former manager was "corrupt" is unfair though and unproven. Although driven out of town by a bully columnist with a hidden agenda, he still lives here and has friends here. His biggest offense was cutting corners which was wrong, but not malicious. No one thinks he was taking advantage of the town. He just took on more than he obviously was able to handle. The police chief who has since assumed the manager's position has been adding personnel to his staff to keep up with the demands of a contemporary community.

The downtown is not "deplorable" as you say. It has live theater, a new music shop, a school of dance, two of the best authentic Mexican restaurants you'll find, a new Spice Pantry (with fresh coffees, candy, nuts tea, etc.), two upscale restaurants, an authentic 5&10 (owned by the same family for a 100 years), the usual pizza shops/Italian restaurants, a new Chinese restaurant, travel agencies, investment firms, doctors, lawyers, one of the best cardiac units in the state at St. Luke's, a variety of churches (Yes, predominantly Christian, but so is 85% of the country!), a great women's clothing store, an impressive cigar shop with a coffeee bar, two bars, a food store and two Mexican groceries. Two new restaurants are set to open within a few months and the local Main Street organization is the pride of the state.

For the record, the beaches are two hours away and Quakertown Alive is the Main Street organization, not a festival.

There are actually two large festivals held downtown: Arts Alive! in May and Autumn Alive! in October. There is also a Memorial Day parade, a Community Day/Fourth of July celebration with great fireworks, a Halloween parade, and a holiday tree lighting in December. We also have two YMCA buildings (one is relocating to a new facility still in town) and a semi-pro baseball team: The Blazers. Next spring we hope to see the new antique lampposts that have been approved for the downtown as well as a re-landscaped mini park and water fountain in the center of town. Passenger rail service is expected to return in 2009 or 2010 which will connect us to the R5 line in Lansdale.

Most of that is not true of the other places you said you preferred and, by the way, the market you mentioned is a great place to get fresh vegetables and meats, but to be honest is probably the seediest, most embarrassing location in the area. It is one of the biggest reasons people still look down their noses at Quakertown and it isn't even in Quakertown. It's in Richland Township just outside of town. The merchants there are good hard-working people who like the fact that they only have to be open a few days a week and, even though many would rather be in downtown Quakertown, their leases do not allow them to relocate nearby. Thus, they are trapped there by the owner of the market who coincidentally happens to be the same columnist who makes it a hobby to tell people how bad Quakertown and its schools and its borough council are. I wonder what his motivation might be to do that?

Try to be one of the people making a positive difference in our town. It's much more noble than joining the critics who remain on the sidelines uninvolved and all too consumed in their hatred and condemnation of everything that isn't them.

I was born and raised in Quakertown...and it is surely not all you say...I moved away for 20 years, and for personal reasons was forced to come back. The man you speak of, was not run out by just a colomnist, as you say....but also, due to his inappropriate handling of construction jobs and underhanded way he dealt with people, I know, I was one of those people...he was very inappropriate, and didn't know what he was doing...and there are people who were not afraid to speak up and say the same thing who work for the boro.

As far as the council, and they way the town is run, your right, arts alive is wonderful...but what about all the drugs down town, and the specific down town area? I've seen some very positive changes, and yet, the crime in town is very bad....especially in the down town area.

I think the town deserves more then what it is now, comparepared to what it used to be. It's a shame.

There is an outstanding library, park, and a lot of activities...but unfortunately, although some people are really trying, others stagnate the nature of change. Quakertown Alive is in fact getting bigger and better and suprised me.

I'm sorry, I am not as optomistic as you are, but since Quakertown was my hometown, it saddened me to see the run down change in the down town area. I was shocked to see how businesses down town were left go, what I mean to say, is the outside of the buildings.

And as far as Walmart and the new Target...there are still not a lot of clothing stores and much needed higher ended shops.

My choice would be the Doylestown area....it's come a long long way. Downtown Doylestown used to be run down and unsightly, but the community came together and made it like a marvelous little New Hope and I say....Bravo!!!

That is what Quakertown should do...when are they ever going to get a clue?

And quit frankly, I state again, our neighborhood, is not to impressed by the boro, as we've contacted them about a problem since before the beginning of summer, and they still have not addressed it...and the neighbors are very disappointed and angry. What a shame?

I'm sorry but things do need to change. I thank the woman who bought the Theator, who will be making something of it....I just don't know why it is taking the town so long to start giving itself a face lift?

And to bring in low income housing would be a very very big mistake, like Jim wanted to do. There is enough crime here, with people shooting out Dimming's windows and that bar down the street from Dimmings which is a drug infested hang out...then the other bar further down, plus the drug and alcohol rehabilitation buying up all the houses in that area.

So, yes, while there have been some nice changes, there have also been some very bad changes...the crime in down town Quakertown is not good.

and yes, as you say, there are a lot of great food places, but you can't wear food, so when it comes to shopping for good clothes, one must go either to Montgomeryville, or up the the Promanade shops you have mentioned...it is a shame those shops are not in Quakertown.
K-mart and Target are not where I'd want to purchase clothes for work from. And that vase shop down town, who the heck is going to pay $300.00 - $700.00 for a vase?

I would say, visit both towns Doylestown and Quakertown, and see what you think. Yes, there are people trying very very hard, but....there are also people stagnating progress in that town. By the way, what you are doing with Front Street is a big big improvement....but down town still lacks the neat and clean charm that was once there....

I would say, Lansdale, Sellersville, Telford...but Doylestown is fantastic....as other here have described.

The Quakertown Farmer's Market, is not seedy...they've done some expansive remodeling...and it sounds to me, like we're on opposite sides of the spectrum here....due to the controversy between the columnist and the person who was less then appropriate for that position. Apparently he was protected by a few council members, because he did some side work for them...believe me, if the columnist were wrong...the man would have kept his postion. The Quakertown Farmers Market is the best establishment in town for fresh meats and veggies and the merchants there mostly have other jobs...therefore, the market's hours best fits their schedules.

Regardless of what side you and I are on, you cannot deny, down town Quakertown is deplorable...while uptown is really on it's way to good change. The library and park are great...and as you say, the festive events are coming along well...but I remember, better....better organization, better chicken bar-b-q's, and much better pancake jamborees...although the Halloween Parade is better, and yes, there are many ethnic food places in town, but you can't wear food, yanno? Quakertown was once known for it's eating places along Rt. 309...but what the town needs is higher end clientel, with ideas...and people who are not afraid of change....

They have an opportunity for a train, which would take a great deal of traffic off of Rt. 309...and yet, they don't use it....and believe me, people are begging for public transportation, but even if the trains were working, (which I can't understand, why there were left go), there wouldn't be sufficent parking...b/c there are a lot of people who would use that train. The traffic thru town on weekends is also deplorable....and the 5:00 traffic is just as bad. But, traffic, is pretty bad most everywhere anymore, yanno? It's just not what people who grew up in Quakertown are used to.

Sure it is still relatively cheap, there are reasons why? There is no reason, why all of Broad Street should look so shabby....it is the main through fair...and I was shocked to see how those homes were left go? Broad Street at one time was a very well to do street and the homes were once very beautiful. And no longer do they do the luminars...very few people participate any longer...it used to be every Christmas Eve...people would come from miles around to see the luminars...but no longer...

and was just wondering, what do you mean, when you say, the Main Street Organization is the pride of the state? What exactly does the Main Street Organization mean?

Thank you and I apologize, but these are my true feelings. Quakertown is in dire need of a face lift...it's sad how all those old homes were left go...







Thank you

[cremebrulee]

Jamel

I was born and raised in Quakertown...and it is surely not all you say...I moved away for 20 years, and for personal reasons was forced to come back. The man you speak of, was not run out by just a colomnist, as you say....but also, due to his inappropriate handling of construction jobs and underhanded way he dealt with people, I know, I was one of those people...he was very inappropriate, and didn't know what he was doing...and there are people who were not afraid to speak up and say the same thing who work for the boro.

As far as the council, and they way the town is run, your right, arts alive is wonderful...but what about all the drugs down town, and the specific down town area? I've seen some very positive changes, and yet, the crime in town is very bad....especially in the down town area.

I think the town deserves more then what it is now, comparepared to what it used to be. It's a shame.

There is an outstanding library, park, and a lot of activities...but unfortunately, although some people are really trying, others stagnate the nature of change. Quakertown Alive is in fact getting bigger and better and suprised me.

I'm sorry, I am not as optomistic as you are, but since Quakertown was my hometown, it saddened me to see the run down change in the down town area. I was shocked to see how businesses down town were left go, what I mean to say, is the outside of the buildings.

And as far as Walmart and the new Target...there are still not a lot of clothing stores and much needed higher ended shops.

My choice would be the Doylestown area....it's come a long long way. Downtown Doylestown used to be run down and unsightly, but the community came together and made it like a marvelous little New Hope and I say....Bravo!!!

That is what Quakertown should do...when are they ever going to get a clue?

And quit frankly, I state again, our neighborhood, is not to impressed by the boro, as we've contacted them about a problem since before the beginning of summer, and they still have not addressed it...and the neighbors are very disappointed and angry. What a shame?

I'm sorry but things do need to change. I thank the woman who bought the Theator, who will be making something of it....I just don't know why it is taking the town so long to start giving itself a face lift?

And to bring in low income housing would be a very very big mistake, like a boro member wanted to do, it a very big mistake, it already shows the wear and tear of low income housing.

There is enough crime there, with people shooting out Dimming's windows and that bar down the street from Dimmings which is a drug infested hang out...then the other bar further down, plus the drug and alcohol rehabilitation center, buying up all the houses in that area for people who stay there full time, and they to venture out into the night. There is a lot of minor robberies...there, as well.

So, yes, while there have been some nice changes, there have also been some very bad changes...the crime in down town Quakertown is not good. and While the activities are great, it seems residents of Quakertown have left there homes go, especially on Broad Street and Downtown Quakertown...it does drive prices down. Ambler Street and Park Avenue, fortunately wear a dress which dictates the residents on those streets still care about their properties....and take care of them nicely.

and yes, as you say, there are a lot of great food places, but you can't wear food, and it cannot help anyone's property value, and all the food places downtown are likened to fast food places....nothing on a higher end scale....so when it comes to shopping for good clothes, one must go either to Montgomeryville, or up to the the Promanade shops you have mentioned or even much further, Allentown...it is a shame those shops are not in Quakertown. And in downtown Quakertown, the pavements need to be replaced...they are old and uneven....

I watched as a construction team worked on replacing all of the water pipes in Quakertown, and boy did they milk that job and made it last all summer, using up the tax payers money.

K-mart and Target are not where I'd want to purchase clothes for work. And that vase shop down town, who the heck is going to pay $300.00 - $700.00 for a vase?

I would say, visit both towns Doylestown and Quakertown, and see what you think. Yes, there are people trying very very hard, but....there are also people stagnating progress in Quakertown. By the way, what they are doing with Front Street is a big big improvement....but down town still lacks the neat and clean charm that was once there....as well as Broad Street. It looks very shoddy now, compared to what it used to be????

I would say, Lansdale, Sellersville, Telford, Perkasie...but Doylestown is fantastic, and loaded with quaint specialty shops and nice resturants, Doylestown if full of all kinds of specialty shops and clothing attire... not to mention, some very attractive historical landmarks, which bring in tours. You even had a local author write a very good paranormal murder mystery about Font Hill and takes place in the Doylestown Area, which made it even more interesting...Book is called "Dead On"....as others here have described. What Doylestown has down for it's residents, has also added to the resident's property values.

CASE IN POINT....

The Quakertown Farmer's Market, is not seedy...they've done some expansive remodeling, not to mention, it has always been clean, and people come from miles around for very fresh meats and vegtables...The Quakertown Farmers Market is the best establishment in town for fresh meats and veggies and the merchants there mostly have other jobs...therefore, the market's hours best fits their schedules.

It sounds to me, like we're on opposite sides of the ring here....due to the controversy between the columnist and the person who was less then appropriate for that position. I'm sorry for that, and am sorry for the truth I've written here about Quakertown....

Apparently he was protected by a few council members for a long time, because he did some side work for them, on the side...

Believe me, if the columnist were wrong about him, nothing he would have written about the man, could have lost him his job. Quakertown is much better without him, although, it is rumored, he is still being paid as a consultant? Sheesh??????

Regardless of what side you and I are on, you cannot deny, down town Quakertown is deplorable...while uptown is on it's way to some positive change.

While activities are finally getting better there, it is a shame that residents of town have left their properties go....and down town, surely needs not only restoration, but some charm of specialty shops like Doylestown and the Prominaide. Some finer resturants...and also, electronic and appliance stores. All the stores seem to gravitate up town and residents downtown, if they are old, are really stuck.

The library and park are great...and as you say, but no one could believe they went to all that trouble to reverbish the pool and didn't make it bigger for the growing community....the festive events are coming along well...but I remember, better....better organization, better chicken bar-b-q's, and much better pancake jamborees...Although the Halloween Parade is very nicely organized, and yes, there are many ethnic food places in town, but you can't wear food, yanno?

Quakertown was once known for it's eating places along Rt. 309...what the town needs is high end clientel, with ideas...and people who are not afraid of change....it needs a definate reverbish down town, as the property owners of that area do not seem to know what a can of paint is....

They have an opportunity for a train, which would take a great deal of traffic off of Rt. 309...and yet, they don't use it and it seems there is nothing in the works for at least 5 more years....and believe me, people are begging for public transportation, because the traffic in town is gridlocked during the work week....but even if the trains were working, (which I can't understand, why it was left go), there wouldn't be sufficent parking...b/c there are a lot of people who would use that train. The traffic thru town on weekends is also deplorable....and the 5:00 traffic is just as bad. But, traffic, is pretty bad most everywhere anymore, yanno? It's just not what people who grew up in Quakertown are used to.

Also, there are two factories in the down town area which one gives a very repundant oder, which I'm certain, isn't healthy...the odor is sometimes so strong, it seeps through into the homes....and whatever it is that they make which causes that oder, is made anywhere from 9 p.m. - 3 p.m. I guessing so it doesn't draw as much attention, but the oder is very bad....

Sure it is still relatively cheap, but there are reasons why, of which I mentioned above. I mean, there are people down town who actually put sofas and real old living room furntiture on their porches....? Trash laying around, kids toys on the streets...and old sofas waiting to be picked up right there on the street for a month or so...

There is no reason, why all of Broad Street should look so shabby....it is the main through fair...and I was shocked to see how those homes were left go? Broad Street at one time was a very well to do street and the homes were once very charming, and beautiful.

No longer do they do the luminars...very few people participate any longer...it used to be every Christmas Eve...people would come from miles around to see the luminars...there was a regular train of cars going up and down Broad Street to see those lights...

and was just wondering, what do you mean, when you say, the Main Street Organization is the pride of the state? What exactly is The Main Street Organization?

Thank you and I apologize, but these are my true feelings. Quakertown is in dire need of a face lift...it's sad how all those beautiful old homes left go...

Which to me, dictates a none caring attitude which stagnates progress. It is a shame, as Quakertown once had a very prosperous future, and was full of residents who took care of the homes that I mentioned....why Broad Street was at one time, just as beautiful as Park Avenue....now, it's got that run down, shoddy look, when you drive through.

Thank you

[teachbeach]

Doylestown would be the place to start. It has all you are describing, but housing prices might be sticker shock. Perhaps you'd consider renting for a year until you determine where you're willing to settle? I'm sure you could find a decently priced rental in Doylestown (perhaps even downtown) and then take your time to look at different communities that might fulfill your needs/wants/wishes.

[milledge44]

i would have to recommend quakertown as well....well at least the outer banks of it ..
i'm not gonna get into the fight that happened a few posts ago.. but.. i recently moved to the area.. and i must admit.. i fell in love with the area....but like i said the outer parts.. there are some real nice houses going up around the area and they are relatively cheap .. i would recommend you check out the are where quakertown and trumbauersville meets.. its a real quiet area..every one is friendly.. also i would recommend richlandtown ..
this is just my 2 cents...

[maniabeatle01]

I think Telford is a very nice place to live.

[cremebrulee]

Originally Posted by milledge44

i would have to recommend quakertown as well....well at least the outer banks of it ..
i'm not gonna get into the fight that happened a few posts ago.. but.. i recently moved to the area.. and i must admit.. i fell in love with the area....but like i said the outer parts.. there are some real nice houses going up around the area and they are relatively cheap .. i would recommend you check out the are where quakertown and trumbauersville meets.. its a real quiet area..every one is friendly.. also i would recommend richlandtown ..
this is just my 2 cents...

that wasn't a fight...it was a difference of opinion....

everyone has a right to their opinion...
and you, offered a good one as well....

Creme

[MOMMIE GREENEST]

Originally Posted by FivePointsGolf

I'll go ahead and agree with Will-- Doylestown seems to meet your criteria. The further South you head from there, or closer to the river, the home prices quickly escalate. Living in Doylestown, or around Sellersville and Perkasie, provides quick access to Philly, the Jersey shore and quaint but extremely over-trendy towns like New Hope and Lahaska.

Not to mention easy access to the Fall foliage of the Poconos.

Im in Telford but Salford post office,homes are going up,large yards..great school.
mg

[njwife101]

Originally Posted by maniabeatle01

I think Telford is a very nice place to live.

I am looking to move in the area of telford, souderburg.
Can you tell me more about it. What specifficaly do you like about the area?
Thanks

[Sminthian]

New Hope is the gay capitol of Bucks County, and they're also really big on artsy stuff and shopping and everything. Bucks County is generally too expensive for what you get. I'd aim a little more north around the Poconos for decent stuff. And I think they have Wegman's up there too.

[staylor83]

i have lived in bucks county my whole life. its a fairly big county and has a large range of home prices depending on where you live. more to the south part of bucks you have bristol, levittown and bensalem. personally i would not live in any of these areas. they are closest to philly and i dont think they are all that great of areas. other people may feel differently. i grew up in nockamixion township which is a very nice area but i hate the school district for various reasons. many people like the schools and they are blue ribbon schools in the palisades district but personally being a former student i think their blue ribbon award is misleading to how great the teachers and admidistration really are. doylestown and newtown are great areas with good schools but expensive. quakertown is a nice area with a good range of home prices. my advice is to visit a few areas you interested in and possibly rent for a year until you find the right town for you.