Thinking of Lancaster County Area- Any advice and will I be welcome (Harrisburg: sale, homes)

[paddy205]

Originally Posted by S.Anderson

Lancaster was a wonderful place at one time. But every day more and more farm land is eaten up and destroyed for new homes. With people moving in from Philly or NY, all of them remembering how nice it was when they came here for vacation as children. They move in and want to enjoy the life style that was Lancaster. But bring all there problems with them. In the past 10 years crime and drug use has exploded. I remember when a someone being murdered was tragic front page first story news. Now not a day goes by that some one isn't shot or stabbed because of drugs. In the past 3 years whole families were murdered in there homes. Why? Because of the problems they brought with them. they want this they want that they want to enjoy the beautiful night sky but are so scared of the dark needing to have almost every inch of there property illuminated. My neighbors up the street who use there house as a vacation home, have 13 lights burning every night even when they are in NY. Making it impossible to see the stars they moved here to enjoy. the city of Lancaster is devolving into one large slum with all the more affluent families moving towards the suburbs, while the properties in town are being bought up by slum lords at ridiculously low prices compared to where they either live or where they moved from. They collect the rent and allow the properties to deteriorate to places unfit to live in.

Yea Lancaster was a beautiful place to live, before the tourist.

The 3 "whole family murders" in lanc had nothing to do with drugs and were in so called wealthy neighborhoods. the entire city is not one big slum. there are tons of really nice areas still with beautiful old victorians. the art galleries are flourishing and several new bars and restaurants and new luxury apts are being built in addition to a downtown convention center. and lanc county is definitely not dry. there are tons of bars! and you do not have to be deeply religious. i lived there 8 yrs and never went to church. and i ran into the amish about 10 times. if you don't drive out into the farmlands to the east 'd forget they even live nearby. there are so many misconceptions about lancaster. I just moved to NJ and the people in Lanc welcomed me more than they did here so far. this tread is very amusing.

[Artie See]

Originally Posted by paddy205

the entire city is not one big slum.

Agreed. I've lived in or just outside of Lancaster City all of my life. The quality of life has definitely been improving in all parts of the city. Even downtown has picked up noticeably, in spite of the wholesale demolition of historic structures, and the construction of a $176 million "public-works" pork-barrel project that is completely out of character for Lancaster City.

Much attention has been paid to the appearance of city streets. Grants have been provided in much of the city for facade improvements. Street lighting and sidewalks have been upgraded in the most heavily trafficked parts of the city. Lancaster City has taken over trash collection, which has resulted in cleaner streets. And a number of public parks have been renovated, with funding for more in the pipeline.

No, Lancaster City is NOT becoming one giant slum. I know, I live there.

[gypsiechavi]

My sister lives in the city in one of those beautiful old Victorians. I get nervous parking my car there! It seems every time I visit something happens. One night I was awoken to semi-automatic gunfire right outside the bedroom we were sleeping in. All the neighbors came out at about 3am to see what was going on....once the police arrived that is. I have to say the cops were there fast! Another visit, I awoke to flashing lights outside on the corner. The cops and firetrucks were everywhere. Apparently someone had reported a car on fire going down Duke Street. And yet another time, it was 5am-ish. My sister was heading out to her car for work and she thought she saw something moving across the street. She strained to see and noticed it was a group of SWAT guys. She went to get into her car, the battery was dead, she began to call her work to inform them she was going to be late and a SWAT guy appeared at her car door. He wanted to know who she was calling, etc. Apparently they were about to raid a house three doors down for drugs. Oh and then there is the vandalism to cars in the middle of the night. My sisters car had the rear drivers window smashed in but nothing stolen. People were getting there cars splashed with acid during the night.
Yeah, Lancaster City is awesome....if you don't mind those little nuances.

[bubbaboo08]

I lived in Maryland for 42yrs. Moved to Lititz, Pa. 6 mths ago. Very nice and surreal. The lititz schools (Manheim Township) is known for being one of the BEST schools in the country! If that helps you at all. The pace of living here is slower compared to Md. and I'm adjusting to it....I love the country scenery with the Amish and Mennonites. I really respect their simple way of life! Sometimes while driving down Pa's long country farm roads, I wonder if I would prefer their way of life rather then the hectic spoiled way I was raised up to. My hats off to them! Good Luck!

[Artie See]

Originally Posted by bubbaboo08

I lived in Maryland for 42yrs. Moved to Lititz, Pa. 6 mths ago. Very nice and surreal. The lititz schools (Manheim Township) is known for being one of the BEST schools in the country!

Warwick (Lititz) and Manheim Township (between Lititz and Lancaster City) are two separate school districts.

Warwick School District is best known for several nasty racial incidents within the past year. Manheim Township School District is best known for a divisive controversy that got downright nasty over an immense school building project. Many MT residents strongly oppose this huge expansion as unnecessary, along with the tax increase that it required.

[jerry.shilling]

You should look at Lebanon County which is north of Lancaster. Palmyra PA is in Lebanon county and close to Hershey PA. Low unemployment here. Lebanon Counties taxes over all will be less.

[paddy205]

the acid vandals have struck all over the county- not just in the city

[solancogirl]

Originally Posted by merrisweel

Okay, I have to say that the comments on this post are useful, but not entirely true. I was born and raised in Lancaster County and have since been out and seen the what else this country has to offer.

Granted, there are parts of Lancaster County (mostly southern) that are very rural and farmish, most of Lancaster County could be passed for the suburbs of any other city. And it would probably depend on where you live, in what kind of neighborhood and where, as to how friendly your neighbors are. I'd say stay away from the downtown Lancaster City area, and you'll do just fine!

The most important information contained in this post are the words "born & raised in Lancaster County". No matter where else you go someone who was born and raised here will never really know what it is like to move here from an entirely different area. Natives are treated very differently, even if they leave and come back. Do I love where I live? You bet, but we had ties to the area before we moved here and even then after 15 years I am still viewed as a newbie.

[irismike]

Hi: We are from LI too and are thinking of moving to an over 55 community in Mount Joy, PA. We have a problem since we are Jewish and it doesn't seem like there are too many jewish people in the area. Any help would be greatly appreciated on either issues. Iris

[Gil3]

Originally Posted by S.Anderson

Lancaster was a wonderful place at one time. But every day more and more farm land is eaten up and destroyed for new homes. With people moving in from Philly or NY, all of them remembering how nice it was when they came here for vacation as children. They move in and want to enjoy the life style that was Lancaster. But bring all there problems with them. In the past 10 years crime and drug use has exploded. I remember when a someone being murdered was tragic front page first story news. Now not a day goes by that some one isn't shot or stabbed because of drugs. In the past 3 years whole families were murdered in there homes. Why? Because of the problems they brought with them. they want this they want that they want to enjoy the beautiful night sky but are so scared of the dark needing to have almost every inch of there property illuminated. My neighbors up the street who use there house as a vacation home, have 13 lights burning every night even when they are in NY. Making it impossible to see the stars they moved here to enjoy. the city of Lancaster is devolving into one large slum with all the more affluent families moving towards the suburbs, while the properties in town are being bought up by slum lords at ridiculously low prices compared to where they either live or where they moved from. They collect the rent and allow the properties to deteriorate to places unfit to live in.

Yea Lancaster was a beautiful place to live, before the tourist.

To reflect on what another poster said, it seems people around here want to blame almost everything on those "awful" people from NY, MD, Philly, etc.
Last time I checked, we are all AMERICANS and we are blessed to have the choice and options to live in a place that best suits our needs. I don't care where someone is from. As long as they are decent people, then who cares? it takes a pretty shallow person to stamp another because of the state they came from.