Is West Bradford that Bad? (Chester, Pottstown: real estate, renting, homes)

[Custom Draper]

My family moved to Chester County, PA a month ago due to a job relo. We are currently renting in the Marsh Harbour area near Chester Springs. We love the countryside here and close promity to Exton, shopping, etc., but the prices are so high.

We keep getting lured down to West Bradford Twp because you get so much more for less. They're building a lot of McMansions down there so I have to believe it will turn around, but am I right to say that the area is kind of "borderline"? I'm not sure how else to describe it.

Local shopping is in Thorndale, which doesn't give me a 100% safe feeling.

Am I off base here, or is West Bradford an up and coming area?

[KoZmiC NinJa]

If anything the McMansions are taking it down.
West Bradford was(10-15 years ago) a charming , established, quiet
little 'outskirts' area, semi rural but close to WC and Downingtown.
The development craze that has plagued Chester County didnt bypass
West Bradford. They got slapped too....There still are areas in WB that
are very nice. Yeah, Thorndale isnt that pleasant(ZzzZZboring) but
mostly only the areas that are in close proximity to Rt. 30 and Coatesville.

[toobusytoday]

We lived in West Bradford township about 15 years ago when our oldest child was in kindergarden. In fact she was in the first kindergarden class at West Bradford elementary. I agree with koxmic ninja ^ the mcMansions and developments ruined the township. From friends that still live in that area the schools are still good. I loved how close it was to West Chester too and learned all the back ways to get around.

[Steams]

Originally Posted by KoZmiC NinJa

If anything the McMansions are taking it down.
West Bradford was(10-15 years ago) a charming , established, quiet
little 'outskirts' area, semi rural but close to WC and Downingtown.
The development craze that has plagued Chester County didnt bypass
West Bradford. They got slapped too....There still are areas in WB that
are very nice. Yeah, Thorndale isnt that pleasant(ZzzZZboring) but
mostly only the areas that are in close proximity to Rt. 30 and Coatesville.

How can developing Middle class family homes hurt an area, this only helps it. The more development , the more business, the more children the better your community will be. Families are what makes a coummunity great, makes schools better and real estate more expensive.

West Bradford is a great place with tremendous upside for real estate. Downingtown Schools, great area and business on rt 30 is just growing and growing.

I worked with a few companies that are moving to thorndale because thier studies have show that it will be the next main line.

[KoZmiC NinJa]

The Rt.30 'business' growth that is happening now didnt benefit
Camden, Delaware or N.E. Philly either. The mcMansioning / business
development of that area is now used in Urban Planning studies as an
example of sprawl gone wild. Have you had the pleasure of sitting in
business Rt.30 traffic on a friday afternoon ? How can you argue with
that ?? To even mention Thorndale and the Main Line in the same breath
is ludicris.

[Steams]

Yeah, it didn't work in Exton, West Chester or Downingtown either. Coatesville is an area like these three not Camden or North Philly.

[Mattingly23]

I would take Exton traffic over NJ's rt 287 traffic anyday!!

[Steams]

Agreed, It laughable to compare Exton and West Chester traffic to Jersey or Philly.

Its sad when backwards political agendas produce only negativity to sway people to its cause. When taking success and twisting it to scare people is deplorable. The communist agenda is to invade local groups and forums, acting like the common man, when thier only real goal is to make you think that thier ideals are mainstream.

The urban sprawl in chester county has built up exton and west chester and will do the same in Coatesville, Pottstown and all its surrounding areas. I'm sure 20 years ago people laughed when it was said that exton will become the next shopping mecha like King of Prussia and look at it today.

[myinternets]

Originally Posted by Custom Draper

My family moved to Chester County, PA a month ago due to a job relo. We are currently renting in the Marsh Harbour area near Chester Springs. We love the countryside here and close promity to Exton, shopping, etc., but the prices are so high.

We keep getting lured down to West Bradford Twp because you get so much more for less. They're building a lot of McMansions down there so I have to believe it will turn around, but am I right to say that the area is kind of "borderline"? I'm not sure how else to describe it.

Local shopping is in Thorndale, which doesn't give me a 100% safe feeling.

Am I off base here, or is West Bradford an up and coming area?

You are way off base. I just moved to West bradford 4 months ago and I do not know what you mean by "borderline". Borderline what? The neighborhood I live in is working class so if you would like something more affordable you are going to have to share a neighborhood with other people that also need something more affordable. I personally do my quick stops for things in Thorndale. Food shop in Downingtown only because I love Wegman's and wasn't about to give it up just because I moved, and clothes shop in Exton. Does it bother you to think you would have to rub elbows with lower class people in Thorndale? I hope you found a happy medium by now, and it certainly never killed anyone to acknowledge and be forced to see that there are people a little less fortunate than them in their foodstores. Having less money doesn't make everyone "dangerous".

As far as the minimansions I laugh at them because my yard is way bigger than theirs anyway