South Central PA-Becoming Baltimore Territory? (Philadelphia, Pittsburgh: good schools, property taxes, living)

[bluecountry]

Where in PA are the ex Marylanders going and do you really have that much snow 30 miles north?

[Marodi]

Originally Posted by bluecountry

Where in PA are the ex Marylanders going and do you really have that much snow 30 miles north?

percentage of population vs number of marylanders, gettysburg is getting a large percentage due to it being an easy (although sometimes long) commute down 15/270 to frederick and DC. Mason-Dixon line is usually the line between snow and sleet/freezing rain, or sleet/freezing rain and rain.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by Marodi

Gettysburg is swarming with ex-Marylanders particularly from frederick but also a lot of DC people. Takeing route 15 will take you to frederick in 45 min so it's becoming common. In the 1990-2000 the county grew 16.6% and has been increasing. Huge 100+ acre farms are now going up for housing since land values are rising it's more profitable to sell out than continue operation.

It's becoming a mini-maryland which blows.

Which really stinks, because of the history in Gettysburg. They really should limit new subdivisions in that area. Nothing is more ugly, especially in such a historically important area as Gettysburg, is a bland ugly subdivision where a field used to be. Although PA is not known for effective zoning and limiting senseless sprawl.

I love Gettysburg and it will be a shame if it just becomes a suburb of Baltimore or DC. Thank God they shot down the casino, anyways.

[RowJimmy]

Originally Posted by go phillies

Which really stinks, because of the history in Gettysburg. They really should limit new subdivisions in that area. Nothing is more ugly, especially in such a historically important area as Gettysburg, is a bland ugly subdivision where a field used to be. Although PA is not known for effective zoning and limiting senseless sprawl.

I love Gettysburg and it will be a shame if it just becomes a suburb of Baltimore or DC. Thank God they shot down the casino, anyways.

Pa doesn't have the right leaders to prevent this sprawl. This state is run by the old boomers that think urban sprawl is great for economic development. In 20 years we will have the Little Round Top Mcmansion housing division with perfect views of the battlefield! Hopefully it will be a gated one.

[BPP1999]

Part of the problem, at least in my eyes, lies in the fact that so many people in PA are anti-development, but because of PA law, developments must generally be approved in one way or another. Because of PA's anti-development feelings, rather than encourage development in areas that might make sense, and discourage it in areas where it makes less sense, our useless, brainless, visionless leaders just go ahead and act like they are backed up against a wall and approve the development.

[Marodi]

Well, the only good thing going for gettysburg is "The friends of the battlefield" or something like that, and the park administration because the friends buy properties with donations, give it to the park administration which makes it historically accurate and tears down the buildings. Some things like the one car dealer's building have been bought out and demolished.

However basicly rural land is being ravaged. PA as opposed to MD dosen't have legislation that requires developers to pay for infastructure improvements. They can put in a 500 house development and legally not be required to pay for improvements to water, sewer, schools, roads, etc.

Also we are starting to get those tacky grass berms to prevent views into developments. I'd rather drive down a road with houses than a road with 2 grass berms on each side so I see nothing (Drive from Reading to Harrisburg on the turnpike, it's essentially what that is. Boring as hell).

[countrygirl66]

It is so important that the people of Adams County rise up and have their local government leaders change the zoning laws to protect our area from massive development. The developers only care about making money, they don't care that the people who are standing on Little Round Top will be looking at a sea of roofs from their high density developments.
Housing can be provided in the area but in a sensible way and giving consideration to the historic signifcance of this whole Gettysburg area.

[chassis]

I agree that western/northwestern PA is, in fact, midwestern in culture. The weather, accent and attitude is all midwest. I have a relative from Erie and friends from Pittsburgh. I am from Detroit, but now live an hour from Philly. I can tell you that east of the mountains, PA is the "east" or mid-Atlantic.

Draw a line from Harrisburg to Scranton. These cities and east, are east/mid-Atlantic. Pittsburgh and Erie are midwestern. The area surrounding Altoona, State College and Williamsport are transitional, possibly leaning more east coast than midwestern.

Keep in mind that back in the day, Fort Duquesne was a French outpost, dividing land claimed by the French, English and native Americans. So Pittsburgh, as the city became known, was on the far western reaches of the early English speaking American world. That all changed after the Northwest Ordinance of 1787, when the upper Great Lakes states were added as a spoil of the Revolutionary war. But that is a different story for another forum.

[BOBBB17037]

I currently live in Hanover,Pa. (Adams Co. side) I have lived here for about 10 yrs. It has changed alot in the 10yrs I've been here, some for the better some for the worse. I bought 3 acres in northern Perry Co. (45 min NW of Harrisburg) and planning on moving there in a yr or two. I bought it because I wanted a more rural area. An area closer to what the outskirts of Hanover was like when I moved here.
Chassis wrote "I agree that western/northwestern PA is, in fact, midwestern in culture."
Is midwestern culture better or worse then mid-atlantic, northern culture
I know a few people from the Pitt area and they have always been a good bunch.

[Marodi]

Originally Posted by BOBBB17037

I currently live in Hanover,Pa. (Adams Co. side) I have lived here for about 10 yrs. It has changed alot in the 10yrs I've been here, some for the better some for the worse. I bought 3 acres in northern Perry Co. (45 min NW of Harrisburg) and planning on moving there in a yr or two. I bought it because I wanted a more rural area. An area closer to what the outskirts of Hanover was like when I moved here.
Chassis wrote "I agree that western/northwestern PA is, in fact, midwestern in culture."
Is midwestern culture better or worse then mid-atlantic, northern culture
I know a few people from the Pitt area and they have always been a good bunch.

Yeah. Hell, according to 2007 Penndot funding, there are 'passing lanes' being added to route 30 between New Oxford and Centenial (hence the marker stakes off to the sides.

I miss the days as a kid that I'd know when we were home when I smelled the dead skunk somewhere within 10 minutes (driving) from the house.