Need Info About Pottstown, PA! (Chester, West Chester: real estate, 2010, city hall)

[jewels8]

My husband and I live in Montgomery County (2 years now...moved here from New England). We are curious about Pottstown as we are looking into buying a house and can't believe how affordable the prices in Pottstown are! We are not familiar with the area. We appreciate any help and info such as crime, safety, schools, neighborhoods, restaurants, things to do, etc. Thanks so much!

[William shivers]

poor spot to choose

[Duderino]

Pottstown real estate prices are definitely low compared to the rest of Montgomery county. However, there is a reason for that. The town has a considerable amount of blight, as is has declined from being an industrial powerhouse in the 1950s to a largely economically depressed, working-class community today. This is not to say that you cannot find nice areas in Pottstown -- there has been some gentrification and there are a couple very nice neighborhoods with very large, pleasant historical homes -- but these are definitely higher on the price scale. With regard to crime, there are also some gang and drug issues. The Pottstown school system, although it is making good strides to provide better education, could be much better. My advice would be to take a look around the Pottstown for yourself. It really does vary a lot depending on specific areas. Here are a couple websites that may interest you:

Borough of Pottstown - Official Website
Search For Homes

[KoZmiC NinJa]

I responded to your other thread.
I find Pottstown depressing. But,
you make a home in your heart........

[Ohiogirl81]

My intial impression of Pottstown is that, on the surface, it wasn't as bad as I'd been led to believe, for what it's worth ...

I saw a downtown with wide streets and not too many empty storefronts, and some gorgeous well-kept houses along the main drag east of downtown. Didn't do too much exploring, but I'd like to go back and poke around some Saturday.

[TriCountyPA]

Now that you have heard all the bad things about Pottstown, here are some good things.

There are beautiful neighborhoods in town to live in. The school system isn't as bad as people tell you it is. Your life is not in danger on High Street and there are not gangs roaming the streets killing people. Everyone here isn't poor, blue collar and uneducated (Pottstoids).

Sadly, only the bad things are what most people hear.

Pottstown is home to the Hill School, one of the most prestigious private schools in the country. Donald Trump had at least one child enrolled. If Pottstown was that unsafe, I think the school would move. Instead they are trying to build nearly 30 staff homes and have requested the borough condemn Green Street so the school can expand. In-fill housing is being built on every available empty lot in the borough.

Pottstown has a Symphony Orchestra, its own mass transportation system, a radio station, a 7 day a week newspaper, a medium sized hospital, its own community television station with several channels, an emerging restaurant scene, Montgomery County Community College just expanded their West Campus here, recently a new City Hall was built and a number of buildings on High Street have been renovated into class A office space.

We have a restaurant festival downtown in the summer which is extremely well attended, the Pottstown Car Club holds big car shows downtown once a month during the summer months and several thousand people attend each month, an antique carousel is being renovated and will be placed in its own glass building as an attraction (the space will also have meeting rooms), Sunnybrook has recently been purchased by a citizens group and is being restored back to its glory as a ballroom and a venue for weddings etc...Let's not forget the Pottstown Rumble which was just last weekend. It's one of the largest grass volleyball tournaments on the East Coast and close to 1500 players participated. People come from all over the US and there were even some people here from other countries.

In 1990 the US Census Department designated Pottstown as an urbanized area with 53,000+ people. By 2000, the Pottstown urbanized area had increased to 73,597 and is increasing by about 16.7% per year. At that rate, it should easily top 90,000 people by the next census in 2010. It's not THAT small. Some people think because Pottstown isn't a major city like Philly that it's Hooterville. Another misconception not based on fact.

I could go on and on. So you see, the glass is half full or half empty. Every community is what you make it. Every community has problems, good and bad points etc...

I have lived in town, North Coventry Twp and East Coventry Twp. over the last 24 years. Mostly in town. I have never been the victim of a crime, been afraid to go anywhere in town and have enjoyed living here very much. I could live anywhere I wanted, but I am happy here.

[nocturnal rooster]

Pottstown is a slum

[Summering]

Originally Posted by nocturnal rooster

Pottstown is a slum

Rooster.....Do you not believe the poster above you........
Can you tell us why you say that?

[nocturnal rooster]

Originally Posted by Summering

Rooster.....Do you not believe the poster above you........
Can you tell us why you say that?

Cuz ive been there and it's dumpy and run down.

I didnt have time to read all that garbage about Pottstown, because I honestly do not care

[NeedHelp_08]

" can't believe how affordable the prices in Pottstown are!" because its cheap, poor place... not clean...schools are not very safe (lots of fights) etc... crime rate, its high... neighborhoods not that friendly... restaurants not alot of em... things to do, i suguest me home by 9 dont stay out to late... thats my Opinion on pottstown... all it depends on where u live though... but there are better cities in PA then pottstown. Like Collegeville, Phoenixville, West Chester... trust me there clean, safe, friendly, fun places to live in...
good luck