Mahanoy City, PA (Philadelphia, Scranton, Sunbury: homes, housing, cities)

[tremontpa]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I agree with the other two replies. Much of Schuylkill County is very economically-depressed, and many of the residents are impoverished, depending on the government to help feed and clothe themselves and their families. Shenandoah, Mahanoy City, Frackville, Pottsville, McAdoo, St. Clair, Schuylkill Haven, and Tamaqua all come to mind as old mining towns with abandoned downtowns and crumbling row homes adorning every block. NOBODY is migrating "into" these communities from out-of-state, so if you were planning on investing and/or flipping properties here on account of the inexpensive real estate, then you'll probably be disappointed in the potential here. For the most part, many of the teenagers leave Schuylkill County for college and never return. The elderly, most of whom never planned for their retirements, live frugally and miserably off of their meager social security checks. Alcoholism, drug abuse, and domestic violence run rampant here, and educational attainment and high-culture opportunities are both ABYSMAL, as most residents see no value in obtaining a college degree to work at Wal-Mart or in a coal mine.

If you were looking to invest in an area of Northeastern Pennsylvania, consider the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area. For many decades our population was plummeting and all hope seemed to be lost. However, in the past 5-10 years real estate has been BOOMING here as more and more people from NY/NJ have gained an interest in purchasing primary residences in PA and commuting daily to work in NY/NJ via I-80 or mass transit. Here in the Pittston area, new, upscale housing developments seem to be springing up every month or two, bringing with them dozens of new homes. I've noticed that about HALF of the lots sold in these subdivisions are to people from outside of the area as well when I look them up in the online property transfers. If people are becoming interested now in PA McMansions, then it won't take long for them to consider buying properties that others have flipped (allowing the "flipper" to laugh all the way to the bank).

I know you NY/NJ people think you're "better than Scranton", but our area's really been on an upswing in the past 5-10 years, and it seems as if the real estate explosion that hit the Poconos in the 1980s and 1990s is finally creeping right up along I-380 into the Scranton area as well.

Ok, I have read much of ScranBarre's posts and find that he makes very good points and articulates his thoughts clearly, but I am sick of the distaistful posts about Schuylkill County while painting a fairytale image of Scranton. I DO like Scranton, but it is not all that much different than the Schuylkill County towns (other than population). Scranton has its nice sections but a lot of the city is just run down row homes built from the coal empire. That is very similar to Pottsville. Pottsville has its nice old victorian homes and down town, but much of that city is just old row homes. Scranton is pretty much only bigger. Also, Schuylkill County has culture. Most towns have community bands that play regularly, there are many church choirs, there is a Symphony Orchestra, a proffesional Chorus, multiple theaters, and some museums and monuments.

If anyone wants to fix up a home in Mahanoy City I say go ahaid. Not everyone who is interested in Schuylkill County should feel pressured to go north to Scranton. The schools in MC are not bad, the residents are not all filthy hicks, and there are more than just jobes in the mines and factories. Furthermore, you will probably not loose money, but you will not make a fortune either. The town needs people who want to make it better. (i know this post is late but I hope it helps)

[ScranBarre]

Is there any particular reason that you are pulling up threads that were started approximately two years ago? I've had somewhat of a change of heart since then. I still think Scranton/Wilkes-Barre is light years ahead of Schuylkill County in terms of technology, economic opportunity, downtown redevelopment, nightlife, etc., but I also know that the racist comments that appear incessantly on the web site of the Pottsville Republican-Herald are not necessarily indicative of the county as a whole. If it's any consolation the next town I hope to visit for a photo tour will be Pottsville.

[ckhthankgod]

I don't know why, but that area of PA between Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and just north of Harrisburg would freak me out when driving on I-81 at night. Being from Syracuse, my family and I would go that way when going south. It just seemed like an area you don't stop in for "certain" people. I know Pottsville has some diversity, but that seems to be the only town I might stop in. Not saying it is bad in that way, but it just seemed to make me uneasy in terms of stopping.

[FightinPhils]

Originally Posted by tremontpa

Scranton has its nice sections but a lot of the city is just run down row homes built from the coal empire.

False. Scranton has very few row homes. There are some here and there, but not many. Scranton is unique among PA cities in that most of its housing stock is detached single houses.

That's what's strange about Schuylkill and Northumberland counties....they are very rural with small towns, but most of those small towns are row homes. I can understand why there are so many row homes in big cities like Philadelphia....because of the space issue.....but why in the world, in small towns like Mt. Carmel, Shamokin, Ashland, etc, are there row homes? These towns are surrounded by miles of woods....there was definitely room to spread these towns out and build detached homes....

[ScranBarre]

Originally Posted by FightinPhils

False. Scranton has very few row homes. There are some here and there, but not many. Scranton is unique among PA cities in that most of its housing stock is detached single houses.

That's what's strange about Schuylkill and Northumberland counties....they are very rural with small towns, but most of those small towns are row homes. I can understand why there are so many row homes in big cities like Philadelphia....because of the space issue.....but why in the world, in small towns like Mt. Carmel, Shamokin, Ashland, etc, are there row homes? These towns are surrounded by miles of woods....there was definitely room to spread these towns out and build detached homes....

A better question might be why so few of those rowhomes are well-maintained. I mean for God's sake if you're only spending $50,000 on a rowhome in Shenandoah or Shamokin, then shouldn't you have enough cash left over to fix broken windows, landscape the small front yard, replace deteriorating aluminum siding with vinyl siding, etc.? Even the less-fortunate here in Luzerne County generally try to take some pride in their properties. I've never seen such a high concentration of rowhomes practically falling into the street as I have seen in Schuylkill and Northumberland Counties.

[cowboyxjon]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

A better question might be why so few of those rowhomes are well-maintained. I mean for God's sake if you're only spending $50,000 on a rowhome in Shenandoah or Shamokin, then shouldn't you have enough cash left over to fix broken windows, landscape the small front yard, replace deteriorating aluminum siding with vinyl siding, etc.? Even the less-fortunate here in Luzerne County generally try to take some pride in their properties. I've never seen such a high concentration of rowhomes practically falling into the street as I have seen in Schuylkill and Northumberland Counties.

I think it has to do with the fact that of the homes that are still occupied (there are so many that aren't), the residents are either very old and can't do the work or very poor. And, of course, some of them may be renters.

I think a lot of the row homes were 'company homes' -- built by the coal companies when the area was booming.

For the record, I've never lived in a row home, but I've been inside of a few of them, and some of them area surprisingly large, even though they look tiny on the outside. they aren't very wide, but they might have three or four floors.

[tremontpa]

Sorry about being wrong about the rowhomes in Scranton. I was basing it of of my few trips to the Electric City. Furthermore, the reason why so many Schuylkill county towns are mostly rowhomes is simple. When the homes were built the coal companys' owned almost all of the land surrounding the towns. (example of old coal compnay greed) This left little room for the towns to be planned so surveyors made lots small to create the space for many lots. Also, most of the homes in the boroughs were NOT built by the coal companies. The coal companies built small "patch towns" by their collieries.

And to Scranbarre, the reason I am reviving two year old posts is because there are so few topics about Schuylkill County. Many people in the county don't use this forum (or any for that matter). Also I have yet to figure out how to start a new thread. You are also right about Scranton being lightyears ahead technology wise. It bothers me that more people can't hop on board with new technology like their northern neighbors.

[tremontpa]

And in the Tremont and Pine Grove area many residents are improving their homes.

[coalman]

I was born in Shenadoah and lived in Mahanoy City years ago. It was a small town in a major anthracite coal mining region where the populace was neighborly, respectful, hard working and God fearing. After the strip mining opportunists ruined the scenic surroundings and major employers such as Kaier Brewery closed, the town took a financial nose dive. As residents aged and sold their properties for a song, the non-resident quick buck crowd became involved and caused a significant negative impact on the quality of renting residents and the resultant deterioration of the town. itself.

[W-B proud]

I think the coal region is unique. I used to travel through all those towns (Mahanoey City, Frackville, Shenendoah, Shamokin ect.) when I worked for a courier company. I think it's "unchanged over the years" feel, is a selling point. Not every town in America needs to be modern, progressive or a cutting edge technological hotspot. The charm of the coal region is that it hasn't changed with the times IMO. It looks very similar to what it probably did 100 years ago. I don't know if i'd want to live there, but I have enjoyed the country roads passing through the area many times, stopping at old time diners ect. If Schulkill County was wise, it would start marketing these unique features as "a step back in time" have tourist trips through the many patch towns that are filled with history, open a few bed and breakfast', have a tour of Centralia with it's strange, unique history. Look at what Jim Thorpe has been able to do with it's tourism industry. I think the coal region can do the same. Alot of towns feel they need to grow and modernize to "keep up with the Jones", but with rises in population and modernization also come alot of problems like violent crime and wide spread drug use. Wilkes-Barre, my city, is plagued with these issues. It's a never ending battle up here. Medium sized cities like Wilkes-Barre and Scranton are kind of in a "post industrial purgatory" where they never grew into fabulous destinations like the big cities, nor are they quaint and charming like the small towns. This is one of the worst things about small-medium sized rust belt cities. Big city tourist don't wanna visit here because it 's like visiting a much smaller, downgraded city, and they come here for the outdoorsy type stuff, and small town folk don't want to visit here because "Why go to a Scranton or a Wilkes-Barre when you can go to Philly or NYC with not much further of a ride?" We are stuck in the middle, and the middle isn't good, but the coal region has all thes unique asset's like Yuengling, Centrlia, the coal mining history, the old coal town look and feel, rt. 61. If I was an entrepenuar, I'd start a tour of these landmarks and advertise it to the surrounding areas like Reading, Philly, W-B/Scr, Harrisburg ect. Youd be surprised how many people would be interested in something like this, because your area is so unique, and unlike the rest of the world. Hell, I'd by a ticket for the first charter tour. That's my two cents.