Media friendly? (Philadelphia, Chester, Drexel Hill: fit in, for sale, real estate)

[EllaGirl]

Hello All-

I am relocating to the Philladelphia area from Seattle. I am interested in living in a smaller community with easy access to the city proper. I will be working two days a week in the Brinton Lakes area, and two days a week either in the downtown area or traveling (via either train or plane). I will want to buy a townhome or condo (2bed) 300k range. Additionally, I have a dog whom I would like to have a small yard for, in addition to being able to walk her freely.

Media seems to be a good option for me. Any thoughts? What would the travel time to the Brinton Lakes area be? And could I drive to areas like KOP easily? I am single, but am really not interested in the bar scene- so that is not very important. Any other ideas?

Also- I do need some support with the dog. Currently she goes to daycare, but it does not seem to exist too much in PA. Does anyone know of any good Boarding/Day care fascilities in that general area?

Thank you so much for your help and insight. Having never even been to PA, I am trying to decern as much info as possible, and your help is invaluable!

[CHIP72]

I can't be super helpful, but it looks like Brinton Lakes is in Glen Mills, which is a little west of Media. I'd guess that is probably a 15 minute drive from Media, but I don't know for sure.

Media would have fairly good access to King of Prussia (about 15 miles away). There are also other malls/big box retail areas closer to Media, such as in the Springfield area. Media has fairly good roadway access and very good rail transit access to Center City Philadelphia; both the Route 101 trolley/Market-Frankford Line and the R3 Regional Rail (all operated by SEPTA) would get you between Media and Center City. Finally, Media is fairly close to the PHL, probably less than 10 miles/15 minutes. Incidentally, the borough of Media itself is a very attractive town.

Assuming you can find something in your stated price range, you should be fine in Media. Good luck!

[rainrock]

Media is a great small town and a great location for your situation but Media is more associated with single family homes and older apartment complexes.Its a little light on newer townhomes/condos but they do exist.If you can find one in your price range it really is a great area. There is a 2600 acre state park 1 mile from Media(Ridley Creek State Park)Pennsylvania State Parks - Ridley Creek - PA DCNR with all kinds of trails and open space for excercising and letting your dog get some free space.

That being said you will probably be better off in West Chester which is 5-10 minutes NW of Brinton Lake. The townhouse options compared to Media will be much much better and West Chester also is a great town.Its a college town and the county seat of Chester County so there are lots of restaurants,cafes, and young people.

KOP is only 20 minutes from either Media or West Chester and yes its very easy access, seems like all new highways lead to KOP. You cant go wrong with either area. Media puts you 20 minutes closer to downtown Philly compared to West Chester but W C is actually closer to Brinton lake.

Heres a real estate site for Chester County(West Chester) and Delaware County(Media)that will give you an idea what your money can buy. Just put in your data that you are looking for.

Good luck

Pennsylvania : Chester County Real Estate & Homes for Sale.

Pennsylvania : Delaware County Real Estate & Homes for Sale.

[matildap]

Hi there!
I promise I'm not promoting Malvern again- though when Rainrock mentioned Westchester, I had to say that there is a doggie daycare near me in Malvern that looks very popular- there seem to be a ton of dogs there every day! it's called Karen's K-9 Care and it's on Rt. 30 in Frazer. Also, I found a great dogsitter if you decide you want to just have someone come and be with your dog in your home during the day. Loads of petsitters in this area from what I experienced.

[EllaGirl]

All of this info has been very helpful! I will check out the links provided and see where I land. Any other opinions are welcomed!

(and thanks for the doggie hints too!)

[orrmobl]

You should definitely check Media..they are always building on any small plot of land and I believe I saw 2 bedroom twins or rows being built/sold recently...If not, a nice old twin or apartment would do as well...you should also check most areas within 5 miles of Media as that covers a LOT of towns and may open up your choices... I did a Google search for doggie day cares and came up with:
Home and Pet Watch‎
Media, PA

Good Luck!

[Everett99]

I moved to Media from Seattle, and I think Media's awesome and there's a little pond in a wooded park at the end of State Street (can't think of the name), and it's a great area to let your dog run around. Lot's of people after 10:00 a.m. so get down there early. I'd get a breakfast bagle from Manhatten Bagel, head down to the park with the dog, and that was my Saturday morning. Very nice. There's also a Starbucks if you miss home, and you will.

Before you lock yourself in by purchasing, however, I'd really suggest renting for a year to see if you "fit in." I moved to Media only two years ago for a job transfer. My first week in the hotel, I met a couple from Puyallup who were in the hotel because they had one week left on their relocation, and they were in the hotel because they didn't want to stay one day longer. They couldn't explain why they didn't like the area, and I couldn't imagine why since I was having a good time, but I was still new to the area.

My first month on the job, I met a gal from Seattle who was going back because she didn't like the area (couldn't explain why), and then a few months later, the other gal from Seattle went back (and she said she "just didn't make any friends"). The only Seattle native who loved it there was a black guy from Renton.

Here's the real "why" that people don't want to admit because they sound racist. People of different races and religions do not mix. You don't realize it because you're from Seattle and you don't think people do this, but here, there are whole neighborhoods based on race and churches.

I began to notice that the blacks didn't talk with the whites (with the exception of the black guy from Renton who would talk to me, but none of the whites). I used to eat in the cafeteria and, wouldn't you know it, the blacks and the whites were never sitting together. It's really odd. You say "hello" to a black co-worker as you walk by, and they're so surprised you spoke to them, they don't reply. Say "hello" to a white co-worker, it's no problem (I'm white, by the way). We don't have this division in Seattle, so you just don't think it exists in the U.S., but you eventually realize what's happening.

Then I noticed that the neighborhoods in Media were similarly segregated. Whites were all on the North side of Baltimore Pike in Media, and Blacks were all South (drive a couple of blocks South off of Baltimore Pike and they're all jammed into these "twins" which are a form of housing I'd never seen over here.) Go through Chester, Pennsylvania, and I never saw a white person. Right next to Chester, just past the Wal-Mart, is Ridley Park, and it's all white. Go toward Philadelphia, and you see neighborhoods with flags from a particular nation, or the Star of David. "Wow, the Italian District" is your first reaction.

I think there is a unique type of "getting along" in this area, and it just comes down to "we live near each other, but do not mix." I also found that people segregated themselves into Jewish, Catholic, Polish, and definitely Italian neighborhoods. No mixing whatsoever. Find your church, buy the nearest house, and the neighborhood is filled with like-minded individuals. They fit in, you don't.

After about a year, I returned because it was all just too weird for me. I still think fondly of Media and that park with the pond. I remember Hot Fudge Sundaes from Brewster's that ran all over the place because the humidity prevented the ice cream from firming up. Granite Run Mall was a great way to walk a few laps, and the Springfield Mall was good for a quick stroll. I remember a huge rainstorm at night while I was strolling the Media downtown my first night in town. Very cute downtown, but take a stroll and ask yourself "if this area is 14% black, why aren't the black people window shopping here, too?"

I don't like the segregation and I think we should all feel like we "fit in" no matter where we go, but that might be a uniquely Seattle frame of mind. That said, I'd highly recommend renting before buying because the market is dead right now and you'll lock yourself in if you buy and decide you don't like the area.

[orrmobl]

As someone who has lived here all his life and definitely seen racism, I have to say the above post is pretty inaccurate.

I worked as an IT guy and a management consultant in the city and Wilmington. I am white and always had friendships with people I worked with, black, white, or whatever. I will say that at the companies I worked for, most of the black people worked in the mailroom, and I took notice and was somewhat shocked when I first started working, at the lilly whiteness of the places...just wasn't expecting it...At the consulting firm I worked for, my best friend in the company, and my mentors in fact, were black. So this people speaking or not speaking at work based upon race is just absolute nonsense...I've never seen that at any of the 5 companies I've worked for, blue and white collar, over the past 20 years.

And while people may segregate in the city based upon ethinicity and religion, some of these neighborhoods have cycled through various ethnicities and are now more blended than ever. I would say the "segregation" in Media and other towns has more to do with socioconomic differences and like people choosing to be with like, than any kind of sinister plan of instutionalized racism.

If you are looking for a more mixed population, you need to move to the inner ring suburbs, especially those like Lansdowne, Upper Darby, Drexel Hill, Clifton Heights, Aldan, as those are the first ones people moving from the city hit and can affordably live and access the city via public transportation easily.

The other more affluent towns tend to be more lilly white...also for diversity of culture you could look to liberal Wallingford and Swarthmore which may not have a huge non-white population, but all the residents value and respect each other and have established a very inclusive community, not one based upon common religion or skin color like you may find in other areas.

By the way, West Chester has train to the city so if commuting there is a regular need, I'd move somewhere along the R2, R3, R5 SEPTA Regional Rail lines.

[ScottyG]

Originally Posted by orrmobl

By the way, West Chester has train to the city so if commuting there is a regular need, I'd move somewhere along the R2, R3, R5 SEPTA Regional Rail lines.

West Chester, unfortunately, does not have a train to the city or to anywhere else, the closest train is either in Exton or Downingtown, depending on where in West Chester you live.

[rainrock]

Originally Posted by Everett99

Before you lock yourself in by purchasing, however, I'd really suggest renting for a year to see if you "fit in." I moved to Media only two years ago for a job transfer. My first week in the hotel, I met a couple from Puyallup who were in the hotel because they had one week left on their relocation, and they were in the hotel because they didn't want to stay one day longer. They couldn't explain why they didn't like the area, and I couldn't imagine why since I was having a good time, but I was still new to the area.


My first month on the job, I met a gal from Seattle who was going back because she didn't like the area (couldn't explain why), and then a few months later, the other gal from Seattle went back (and she said she "just didn't make any friends"). The only Seattle native who loved it there was a black guy from Renton.

I'm not sure if lily white Seattle has any right to be lecturing the east coast about racial problems that have been festering for 100 years.

As oorm stated, Dont confuse racial segregation with socio-economic and cultural segregation, especially when involving the disastorous urban culture going on along the east coast.

Its kind of inconsiderate for Seattlelites with very low poverty and very few poor minorities to be pounding the pulpit about rampant racism in Philadelphia.

Take it down the street buddy.