Phoenixville area (Chester, West Chester, Collegeville: middle-class, lease, condos)

[maestro]

Thanks to all those that posted on the Wayne topic (though it's become a PA vs. NJ post now).

Any thoughts on Phoenixville? We're renting now and we are continuing to be told about the "revitalization" of Bridge St (which is great), but I'm also told by other people that it's a lower-middle class area and it will still be another 15-20 years before it truly turns the corner. Any thoughts on that?

[orrmobl]

If it's what you can afford, it will be fine - we were going to move there 2 years ago. There are some shady parts of town but the downtown is great and getting better, the schools are good, the area is safe.

If you like it and can get a house you love, I would stay. If you're so-so, want to be closer to the city or shopping etc, and have some dough, I would look at areas with better schools - that will always be a determining factor in home appreciation, and it is your kids after all.

My buddy moved to the sticks of Collegeville and has his kids in Catholic school because he found the locals to be a tad low class. Not sure if this is an issue in Phoenixville schools but I would bet it probably is. Just something to think about...

You may want to check out Indian King in West Chester - it is a diverse development of townhomes and singles, people are friendly, and it isn't as expensive as other developments...my friends love it there.

[sbhubbell]

I absolutely love Phoenixville, and I think it is much closer to being a strong middle-class suburb than 15-20 years. All the new developments are big, beautiful houses and townhomes. And of course the downtown businesses and condos above them are hot and getting hotter. However, if you have kids in school I might consider one of the neighboring districts, like Spring-Ford schools or Great Valley schools if you can afford it. Upper Providence (Spring-Ford) and Collegeville (Perk Valley) are better school districts, you can find very nice houses for similar prices to Phoenixville, and you are only a hop skip and jump away. My large four year old house in Mont Clare, walkable to Pville but Spring ford schools, was snatched up before it even hit the market. I'm just sad I couldn't stick around to continue to see the new bars and restaurants open and shop at the new Providence Town Center.

[orrmobl]

Actually, according to this: http://www.svsd.net/important-news/i..._rank_2008.pdf (broken link)

Phoenixville schools are BETTER than Perkiomen and Spring Ford - who knew?

[maestro]

does anyone have any first-hand (or know anyone with first-hand) experience with the schools?

[Pilot1]

There are also nice little towns/enclaves like Kimberton and Yellow Springs near Phoenixville. The fact that Phoenixville has an Iron Hill Brewery like West Chester tells me the direction its going.

[orrmobl]

My wife's friend from college and her friends from high school are definitely more toward the pwt side of things...they are 38 or so but that gives you an idea of what the area was like, and presumably if the adage that most people stay within 5 miles of where they were born holds true, what a lot of the area is still like...

[sbhubbell]

That adage is definitely not as true anymore as it once was. 90% of my graduating class lives more than 5 miles from where they grew up. I would hardly call Phoenixville a pwt town. It's very ethnically mixed anyway.

[maestro]

Originally Posted by sbhubbell

That adage is definitely not as true anymore as it once was. 90% of my graduating class lives more than 5 miles from where they grew up. I would hardly call Phoenixville a pwt town. It's very ethnically mixed anyway.

In my few months here in P'ville, I have seen some elements of pwt though. My concern is that it's closer to pwt than to normal middle class.

I don't mean to sound snooty, I'm just trying to see what the best environment for me and my young family would be as we look to settle down after renting for so long.

[orrmobl]

The place was a crack den 15-20 years ago, and not much nicer 10 years ago. That's going to take quite a while to change. Like I said before, if it's what you can afford for a house size you need or love, by all means stay.

But if you have more money, I would move elsewhere...which is why I didn't end up moving there - we looked at homes there and I was mostly unimpressed and we decided to stretch ourselves to move to a better town, ie West Chester.

With the current economic crises, whether or not you are locked into a lease, wait things out and you should be able to buy into a better area for what you can afford right now...