Mixed Couple Moving to Lancaster, PA (Harrisburg, Coatesville: low income, rent, houses)

[crys1998]

My husband and I make our living creating (he's an oil painter, i'm a jeweler). We are also a mixed-raced couple (black and white) and are interested in relocating from the NC mountains to Lancaster, PA. Can anyone tell me what the city is like? My husband has visited it and fell in love on sight, but we need more information less superficial. We have no children living at home, so we don't need anything regardings schools. Can anyone help? Would we be bothered for being mixed-raced? Can we make a living there?

[lititzman2003]

The western part of Lancaster City would be the best location for you. Relatively safe with nice houses. The county, in general, is very conservative and there are alot of closed-minded people here who don't accept ANY outsiders, regardless of race. We moved here from Philly six years ago and we wished we had rented for awhile to get to know the attitudes of the residents before buying. You should do well with your businesses.

Best of luck with your move.

[solibs]

You guys coming from Asheville? As artists I assumed you were looking into moving to Lancaster City, which is a great town, and reasonably diverse (mostly white and hispanic).

I don't know anything about the rest of the county.

[MoorestownResident]

Originally Posted by lititzman2003

The western part of Lancaster City would be the best location for you. Relatively safe with nice houses. The county, in general, is very conservative and there are alot of closed-minded people here who don't accept ANY outsiders, regardless of race. We moved here from Philly six years ago and we wished we had rented for awhile to get to know the attitudes of the residents before buying. You should do well with your businesses.

Best of luck with your move.

A relative moved to Lancaster County several years ago. Go and visit before moving. There are some very low income and rough parts in the city and around it, slammed up against some nice developments of white and blue collar folks. Any attraction, even a mall, is going to be a drive. It is a fairly easy drive to Philly but still well over an hour. In terms of housing costs, I would think Lancaster is considerably cheaper than Asheville, NC.

[pman]

any attraction? like central market? I suspect Lancaster City will continue to redevelop, especially if Pennsylvania gets its plan to upgrade the train line funded. It plans to cut 20 minutes off the trip to harrisburg, most of which will come off the Lancaster-Philly segment, putting the trip time to 50-60 minutes (as opposed to 65-75 minutes). you may also want to look at Harrisburg which has a nice downtown, a bit newer (ie railroad era) but also on the susquehana.

[lititzman2003]

Originally Posted by MoorestownResident

A relative moved to Lancaster County several years ago. Go and visit before moving. There are some very low income and rough parts in the city and around it, slammed up against some nice developments of white and blue collar folks. Any attraction, even a mall, is going to be a drive. It is a fairly easy drive to Philly but still well over an hour. In terms of housing costs, I would think Lancaster is considerably cheaper than Asheville, NC.

The eastern part of Lancaster City is alittle rough. Access to shopping isn't bad along Routes 462, 30 & 283. Again, the issue is the people and how they accept you.

My other thought, Crys, is, that addition to establishing a central location for your professions, is that there are a TON of Craft Shows in the county. Maybe you and your spouse can rent some space at some of them. We went to alot of them this year and most vendors said they did very well, despite the down economy.

[Boompa]

Another place you might try, nearby is Oxford Pa. Lincoln University, a historically black school, is there and it is right on US1 with easy access to Philly and Baltimore. I'd recommend Coatesville but its' kind of dumpy.

[FindingZen]

crys1998,

Although you've received a surprising (to me) number of responses for an area that's more than an hour away from Philly, I'd recommend that you also post your question on the general Pennsylvania forum as well.

[MoorestownResident]

Originally Posted by lititzman2003

The eastern part of Lancaster City is alittle rough. Access to shopping isn't bad along Routes 462, 30 & 283. Again, the issue is the people and how they accept you.

My other thought, Crys, is, that addition to establishing a central location for your professions, is that there are a TON of Craft Shows in the county. Maybe you and your spouse can rent some space at some of them. We went to alot of them this year and most vendors said they did very well, despite the down economy.

Understated, IMO, parts of Lancaster remind me of Camden.

[pman]

lancaster city is much nicer than camden, take that as you will (that camden is God awful or that Lancaster city has some really nice parts). the best solution for camden is to put 95 through it