The Future of Norristown (Chester, West Chester: neighborhoods, buy, construction)

[b-nasty]

I definitely think it could revitalize. Just look at Phoenixville's revival: 20 years ago it was a dump, and now it's one of the trendy areas that's gotten remarkably better as millennials flee the city for their slice of suburban/small-town life.

[Pennsport]

Originally Posted by b-nasty

I definitely think it could revitalize. Just look at Phoenixville's revival: 20 years ago it was a dump, and now it's one of the trendy areas that's gotten remarkably better as millennials flee the city for their slice of suburban/small-town life.

True, but keep in mind that the “updated” Phoenixville was designed by the individual who mapped out Manayunk. This why the two towns are structured similarly - one main Street with almost all venues located there. It was almost a personal project. I don’t see this being widely replicated.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by Ohiogirl81

Most people who live in Norristown aren't driving into the city on a daily basis anyway; they work locally, in King of Prussia, Conshohocken, Blue Bell, Collegeville, etc., or Norristown itself. And if they do work in the city, they take public transportation. Perhaps you missed that part of the discussion that more than one poster has mentioned. The abundance of public transportation is one of Norristown's positive features and one of the reasons why I stay put.

A friend of mine who lived in Sharswood - he's the guy who tipped me off to the Philadelphia Housing Authority's bait-and-switch on planning for new housing in the neighborhood after it demolished two of the three Norman Blumberg towers - finally gave up on living in Philly two years ago.

He and his wife found a lovely turn-of-the-20th-century mansion on (IIRC) Haws Avenue on Norristown's west side.

To get to his housewarming, I took the (R6) Norristown line to Elm Street, then walked up Marshall. The Hispanic business district on Marshall has some gaps in it but looks to me to be in decent shape; there are a couple of restaurants I'd like to try on a future visit.

Haws Avenue is this very wide street lined with large turn-of-the-century twins with elaborate detailing, all of them well maintained. I'd say this is one of Norristown's hidden gems.

Someone else I spoke with recently who's bullish on Norristown's prospects is the broker who runs the largest real estate office in Chestnut Hill. He specializes in high-end properties but doesn't shy away from good downmarket projects either (I spoke with him at an unveiling of a new development of single-family houses on part of the Roxborough antenna farm; these houses will sell for $350k-$450k). This broker had his Christmas party last year at a photo studio and event space in an old industrial building located between West Main Street and the Schuylkill on a hard-to-get-to alleyway; the facility had that urban-loft-chic vibe, and I had a long conversation with its co-owner, whose hubby is an interior designer who basically owns the front of House Beautiful. He and I hit it off, and they think Norristown has a brighter future ahead of it too.

So many people seem to feel this way, it's got to come true someday soon. Not even ineptitude can stop that, though it can slow it down.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by Pennsport

True, but keep in mind that the “updated” Phoenixville was designed by the individual who mapped out Manayunk. This why the two towns are structured similarly - one main Street with almost all venues located there. It was almost a personal project. I don’t see this being widely replicated.

But where else were the shops, restaurants and brewpubs going to go? Each of those communities had a single Main Street to begin with.

And it took Manayunk about a decade to evolve into a decent destination, and another decade to evolve into a capital-D Destination. I can remember when, shortly after moving here in 1983, the only establishments one found on Main Street in Manayunk were Bill Green's United States Hotel and Janney's, plus some old corner bars (I think the Grape Street Pub is one of those). Most of the rest of the storefronts were vacant and still were five years or so later.

Phoenixville likewise didn't blossom overnight.

I see the possibility of the same thing happening in both Norristown and Pottstown, which also has a downtown oriented towards a single Main Street, albeit an extra-wide one. Norristown's downtown does extend a block or two in both directions from Main Street, but that street still has the greatest concentration of businesses.

[TownDweller]

A revitalization here would take time, at least a decade or more. You are fighting a not so great school system, years of relative neglect and high taxes in the suburbs. And perceptions change slowly.

Still, the crime rate has plummeted over the past decade, what decay I have witnessed appears more worn than forlorn and the transportation and rail access are all in place already. I would not write this place off.

[FKD19124]

I could say that about alot of philadelphia neighborhoods.

Originally Posted by kyb01

So? None of this will help Norristown. Again, if Norristown and Bridgeport were going to revive( or be more than what they are )they would have already.

[cpomp]

Originally Posted by FKD19124

I could say that about alot of philadelphia neighborhoods.

I think Norristown has a lot more potential than say a Chester.

King of Prussia is a monster region, the overflow into a more naturally urban area will happen, it may start in 2020 or 2030, but I think the future of Norristown is bright not dark, not sure why Kyb01 is negative.

[FKD19124]

She is from center city philadelphia. Used to debate her on topics for years starting back on usenet phl.media

Originally Posted by cpomp

I think Norristown has a lot more potential than say a Chester.

King of Prussia is a monster region, the overflow into a more naturally urban area will happen, it may start in 2020 or 2030, but I think the future of Norristown is bright not dark, not sure why Kyb01 is negative.

[Muinteoir]

Originally Posted by cpomp

I think Norristown has a lot more potential than say a Chester.

King of Prussia is a monster region, the overflow into a more naturally urban area will happen, it may start in 2020 or 2030, but I think the future of Norristown is bright not dark, not sure why Kyb01 is negative.

Yeah, I think the area has a lot of potential. Being sandwiched between Conshohocken (the thirty-something semi-urban oasis) and KoP, with commuter rail to boot, is fantastic.


A lot of Norristown is actually pretty nice. It is just a matter of revitalizing the "downtown" area.

[MarketStEl]

Originally Posted by FKD19124

She is from center city philadelphia. Used to debate her on topics for years starting back on usenet phl.media

She grew up on the Main Line, and I don't recall her saying she lived in CC - I think she lives in a nearby outlying neighborhood.

We've met in the flesh - when I also worked at Penn, where she still works.