Soooo….last year I had posted about this odd triangle parcel off Old Swedesford/Swedesford Road in East Whiteland. It looks like it was sold at some point in 2024 and I got a note today from someone that says:
Keeping you updated. Looks the property sold in October. We just noticed some people out there holding what looks like site plans. We really hope they aren’t planning on putting some commercial property in there in such a small residential community.
Coincidentally, it seemed to have shown up on an East Whiteland agenda for this week. Last evening‘s meeting as a matter of fact. 3a.
If anyone has any answers as to what is happening with this property, people are all ears. What seems to be happening on the video snippet that I am about to share, is a potential acquisition by East Whiteland Township to keep it as open space, which would be great because there are residential neighborhoods back there. So I don’t know if that would mean passive open space leaving it wooded or creating a more park like setting in part of it maybe throwing in a small playground? If what said on the video is true I would say that some township residents over there have possibly dodged a bullet, right?
Before properties were sold last October is above – and note technically there are two parcels. I only had the bigger parcel information from before it was sold in 2024.
Below are both parcels, large and small. I have also included a little screenshot of the bare bones schematic of ChescoPin, so people can visualize the area better.
Where the new property owners potentially selling to East Whiteland have correspondence sent is 120 Pennsylvania Ave Malvern PA 19355. Now that address is in the Borough of Malvern that’s tucked out of the way. But it’s whose address that is that I found potentially interesting and will anyone else?
That area is back on the other side of the train tracks from what you know is King Street or the main drag of Malvern Borough. It’s back off Bridge Street and that Old Lancaster Road area. Of course that address comes up on Malvern Borough’s website.
Life is so interestingly connected, isn’t it?
Anyway, good on East Whiteland if they’re stopping development there by a land purchase. If this is what has happened this of course means the open space referendum is working some more, doesn’t it? I guess now the East Whiteland Open Space Committee or someone review things?
This old house sitting right at the edge of Lancaster Avenue in Berwyn in Easttown Township, on the border of Tredyffrin I believe across the road, has never looked good in my memory. But before this, the property was at least somewhat tidy.
But the property changed hands and then the chatter was maybe Mercedes of Devon was going to do something with it? But obviously that never happened. 
For months, it had cars, I think even a camper van, and a boat at one point sitting there. Obviously somebody was renting it or something at that point in time.
Well now it’s just sitting there and the weeds are getting bigger. There are weeds growing up through what’s left of the driveway and it’s just sitting there. There are viable things on either side of this property so I imagine it’s starting to get difficult being able to see to get out because of the weeds and that’s a very busy stretch of Lancaster Avenue anyway.
The address is 1038 Lancaster Avenue.
Anyway, it has an absentee landlord and/or property owner it seems? it would be nice if they could keep the weeds and stuff cut while they decide whatever it is they are doing with that property.
I think there is also some debate as to whether that is a dilapidated historic structure underneath all the bad asphalt or asbestos siding whatever it is.
When you look the address up on Google and you pull up photos of this house over the years, it’s been failing for many many years. Is it salvageable? I don’t know. Could it have a viable use? Again I don’t know. All I do know is while the property owner from Saratoga Springs, NY or whatever decides what they’re doing, it would be nice if they took care of it .
Much like the property that was supposed to be developed further east I guess it is where Handels originally was, these people that own these properties need to keep them somewhat tidy while they are deciding what they are doing. I totally get that.
This is a very weird economic time and must be really weird for commercial property owners or people who want to build anything, but there is no harm in properties staying tidy is there?
The screenshots are from former real estate listings. There is nothing current that I could see. And although I do believe somebody lived there on the property at one time I think it was also some kind of a store at one time.
There is a major article in the Philadelphia Business Journal about West Chester being given the Schiffer Farm at 1469 Morstein as a monumental donation and East Whiteland buying 52 acres at $4.7 million for open space. That is why East Whiteland voters passed the open space referendum last fall. That means dear readers, that saving this land is officially done and dusted!
The article mentions how West Chester University Provost Jeff Osgood said “West Chester did not want to engage in development for the sake of development” but isn’t that confusing given the back and forth in the past about what was it? 15 acres of this property that are mostly in West Whiteland and a wee bit in East Goshen? You know the land that backs up to where is it? Old Phoenixville Pike? Was that land sold before the rest was donated? (I never asked that before, did you?) West Whiteland is about preservation, but East Goshen today? Who knows as that township has changed.
This property straddles more than one municipality, and the thing I find sad is Durango Farm which has operated out of there for years will be relocating. It was in the article, but I had heard that a couple of months ago, elsewhere. I loved seeing the horses swishing their tails on the hill of the front field on Morstein. What East Whiteland acquired is called Ridley Springs, something else I didn’t now since we all just know it as “Schiffer Farm.”
The horses I am guessing will have to be relocated by or before renovation of the land occurs in 2026. Some buildings are reported as decrepit on the site, so while some structures I am guessing will be preserved, some will be removed… or that is what I was told when I asked a while ago. I will miss the horses, but it perhaps was not as easy having horses over there given the people who treated them like a petting zoo and would just wander up and neighbors in the past also told me people would try and feed them which you never do without permission, just like you don’t wander onto land with horses or live stock without permission.
The Philadelphia Business Journal also reported that this land in transition would present learning opportunities for students as well. Something about a collaborative process between the West Chester University kids and East Whiteland to transform a farm into a nature preserve and park. That’s pretty cool.
(An aside is Philadelphia Business Journal is well worth a subscription, although expensive.)
What would also be cool? Since there is open land not wooded, wouldn’t it be a great place for an observatory and wasn’t there one around the area once upon a time?
Also as I am a big gardener, I am a fan of what has happened at Bondsville Mill Park thanks to David Culp. I also would like to see organic community garden plots. That property has tons of deer, so that would require fencing.
West Chester University will use proceeds of the land for scholarships and financial aid, which as well all know for colleges and universities across the country is under attack courtesy of the current administration in Washington D.C.
Here is the full text of Chair of The East Whiteland Supervisors speech. I asked for it because it is such a great thing to have happened in an ugly world and thank you East Whiteland Township for getting it:
Good afternoon, I’m Scott Lambert, Chairman of the East Whiteland Township Board of Supervisors. Today, I’m honored to stand before you and share this truly exciting news, a process that began 2.5 yrs ago which for municipal time lines is a fast turnaround …news that reflect the very best of what can happen when a community comes together with a shared purpose.
East Whiteland Township is proud of the forthcoming acquisition and permanent preservation of a truly special piece of land—RIDLEY SPRINGS FARM.
This milestone is not just about preserving open space, it’s about legacy, vision, and above all, it’s about Improving our community. In 2023, the generous anonymous donor approached the Townships of East Whiteland, East Goshen, and West Whiteland with an opportunity to preserve over 52 acres of beautiful countryside. After thoughtful discussions and deep consideration, East Whiteland Township stepped forward as the only municipality ready to commit to preserving this land for the public good……….. But we couldn’t do it alone.
Thanks to a vital partnership from the West Chester University Foundation—who graciously stepped in to temporarily acquire the land—we were able to act swiftly while securing funding for long-term stewardship. And thanks to the strong support of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Chester County, our County Commissioners Marion Moskowitz , Josh Maxwell who graciously cleared their calendar for a hastily arranged meeting that helped turn the tide.
To our state representatives of Senator Katie Muth and Representative Kristine Howard, The staff at Carolynn Comita’s office that offered some good advice and most importantly the 4044 residents of East Whiteland Township, who voted in favor of the new Open Space Tax, we secured nearly $1.87 million in grant funding to make this dream a reality. This isn’t just about protecting open space, it’s also about creating a vibrant, lasting resource for generations to come …. Our vision for the property reflects a mission deeply rooted in conservation. We will honor WITH THE BEST OF OUR ABILITY the original wishes of the anonymousfamily….. that this land is not developed for commercial, residential, or industrial use. Instead, we’re transforming it into a public nature preserve and park— a place where all are welcome to enjoy …..the best of our ability includes our fierce opposition to pending state House Bill 502 which would strip local government of the power to make land use and zoning ordinances decisions related to large scale energy production facilities -handing it instead to a 7 member politically appointed board in Harrisburg .
On June 12 Nick Cohen a CEO of an energy company, testified in Harrisburg in support of this bill had these comments about local elected officials:
X They should stick to chicken coop and garage decisions X They did not get in the business of local government to make decisions about land use.
Perhaps Mr. Cohen should review the PA MPC /SALDO … this type of overreach further under scores the importance of this transaction. And I hope our voting representatives will not approve this bill in the current state and respect the importance of local municipal input.
While we have much planning to do to prepare this space for public use, here’s a look at what’s ahead:
A beautiful network of scenic hiking and walking trails
A brand-new trailhead and pocket park for rest and recreation
Designated spaces for community events—like 5K races, family fun days, nature walks, and wellness programs…. these details will include input from our community/stakeholders
This land will be a sanctuary and a place where future generations can explore, learn, and thrive. On behalf of the East Whiteland Township Board of Supervisors, I want to thank a who’s who of super people (everyone ) who helped bring this vision over the finish line -the anonymous family, our Township team, Chester County Commissioners, Senator Muth, Representative Howard and Chris Pielli, State Senator Comitta, the West Chester University Foundation, our grant partners at DCNR and Chester County, West Whiteland for agreeing to the annexation of 1 acre of their property and our 4044 residents or 56% of the voting community that supported the preservation of open space.
Thank you all for your commitment to helping preserve this land for public enjoyment for generations to come.
I close with saying everyone should thank East Whiteland Supervisor Scott Lambert. He doesn’t take enough credit for the mountains he moved to get this done.
by Denali Sagner Published June 5, 2025, 5:00 a.m. ET
I wrote the rather young reporter. She was too busy to reply but she did correct the spelling of Carrie Kohs name. This morning when the article hit my in box she had another person entirely, Carrie Kohns. I have never been fan of Kohs who owns pucciManuli (very over priced and she’s definitely never been user friendly IMHO), but come on, if you are going to interview people and get paid for it, spell the name correctly.
Transit Oriented Development is and always has been mostly a myth to get more infill development, do try to keep up. In order for something to be destroyed it actually has to work. Since they included the photo of Narberth in the article, why isn’t the Inquirer covering important issues like Narberth residents trying to save Sabine Park from development? Wouldn’t that fit with the “Inquirer Lower Merion” of it all I guess? If they had done their homework here already they would know there is legal precedence that matters. See Downingtown, Kardon Park, Friends of Kardon Park. The Inquirer I believe is one of the papers which covered it years ago. https://www.sabinecoalition.com/
Also , Carrie Kohs and Chris Leswing whom they interviewed for a lil’ Lower Merion Township rah rah have it wrong. Bad plans for Transit Oriented Development and Mixed Use have almost killed Ardmore over and over. What you have now is a more transient community and still no parking. How do I know? Used to live there in that township and once was part of original Save Ardmore Coalition and helped fight for Ardmore against eminent domain for private gain ( heck it got national and international press – Economist etc.)
Look at the things NO longer in Ardmore – Clover Market and First Friday Main Line (also worked on First Friday for years) – one would hope that the regional paper’s “Lower Merion” section would be a little deeper than township propaganda (or Borough propaganda in the case of Narberth), but that would mean really getting out in these communities and asking people what they want, what they need, and what they think.
Oh and the photo of the man jogging past the historic Ardmore sign and showing the corner of the mural in the article? Residents and Save Ardmore Coalition did that mural. Not the township, not the Ardmore Initiative. ( See attached photo next.)
Mostly now people wonder what the Ardmore Initiative does and what people are paying for? Check out the crumbling broken sidewalks and overflowing township trash cans….and again no place to park.
I get that there are not enough folks left at the Inquirer with any institutional knowledge of the suburbs and Chester County, but you have archives.
Septa has been mismanaged and a mess for decades. For a while it was better, when Jeff Knueppel led them. He was their former lead engineer at one point, and he really cared. Then they handed it all over to Leslie Richards (Tom Wolf girl former Montgomery County Commissioner along with Josh Shapiro) after she made a mess of PennDOT. then all of a sudden Septa was flailing and she “retired.” My goodness what a trail of political breadcrumbs you are missing between Septa and the Emperor’s New Clothes fairy tail of MUST and TOD.
Wouldn’t it be nice if a paper ever wrote something helpful like how the Municipalities Planning Code of the Commonwealth of PA is woefully outdated (since 1969 or so) and needs a comprehensive overhaul? That weighty tome drives ALL of the zoning in PA and is why we can’t achieve any sense of balance or more productive development. And HB Act 502? All bundled in with other stuff by Shapiro? NO ONE has covered that much and they have zero clue the damage THAT could do to municipalities which is why maybe speaking to someone like Ginny Kerslake might help them. Part of what Ginny has said about this bill:
HB502 is a fast-tracking scheme for power generating or storage facilities for private or public consumption. It creates a seven member, heavily industry-biased board with immense power to issue a “certificate of reliable energy supply” – a golden ticket of sorts- to a developer/corporation, exempting their project from local zoning, land development and other ordinances:
Section 805
(d) Effect of certificate.–
(1) A county or municipal or other local government or authority by ordinance, regulation or other action may not require any land use approval, consent, permit, certificate or condition that materially impedes the purposes of this chapter or will delay or prevent the construction, operation or maintenance of a reliable energy generating facility or storage facility that has been issued a certificate of reliable energy supply.
HB502 usurps local authority over zoning and land use. It’s not surprising that the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) opposes this bill.
This new Lower Merion tab for the Inquirer is merely an elitist suck up version of the old Neighbors section. The Neighbors section was great while it lasted. I was actually a freelancer for them when the Neighbors section went online only. I wrote about Chester County and Main Line things. It was really fun.
Look I support journalism, especially print media. But they need to cover what matters, not just what panders well. And these papers need to keep some of those with institutional knowledge of areas around as well as educating the next wave of young journalists how to comb through their own archives. Heck if I can do it, I am sure they can as well.
Besides, I have maintained all along that SEPTA is fear mongering shutting down lines to get what they want. Maybe SEPTA does need to partially shut down and start over. It is one of the worst transit systems in the country. I think it’s a political ploy and another article in the Inquirer which I agree with says so. I will share an excerpt as I sign off.
Development fairy tales are generally speaking, just that. TOD and MUST and stupid zoning overlays are creating more issues than the problems they were advertised to solve. That is my opinion and I am sticking to it. Maybe just maybe, lots of things in Pennsylvania are simply mismanaged?
I really get tired of the simpletons who tell me I must not have lived here long and that certain places have flooded for decades. Yes, a lot of places have flooded for decades and does that make it OK and do these people ever look beyond the edge of their own noses to see what is all being built and developed around these flood locations that just make it worse?
West Chester
Development and climate change play a big part in our flooding during storms. And the developers develop these projects and they say they’re going to do stormwater management but is it ever enough?
And while Harrisburg and Josh Shapiro are trying to shove HB-502 down our throats, do they do anything ever proactive like enact and act of the State Constitution to overhaul the Municipalities Planning Code to protect us?
And what is HB-502?
As Ginny Kerslake explains after East Whiteland publicly objected to it:
Thank you East Whiteland Township for standing up for your residents and local government. We need every township to do likewise:
East Whiteland Township recently issued letters to local legislators opposing PA House Bill 502, which would strip local governments of the power to make land use and zoning decisions related to large scale energy production facilities—handing it instead to a politically appointed board in Harrisburg.
Local officials know our communities best. We use careful planning and resident input to protect our environment and quality of life. This bill threatens that balance and could open the door to unchecked development—even on preserved land.”
How can you help stop this bad bill?
✅ Urge your Township Supervisors to follow East Whiteland’s lead. ✅ Contact your State Rep and State Senator and urge them to vote NO on HB502. (Find your legislators: https://www.palegis.us/find-my-legislator).
So back to stormwater. These storms with freakish amounts of water keep happening and in part that’s climate change.
The flooding is increasing. There IS also a connection to development, and it doesn’t mean development right where the flooding occurred but adjacent to it. Water seeks its own level.
Yesterday was yet another example as to why mankind needs to change the way we do things. Overdevelopment and climate change are real. Together they cause us more and more issues.
So… news out of Caln this morning is Lloyd Farmhouse is safe-ish for now. I say safe-ish because I trust neither the developer nor Caln Township. Maybe this time it will be different because Caln has a manager with a moral compass but who knows?
I don’t get these people. I really don’t get these people. First of all their borough council president dresses like a shlub. There is business casual and there’s dude -can’t- you -really -brush -your -hair -better- if -you’re -going -to -wear -it -long -and -iron -your -T-shirt -casual.
And then you have a couple of people you hear talking, especially when they’re discussing Sabine Park, who say things like (paraphrasing) “Well I’m not sure that I’m really actually going vote for this when the time comes, but this is what I would do if I was doing XYZ.”
Gosh all of Narberth Borough Council appears to be a little bit preggers here?
Sooooo there’s the factoid that it is a park. It is land that was deeded for a park over 100 years ago correct? so why are they even contemplating this in the first place? Are they completely oblivious to the fairly significant case law in Pennsylvania alone about selling parks for development? Isn’t their solicitor aware?
I mean it’s pretty simple isn’t it? If land is deeded and donated to municipality for a park then it is technically land that belongs to the residents and the residents don’t want it developed do they? That’s one thing that’s just something that is bugged me since the beginning. Yet there they are again discussing what kind of zoning would be better if they sell the land.
And they as of now have spent who knows how much money having it looked at by Penoni so that it can be appraised properly…..and then you have these borough council people who were saying well we’re just looking at all the options. What is it they don’t get that it’s a park?
Sigh….it gets better and I encourage everyone to watch the video because the shlub who is the borough council president is arguing for massive mixed use projects on part of the site and then also says how nobody wants any single-family homes any longer. I have to ask him what is it he is living in on the Narberth- Wynnewood border exactly, an apartment?
I just don’t get it but hey I don’t get the extremely unattractive development that has occurred in Narberth already. Like The Elm. Named for a tree and are there any sizable plants in sight? Or just developer specials? And look, it’s the same Legoland construction seen everywhere….even along I-95 in Philthadelphia.
But hey Narberth and development? Odd relationship? Remember Narberth Arbors?
Now you all remember when I wrote about Sabine Park recently I had one of the borough council people kind of come at me for talking about it, so what is it exactly they are doing just spending taxpayer money on appraisals for shits and giggles ?
Anyway I’m sad for Narberth. Here’s hoping more residents wake up.
Screen shot from the Radnor Design Review Board Meeting February 12, 2025
There is that phrase something along the lines of it’s better to beg for forgiveness than to ask for permission. That seems to be the case with the Agnes Irwin School in Radnor Township perhaps? So how do you do lighting without a plan given to the township in which you sit? Would regular folk get away with this? Am I missing rarified air somewhere?
It’s a funny thing with that school. They occasionally seem to have this perennial misplaced sense of entitlement. And every time you hear news of them it’s because they are mentioned in someone’s obituary, or for some shenanigans having to do with grand plans. I will get to the grand plans of the past that didn’t go so well in a bit. But first this new or current kerfuffle over their lighting.
I am not minimizing what neighbors of Agnes Irwin are obviously experiencing given the Radnor Design Review meeting I saw. (Here is the link to the entire meeting.)
I was gob smacked. It was about lighting. As in Fred and Ginger can tap dance inside neighbors’ houses given the brightness of the lights. As in blackout curtains don’t help. As in how do migrating birds not get confused bright. As in the school is lucky there have not been car accidents in neighborhoods they abut or along S. Ithan Ave bright. Sorry not sorry, that is some kind of bull twaddle going on don’t you think? Why is this ok? Because they are a Main Line private school? Heck I went to one and that dog don’t hunt.
Excerpt from the Radnor Design Review Board Meeting 2/12/25
According to Ray Matus, former Radnor police officer who is their Director of Safety and Security it was for security measures. Ok but Mr. Matus? You worked at Radnor Township for years, and your dad and uncles did too, right? I get it that you were law enforcement (highway patrol, remember him directing traffic during Villanova stuff), but still, wouldn’t you think you might have to talk to someone other than your former police chief about putting up lighting even for safety?
But you know what? In my opinion the SCHOOL and their capital projects people and facilities or property manager types should definitely know better, and where were they at this meeting? Did they think their security guy as a former Radnor Township employee would just smooth it over? If so, then I am surprised Irwins didn’t have their Dean of Students Grades 5 and 6 Middle School Teacher lady there because isn’t her hubby in fact Radnor’s Township Manager? (Just saying?)
So Irwins has a pretty big footprint over there in Rosemont/Bryn Mawr but I am guessing they are a bit hemmed in? I mean they own that Almondbury House, at 672 Conestoga Rd, Villanova, built in 1911 by Horace Trumbauer. That is a fabulous house, they acquired it in 2015. It’s historic, don’t know what the plans for it are or what it is being used for, offices etc would be my guess. That property is about 6 acres I think, maybe 5. That might be what they refer to as “the annex” here and there?
They also own a house on this flag lot kind of driveway off of Conestoga. That was the house that they asked about in the meeting where they asked Mr. Matus where he lived. I am actually very familiar with the house, I was in it in high school. The family that sold the house had a daughter my year at dare I say it….Shipley. Agnes Irwin bought it from the family. They have owned the house for years at this point. That is very common with private schools and colleges to buy houses adjacent to campuses for staff or heads of school etc. to live in. That property adds a little over an acre to Irwins’ footprint. It’s a sweet house. I always liked it. It was up next to a tennis court in the back if I recall correctly.
The lights are daylight but it’s midnight bright right now according to neighbors at that meeting. I believe the neighbors and more than one spoke. Also important to note, since only one was alluded to by Irwins at meeting. The neighbors over there, aren’t happy and a lot of others have not been happy in the past. Just ask the folks who live on S. Ithan Avenue. Sometimes in the past, I have gone past the school and houses that are neighbors have orange cone things by their driveways. As a matter of fact I am incredulous that Irwins got so much on street parking on S. Ithan because it makes the road feel quite narrow.
Back to the lights. Just yesterday a friend of mine actually commented to me in a phone conversation how bright and glaring the lights of the school are at night when driving on S. Ithan. So I can well imagine what the people on Browning Lane, etc see. My friend who doesn’t live in Radnor, just on the Main Line, referred to the lights as glare bombs.
Lighting is a real issue and it is also an art form when it comes to doing it properly. That means you aren’t just plunking them up. There is a thought process and a plan, right? So why didn’t Irwins consult the neighbors before they did anything? Wouldn’t that have been the nice neighborly thing to do? I went to Shipley which has done tons of building over the years, and as critical as I can be even of my alma mater, I can’t recall their lighting being offensive (and I have criticized an expansion plan or two.) . I also remember them submitting lighting plans along with other plans to Lower Merion Township, so I don’t understand why Irwins didn’t until this meeting? Or did Irwins assume Radnor relationships would just make it all like magic? I guess they missed the memo where being a good neighbor makes magic?
Now let’s dish lighting and Radnor Township. Remember the issues surrounding Villanova University? I seem to recall that neighbors were very up in arms and that RADNOR TOWNSHIP hired a lighting expert to review and do light and sound measurements? Where was that? Aldwyn Lane and elsewhere around, right? I remember this issue coming up more than once with their expansions. And Villanova as a result has lights that are not bright white glare bombs. They just like lots of crosses, right? Here I looked up some old articles concerning Villanova and lighting, most without pay walls:
Agnes Irwin seems to constantly lead with a bit of an elitist attitude in my humble opinion. The fact that this ended up in a Radnor meeting says to me that perhaps neighbors either weren’t being heard or the school didn’t care about what they were hearing from their neighbors? And does that even compute with what the school claims as their values? I think that is truly sad.
Where does being respectful of your neighbors fall in core values?
The neighbors need to start taking MORE photos. Of lights, traffic, the whole enchilada. Radnor Township needs to step up and get an independent lighting expert etc in this just like they did with Villanova. They can’t ignore residents with real property value worries and environmental and just every day living concerns over a private school. They didn’t ignore it with lighting issues with Villanova and it’s the same damn area. They need a proper lighting plan at Agnes Irwin. They need LOWER lights as in height, as well as different kinds of lights shielded properly (not bright glare bomb white how about a more yellow cast) that lights an area safely without making 3 AM seem like high NOON. What are those magic words? Lumens and foot candles? Again, proper downlighting? Not loving hands at home light shields perhaps? (Duh.)
How many lights do they need on things like the tennis courts which are surrounded by giant fences and are locked up tighter than Fort Knox. (It’s funny, when I was growing up ) remember the school letting some of the courts get used by folks in the area.)
Other suggestions? Proper fencing along perimeters and evergreen screening. Evergreen screening helps with light pollution. Light pollution is real and Agnes Irwin and Radnor Township can’t ignore it. For God’s sake, I bet science teachers there must talk about migrating birds and nature at some point, right? I remember it in elementary school/lower school years myself. Anyway umm hello, what does light pollution do to migrating birds?
No one objects to good security, it benefits a school campus and the surrounding area. But what is done shouldn’t ever be at the expense of neighbors.
Agnes Irwin needs to stop the BS. Especially since also at that meeting there was some mention of a potential turf field in their future? Haven’t they learned from turf fields yet? And this one to be would be where? There is a big grassy field near Browning Lane I think? Doesn’t that run to a creek and is it even big/wide/long enough? I am asking the question because I don’t know, I just have a memory of that field, and others over there from high school. And turf fields all require constant monetization to have any semblance of economic feasibility in addition to all the environmental issues, correct? They are super expensive, right? I also remember seeing a new thing on turf fields where they showed an old turf field graveyard. That stuff is not found in nature and does not break down. Besides, how many turf fields do we need in any area?
And there has been a LOT of negative press in the past over Irwins and fields/turf fields. As a matter of fact, some one I know owns the property on Sugartown Road in Easttown they once wanted to get part of for fields. And then there was the whole giant thing about them leasing Radnor Township owned fields in some park.
Agnes Irwin needs a refresher course in being community minded and a good neighbor. There is something to be said for good community relations. Enough with the misplaced sense of entitlement of it all. And yes I can have these opinions. And anyone who knows me will know my not liking issues with lights, turf fields, etc with regard to academic institutions is nothing new. And academic institutions with neighbor relations issues is also a particular pet peeve.
And a not so subtle love tap to the invisible interim commissioner in Ward 4 in Radnor. So Jim Reilley if you wanted to be a commissioner, dude then be one. It means being present in your ward. You are freaking INVISIBLE . For residents he is supposed to serve he has a page on Radnor’s exceptionally clunky website. I will also note he lives literally in that affected neighborhood. (So unless he exists under a rock he can’t deny this issue exists.)
Here is refreshing all of your memories on Agnes Irwin and their other community kerfuffles past:
By Bill Rettew | wrettew@dailylocal.com | Daily Local News UPDATED: February 14, 2025 at 12:08 PM EST
I would like to know WHERE in the Daily Local News article that Vista Today’s Ashley Pierce who works as paid full time staff (Communications and Membership Coordinator) at the Western Chester County Chamber of Commerce sees that the reporter actually said that West Whiteland blocked demolition and development of the decrepit Exton mall? Because someone with a communications position one would hope had a better grasp of just plain reading an article?
What happened last week was a public hearing for an ordinance amendment in West Whiteland pertaining to a West Whiteland Township zoning ordinance, correct?
Quite literally the recommended motion was to tweak the zoning, right? It was advertised etc properly, correct? Wasn’t it discussed at a meeting towards end of 2024? Aren’t municipalities allowed to tweak zoning? And again, where did West Whiteland say they were blocking a demolition or development? Where did the reporter in The Daily Local say that? Does Ashley Pierce have imaginary friends she plays with still too?
You know sometimes I think Vista Today and the various other publications under their umbrella are ok, but the thing is this; what are they actually writing and researching? Are they just a news aggregator? It’s confusing, right? When they first started they did have some original content but now not so much?
So they aim to make a positive impact? How is oddly interpolating what a local paper’s reporter wrote and not accurately representing what West Whiteland did a positive impact? Funny how a news aggregator is becoming the news but not necessarily perhaps how originally intended?
Here is a YouTube that Vista had in their piece:
And I found this video from a couple of months ago:
Now when this mall was in it’s heyday, I was on the Main Line. We went to King of Prussia or took the train into Philadelphia. I do remember coming out here for stores in a strip mall. It has been too long but it was I want to say it was when Exton Crossing was built because a friend of mine at the time had an older sister who when newly married was living in Exton Station which was new at the time and not completely built. I don’t remember what strip mall, honestly. I think maybe where the Kohl’s is today.
Anyway, I think Vista Today owes West Whiteland and the Daily Local reporter an apology. Maybe they should go for more original content versus sharing everything from everyone else all of the time?
Here are two recordings from the West Whiteland Zoom on this that were made the night of the contentious meeting:
And dayummmm, West Whiteland JUST put out a press release on this. After I share that I will post things I found pertaining to the Exton Mall in deeds etc. It’s not just one parcel. And do any of you see new ownership reflected yet? I didn’t so I guess it is still in process? Whatever, this is kind of mall drama and the sad thing is an ordinance change is not prohibiting development or a mall demolition is it? And a final note is simply to ask if it is well past time for the Building and Planning guy Weller to retire?
Yeah that photo….but wait there are more….West Chester Borough…newer apartment building with “amenities.” I have to ask if trash is counted as an amenity?
Pretty damn gross.
So what would you do?
I would call the Borough of West Chester and Chester County Health Department, if the latter is not too busy screwing over church soup kitchens, right?
Tenants deserve protection and again, pretty gross, right?
Tell me again the fairy tale of how fabulous all these hulking box after box apartments are good for communities, ok?
