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?
When I first moved to Chester county, the cool old barn at the foot of Phoenixville Pike and route 30 by the Home Depot was the Stevens Antique Barn. The address is 627 Lancaster Ave. Frazer. Of course now they’re saying Malvern but it’s really Frazer.
Stevens Antiques always had lovely things. I think once upon a time many years ago, my mother actually sold the owner chairs she wasn’t using any longer. What I remember of the dealer from that store is how frosty she was at the Chester County Antiques Show. I just couldn’t ever understand how someone who sold such beautiful antiques could be so standoffish. But then again, I was just a regular person going through her booth not a checkbook toting serious collector.
Eventually, the business closed, and the property was for sale seemingly forever. Then it’s sold to a high-end contracting and renovation business. They were putting their offices there.
so over the last, I don’t know 23 years. There’s been a lot of cleaning up of the property itself and removal of debris and stabilizing the bank and now it seems like another barn has been discovered underneath the barn we knew?
This is definitely like an archaeological restoration when you drive-by. I don’t know what’s happening. I’m hoping someone goes and talks to the property owners because that’s definitely not a teardown and that seems really exciting.
If you know what’s going on here, please drop me a line!
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.
We have seen this scene of the opening screenshot so many times now. It’s captured in time. It’s a tragedy that didn’t happen, but could have.
The law enforcement, a lot of whom were local, did an amazing job. There are people who went to the protest who have sort of fluffed this off as not being a big deal, and they need to get their head out of their asses because it could’ve been a very big deal. It could have been horrible beyond imagination here in our corner of the world.
And while I have seen article after article and TV story after TV story, talking about the perpetrator and what he was carrying, and then last evening they conducted a search of his house and found more things, but I haven’t had to read about, and I think there should be some public officials standing up and really praising those who keep us safe in our communities.
Law enforcement was simply amazing here. It might be their jobs, but they are heroes.
So you have from the date of the protest which was Saturday, June 14th, West Chester Borough Police Department, Chester County Sheriffs office, FBI. Then yesterday add East Whiteland Police Department, the county and a bomb squad, which would be the one from Montgomery County that Chester County has access to – they serve Montgomery , Chester and I think Bucks Counties. I think they are then part of a larger task force, so after things were discovered where the man originally arrested from Saturday lives, who knows who all else was there, which had to include ATF at this point and Chester County Detectives and more.
My point is all of this law enforcement did this smoothly and by the book, avoided serious catastrophe, death, injuries, mass panic and where please are the elected officials? One would have thought a presser would have at least occurred by yesterday given maybe by Mayor Lillian DeBaptiste of West Chester Borough and perhaps the Chester County Commissioners, since this happened literally in the county seat with say a backdrop of the Old County Courthouse or in front of the Chester County Justice Center thanking these brave law enforcement folks for living their training so excellently, right? But where is it?
Where is the Governor of Pennsylvania or State Senators and State Representatives serving the area, including East Whiteland where the defendant lives praising law enforcement for doing something so amazing and preventing catastrophe that you quite frankly don’t see enough do you?
Law enforcement on any level doesn’t do their job for glory, it’s what they are trained to do. But people need to say thank you, and what their actions has averted and by “people”, I mean elected officials. On the TV interviews every day residents and people are all saying thank you, but where are those folks elected to public office and I do not mean local supervisors and borough officials because they do say thank you. I mean the state, county, and higher.
I am saying thank you but I am just a blogger. So time to step it up officials, as our men and women in our corner of the world have done something amazing.
Now onto other things. The accused as far as I can tell is still out on bail and one of the TV reports said his whereabouts are unknown, which after all that has happened is not comforting. I was told he made bail because bond was posted. It was high bail ($250,000), it was made. We don’t have to be comfortable with this, but that is the system, and maybe for certain kinds of arrests, the system needs to change? I don’t have those answers.
Then people are talking about why his house wasn’t searched completely after Saturday? Again, from what we can tell from media reports, law enforcement at first only had a warrant to search his personal space with the home, his bedroom I guess? It is not solely his home, and public records show the home is owned by family member, probably parents? And from the 6ABC report Leland Pinder did last evening where the accused’s brother was interviewed, it is in fact a family home so they would have had to have obtained a second warrant to search the whole house as far as my research would indicate.
Then as to the gotcha armchair warriors on social media talking about the accused’s 2nd Amendment rights, the answer is pretty clear: no concealed carry permit. Take a gun safety glass, it’s one of the things people are taught. This will undoubtedly raise a back and forth on guns in this area again, but the thing is this: there needs to be better mental health requirements surrounding gun ownership. And for things like this when people are out on bail, would it be the worst thing to have the people accused of things like this to be on ankle monitors?
For sure, this sequence of events has indeed shaken Chester County and various municipalities up. But let’s take a moment to THANK law enforcement for what they have done with no loss of life, etc. It’s remarkable in today’s world.
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.
Yesterday I threw up a post about a problem in East Whiteland with an orphaned railroad bridge/underpass. It was once part of the West Chester Railroad. The structure is dated 1915 and I’m posting photos that a neighbor to this structure took today.
It’s kind of obvious what’s happening. It’s falling apart and it’s dangerous and it needs to come down. Not everything can be saved, not everything should be saved.
Here’s hoping Chester County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania can look beyond their collective navels and assist East Whiteland here .
I would say it was safe to assume that time is of the essence here and people need to pay attention to the fact that this road is closed with good reason. Today, people have a habit of ignoring police barricades and road closed signs.
Yesterday‘s post by me is at the bottom, and this is one of these things that well a local paper used to write about. But who knows what they let our local paper write about most of the time.
Please avoid Ravine Road in East Whiteland and this specifically is why it’s closed. And please don’t start some big thing about “Oh we need to save this structure.” No, we don’t. It’s dangerous. It needs to come down.
Malvern Borough King St – other side from Flying Pig – a lot has been empty for a few years, and now construction fencing is up and it looks like foundation digging?
It used to be before it was an empty lot, a row of buildings. The buildings at the time were historic to the borough, but they were in such bad shape. They had to come down. I do know that much because I remember when they were torn down, but then at one point pre-COVID it was a giant apartment tower thing proposed and then that idea went nowhere, but did it really?
So someone tells me that there’s another kind of apartment thing in the works. Shops below and like 30 apartments above, so it’s another one of these fairytales of live work play because you know you can afford to work minimum wage in the shop below and rent the overpriced department above, right?
I’m sorry did I sound sarcastic? I meant to sound sarcastic. If it was maybe small like a dozen units and stores I would say OK that will be at least in keeping with probably human scale in the Borough of Malvern.
Here’s hoping Malvern can get it together enough to stay on top of this. They have yet another new manager who came in at the end of 2024 and I hope she realizes Chester County is a different beast from Delaware County. She is a commissioner in Upper Chichester and used to be Manager in Darby Township.
Malvern Borough is one of those places where they try to keep things on the down low, nothing to see here. I am a particular fan at the moment of the Mayor of Malvern Borough who liked a post the other day that was literally bashing me on Facebook. That’s so very professional for a man I’ve never met. And the amusing thing is the post was just because, literally…a woman I had never even ever interacted with.
Yeah Mr. Mayor, I see you. Maybe it’s time to just retire completely?
30 apartments is going to be fairly tall. And Malvern Borough seems to forget the last time they got something they didn’t like called Eastside flats which really aren’t wearing very well are they?
Apparently the development has a lot of variances needed so right now they’re just digging a hole in the ground, which of course is very attractive with the bright orange construction fencing, which really isn’t too hard for kids to get into. I might add.
Oh, and the 30 apartments? 31 bedroom units and if you’ve seen most of the one bedroom apartments being built today, they are very urban style. In other words there’s not too terribly much room for you to even change your mind. Nothing is affordable because God forbid you have affordable units as an affordable housing. It helps create and keep a more transient society, which isn’t good for overall areas because people don’t know the history they don’t care about the history they come and they go depending on the rent increases. Ask people in the Summerhill development in West Whiteland for example, ok?
Of course this evening is the public hearing in East Whiteland that you can zoom or attend in person about the repurposed office building over on Swedesford. It is another live work, play fairytale and it’s 220 units.
You know it would be really nice if these municipalities especially when they are in the same school district would actually work together better on how many development units were coming. Between the municipalities and a couple of school districts you have to wonder when Great Valley School District in particular is going to end up like West Chester Area School District , or Downingtown…or huge. And in the case of Great Valley, it’s kind of like Tredyffrin. Where are they going to put more schools? Oh wait in Tredyffrin they repurposed one of these godforsaken obsolete office parks into plans for a school!
So all the people without reading comprehension are going to just say once again I am anti-development across the board. And that’s not it. I am anti-bad planning and I am anti-ugly developer profit driven cram plans.
Communities need to allow for some development to keep moving forward. The problem in Pennsylvania is it’s too much development because the municipalities planning code hasn’t been updated since 1969.
Full notice: EAST WHITELAND TOWNSHIP CHESTER COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that at its regularly scheduled public meeting on January 21, 2025 at 6:30 P.M. at the East Whiteland Township Municipal Building located at 209 Conestoga Road, Frazer, PA, the Board of Supervisors of East Whiteland Township shall hold a public hearing and may take action to vote upon the application of 52 E. Swedesford Partners, LP for a conditional use pursuant to Section 200-39.D. of the Zoning Ordinance, Permitted uses for mixed use development, to develop the property at 52 E. Swedesford Road, identified as UPI No.42-4-260.4, (“Property”) as a multi-family 1-and 2-bedroom unit apartment complex, with a retail component and an office component in one of the proposed buildings, and passive recreation open space. The proposed development will consist of 220 residential units, a separate club house facility, a separate gym facility, separate garage facilities, approximately 12,000 s.f. of total retail space, approximately 12,000 s.f. of total office space, and passive recreation open space. The Property is located in the Office Business Park Zoning District and in the Corporate Overlay District. The requested conditional use approval includes amendment of the existing conditional use decision dated 7/13/16 issued in favor of Swedesford Square Apartments L/CAL Limited Partnership (then the equitable owner and now the current fee owner, with Atlantic Properties Trust as then fee owner) of the adjacent property, 54/56 Swedesford Road, identified as 42-4-260.4A and now known as the Arlo Apartment Homes. Copies of the application are available to the public electronically on the Township’s website or upon request and may be examined without charge. Arrangements can be made for copies for a charge not greater than the cost thereof to be obtained from the Township Municipal Building, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. If you desire electronic or physical copies of the application for inspection; require a reasonable accommodation to participate in the hearing; or would like further guidance on how to participate in the hearing – please contact the Township Director of Planning and Development at (610) 897-4265 or zbarner@eastwhiteland.org. Steven Brown Township Manager DLN 1/7, 1/14; 1a
Well, happy new year and East Whiteland continues its path to becoming King of Prussia west.
January 21, 2025 at 6:30 P.M. at the East Whiteland Township Municipal Building located at 209 Conestoga Road, Frazer, PA.
Anyway it’s a Hardy Boys Mystery this one: The A Name Pharma Mysteries.
So what is going on here? Did Chester County ever get any money back? Inquiring minds want to know….
Taa Taa For Now dear readers….
More of the not so distant past on Advaite below and gosh you would think Chester County would have updated residents right? But have they? I can’t find anything recent-ish can you? Will this be like getting blood from a stone for Chester County?
