What’s Happening Across the Region
Honey Brook Borough is gearing up to start a Streetscape project from 2nd to 4th Avenue, beginning in 2025 this will bring new improved sidewalks and decorative lighting to the borough. Next door to the borough, Honey Brook Township is underway on the planning of James A. Umble Park by starting up their Park Master Plan Committee to work on this exciting transformation project set to bring a reimagined public space to the Township. Caln Township is working on pedestrian safety projects, roadway lighting and public transit amenities along business 30. The City of Coatesville will also start a streetscape project in Spring of 2025 by renovating the sidewalks in the downtown business district in anticipation of the Train Station opening.
Residential developments continue to crop up across the region. In East Brandywine two projects are in final approval, Ryan Homes’ Brandywine Walk, which is an age-qualified community and Toll Brothers development called Stone Mill Village. In Coatesville, the Brandywine View Apartments project is set to break ground north of the new train station marking the highest volume of new market rate residential development in the city in quite a long time. Development approvements have also begun at Westwood Ridge off Valley Road adding 89 single family homes while to our east, Caln Township expects 175 units in the Hills of Thorndale Woods.
Wallace Township continues their conservation efforts, reaching 520 acres of open space conserved, including trails and recreation areas. This year, East Brandywine Township’s open space committee closed on 14.6 acres of land near the east branch of the Brandywine adding to their township’s total preserved land of 2,044 acres. The Lincoln Highway Stormwater project in Valley Township is currently in design phases and to date Caln Township has invested $4.5 million on stormwater improvements with an additional $3.5 million planned for 2025.
The new year brought the announcement of the restructuring of the County Government’s top administrative positions by naming David Byerman as Chief Executive Officer and Erik Walschburger as Chief Operating Officer. The beginning of the year also welcomed the appointment of Matthew Edmond as the new Chester County Planning Commission Executive Director.
As the weather breaks, the warm months will bring many celebrations to our region:
Little yellow ducks will race down the Brandywine at the Duck Derby in the Borough of Modena on May 31st, Final Fridays will start back up in May in Parkesburg, First Fridays will kick off in June in the City of Coatesville, and the OABest Festival at Octorara High School is set for May 17th. Parkesburg will host their annual Memorial Day Parade in May followed by the Lafayette Bicentennial Parade on July 27th which will set off from the Stottsville Inn and head down Parkesburg’s Main Street.
