Blog: Is Phoenixville Moving Forward Or Not?

Editor's Note: This blog and all others express opinions that do not necessarily reflect those of Phoenixville Patch. Everyone is welcome to blog on the site, within our Terms of Use. For more information, e-mail Lynn.Jusinski@patch.com.

Are we moving forward or not? That is the question that should be on everyone's minds. I've watched the criticism and the support of various situations in the borough of Phoenixville and Schuylkill Township regarding the Fillmore Street properties, the building of homes off of E. Philip Drive, the condos and storefronts on Bridge as well as the new building for administration and police.

I realize that different people will have different opinions due to their situations and location. Of course there will be people against certain developments and building. There are very good reasons for their opposition and it is not easy to dispute them. I also understand those that are in support of the additional building in Phoenixville. I understand the tax issues, the school issues, the traffic issues. I pay school taxes in Phoenixville, I have children in the school system and I am in the traffic everyday.

When I started in real estate 12 years ago I can remember realtors asking me why I was marketing the Phoenixville area. Some did not even know where our town was on the map. But I continued and had a good feeling about Phoenixville. And it was well worth all the efforts. Now realtors are doing anything they can to market our area and become a part of the Phoenixville real estate market.

As someone who keeps a close eye on the Phoenixville real estate market I wanted to offer a different perspective on Phoenixville's growth. Some will agree, some will not. This blog is not to incite arguments but discussion. It is not to say some people are right and some are wrong. I don't believe there are any right or wrong opinions. My goal is to provide a professional opinion regarding a few situations.

Growing an area means growing pains. There is absolutely no way around that. Although the Phoenixville real estate market is doing very well in comparison with other areas, there has been a loss in value. Many sellers are frustrated and want those values back. Most of those sellers are staying in the Phoenixville real estate market.

Often heard is that Phoenixville has come a long way but there is a long way to go. I agree. But in order to continue to grow hard choices will need to be made. Who would have thought just a few years ago that Phoenixville would be part of a walkability survey, mentioned as one of the TOP 10 places to live in Philadelphia Magazine, would be voted a great town to live in Main Line Magazine and would have shops and restaurants mentioned as the Top in the Area? This is growth.

Growth will bring traffic into the area. It will bring people from out of the area to visit. It will mean change and change is not easy. I'm the first to admit that I don't like change but also the first to admit that once I accept it and embrace it I realize it was for the best.

If we want our community to continue to grow and I don't know too many people that don't then we need to grow. The condos and storefronts on Bridge Street will bring more shoppers, more community members going to restaurants, more community involvment. It will bring more businesses into the area thus more people recognizing Phoenixville. This in turn will help us fill the vacant storefronts downtown. It's actually a simple concept. More people come into the area to shop because we are offering more options for them. In turn the shop owners realize a larger profit, thus bringing more businesses into the area as they see the growth.

New will bring more tax dollars to the area. Always remember that the newer the house, the higher the taxes because they are assessed at their true value, not a value 10 years ago. But more importantly new developments will bring a larger more involved community and that is a positive for Phoenixville.

Builders are willing to build in Phoenixville. That should show every Phoenixville resident that we are important, that we are thought of as the place to be and that builders are willing to take a chance to build new homes in our town. They have confidence in our community. This will make others look and help build even more confidence and grow Phoenixville.

The new police/administration building will show other communities that we are growing. It will prove to those wanting to move into Phoenixville that we are on the move and nothing could be more important.

I did not grow up in Phoenixville. Since the day I was born the community where I came from heard nothing but how our town was going to grow. Year after year the promises came. But the borough did not care about building the town. They made it difficult if not impossible for business in the area to be a part of the community. They did not care about the upkeep of the homes and the slum landlords moved in. They did not care about the crime. They did not grow.

The result of that was a town that most people will not drive through let alone walk through. The very few businesses are leaving. It is a dead town because no one cared to move forward. The community along with the Borough fought every good thing that came its way from renovating buildings to businesses which would have brought a huge tax income to the borough not to mention numerous jobs. After a while the businesses just gave up and decided that wasn't the place for them to be.

It was an old school town and no one wanted change and they did not want the growing pains. But they did receive change. They received high crime rates, abundant slumlords and a community that was stuck. And what they are left with is a over-crowded real estate market filled with homes that will not sell and when they do they are selling at 25-50 percent less than they did just 10 years ago.

So while I understand everyone has their opinion, as a community we have a choice. Come together and understand that there will be lots of things that we perhaps won't like at first but realize that in the end it will grow the community. Growing the community will mean higher real estate values, more tax income and move visitors to our downtown bringing with them excitement and income to our businesses.

Yes there will be obstacles to overcome. There will be problems. But if as a community we come up with solutions instead of just complaints perhaps it can be a win-win situation for everyone. So let's voice our solutions, our ideas without anyone feeling as though they are "stupid." Every idea begins somewhere. Let's work together as a community to grow and move forward and find the solutions necessary to make it all worthwhile. 

Change will come whether you like it or not. So ask yourselves ... Do you want to move forward with a positive change or do you want to move backwards for a negative change?