historic preservation and development

The debate about historic preservation and development is probably going to continue again this week. Borough Council is set to hold a hearing Wednesday evening at Borough Hall regarding the condomenium/retail project McCool Properties wants to construct at East Market Street, at the former M.S. Yearsley property.

To do the 75-foot project, some of the buildings have to be demolished. But the borough's Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) has recomended the preservation of the buildings. So, council is going to have to determine if those buildings are historic and part of the fabric of the borough, or if they should be knocked down to make way for new development.

The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m.

Now, I'm keeping my opinion out of this, but I have to say if this project happens, it would be great if maybe a Trader Joe's or some other grocery stores comes. I'm sure I'm not the only one sick of driving to Giant or Shop Rite, sometimes even Wegmans in Downingtown, just for my grocery list.

The end of Rex's Bar?

Rex's Bar is a place fairly difficult to miss. It sits on West Gay Street, in a residential neighborhood. Its facade is decorated with some stickers of bands that have played there over the years. It's also a bar that hosts a variety of live music, including punk rock, metal, reggae and other styles. Well, it may not be open for too much longer.

My curiosity about the fate of Rex's grew last week when Borough Council had to chose a date for a hearing regarding the transfer of a liqour license to the building that is currently Rex's. Apparently, a Thai food restaurant may go there.

Wondering if Rex's is going to close, I called the attorney for Donnie Moore, the owner of Rex's. The attorney, Bill Shehwen, told me yesterday that Moore would like to close Rex's and transfer the liquor license of Rex's to a music venue/theater he hopes to open on East Market Street.

Moore tried to get a liquor license for this venue a few months ago, but he was denied by council. He still seems determined to open something else, though. I'm interested to see how all this plays out, especially when the hearing for this Thai restaurant comes. Most likely, some neighbors will be happy to see Rex's move out of their neighborhood, but at the same time, some neighbors living near that East Market Street location probably won't be too thrilled with Moore's idea for the theater/music venue. They already raised a lot of concerns at the hearing a few months ago.

It's also important to remember that these ideas are also very preliminary and could change at anytime.

new plan on the table

One of the biggest concerns residents voiced at a previous meeting about an office building developer Eli Kahn wants to construct on the 300 block of West Market Street was the proposed height of the project: 100 feet, eight stories.

Well, at a hearing last night, Kahn said he would be able to come back with a different plan and lower the height of the building by two floors, bringing it down to about 75 feet. So, council members granted him a continuance. To his credit, Kahn has already met with neighbors to listen to their concerns, but a few of them spoke last night and still had issues regarding traffic and the height of the project. We'll see what happens in November, when the hearing is continued.

reminder about meetings

A lot of things are going on around West Chester tonight.

West Chester Unviersity will hold its second meeting tonight concerning plans to develop a recreation center, new dorms and a garage over the next few years.
The meeting will be held in the ballroom of Sykes Student Union at 7 p.m.

Over at Borough Hall, Borough Council will continue its hearing regarding a 110-foot office building developer Eli Kahn wants to construct on the 300 block of West Market Street. That meeting is at 6:30 p.m.

Commissoners race heating up

The race for Chester County commissoner seems to be heating up. I was told this week that I'll be covering the race, and I look forward to it, minus staying up until 2 a.m. on election night in November to write the story and wait for the results.
For those that don't know, there are two Republican candidates: Carol Aichele, an incumbent, and Terence Farrell, the county's recorder of deeds. The Democratic candidates are Bill Scott, a former West Chester Borough Councilman and attorney, and Kathi Cozzone, a corporate business manager for Rodale, Inc.

Aichele and Farrell unveiled their plan this week for open space conservation, if they are elected commissoner. It includes a promise to dedicate $20 million in fuding for the "Landscapes" program each year. "Landscapes" is a county program aimed at promoting urban center revitalization, but also conserving open space. Currently, $15 million is dedicated to the program annually.

Though Scott and Cozzone said Thursday they are waiting until later in the campaign season to unveil their plan, they took no time firing shots at Aichele. They said she should have increased funding for the plan and created more enviornmental initiatives during her first term as commissoner.

On Friday, Aichele shot back by saying there were budget constraints during her first term, due to the Chester County Justice Center and other capital projects that made it difficult to increase funding for the program. She said Scott should understand higher spending equals higher taxes, since taxes increased in the borough during his second term as a councilman. She then said Cozzone should also understand that concept, due to her financial background.

Well, the race is certainly going to be spirited. I look forward to covering it, as well as the Borough Council races this fall.
A full report on the Republicans' plan and the Democratic response will be in the DLN Sunday.

Potter Hype

I know, I know, this has nothing to do with the borough of West Chester, but I couldn't help but create a post about Harry Potter. As the release date of the seventh book nears, it is impossible to avoid the hype. Newspapers have been saturated with stories about the boy wizard and his eclectic group of friends. Even we here at the Daily Local News will be running our own story about the Potter hype tomorrow. Fellow reporter Tom Hope has been working on the story today.

I'll admit, I'm a fan of the books. I was skeptical of the story a few years ago and tired of all the promotion any time a book or movie was released. But a few summers ago, I sat down and read the novels and I've been a fan since. J.K. Rowling, who has more money than any writer can dream of, succeeded at creating a magical, but believable world, much like J.R.R. Tolkien, author of "The Hobbit" and "Lord of the Rings," did previously.
Now in no way am I saying the Potter books are as great as the classics, but I do think Rowling has successfully rehased themes such as good versuses evil, the epic hero and other ideas that are played out again and again throughout literature. And as someone with a degree in comparative literature, I do appreciate she has a lot of references to classic mythology in her books.


I'll be recieving my copy of the conclusion to the Potter saga on Saturday, when the book is released.
So, do I think "the boy who lived" will be the "boy who died" by the end of the seventh novel? It's possible. Many epic heroes die. Just look at Achilles in Homer's "Iliad," or Hector in the same epic poem. Even if Potter doesn't die, be sure a major ally or two will.
Odysseus, Luke Skywalker, Frodo Baggins and other epic heroes have all lost friends throughout their various sagas. Maybe, Rowling's hero will plunge into the underworld, only to return, like other epic heroes in literature. I think that may be stretching it, though.


So, that's my take on the whole Potter hype. I promise the next post will return to ramblings about West Chester, not the popular wizard that has taken up headlines in just about every major publication across the country these last few days and will continue to do so as Saturday creeps closer.

Oh, and if you have a child that may want to throw on a wizard hat and robe and attend a release party, some local places are having release parties tomorrow night, including Chester County Book and Music Company and Barnes & Noble in Exton.

Parasites outbreak update

So everyone knows, the Chester County Health Department reported yesterday that now about 90 people have symptoms of two parasites and the norovirus that were found in the water and in swimmers that used the Graham Natatorium Pool at West Chester University's South Campus.

If you were involved in the summer swim program at WCU's pool and expierence headaches, vomitting, dehydration, diarrhea or abdominal pain, see your health care provider immediately.

The pool at WCU remains closed, and there is no word yet on when it will reopen.

solution to storefront issue

Well, it seems like Così Restaurant will be coming to West Chester after all.
Jack McFadden, who owns a vacant building on West Market Street, where the Holland Art House used to be, was fearful the restaurant would not be able to come because the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) had some issues with the initial plans for the restaurant that would have altered the storefront.

But after last night's work session of Borough Council, a solution seemed to be reached. McFadden agreed to preserve some of the characteristics of the storefront to preserve its historic character. The HARB members present didn't seem to have any qualms about the new plan McFadden, other than the fact McFadden brought the new plan to council, instead of going back to HARB.

Parasites, yuck!

As a reporter, you really never know what news may come. That happened to me today. Some children involved with a swimming program at West Chester University started vomitting, having diarrhea and other unpleasant symptoms. Well, it turns out some of these children contracted nasty parasites that create serious intestinal distress and are spread through water. One of the bugs found was Cryptosporidium.

The Chester County Health Department is involved in this matter. Tests and interviews with children, parents and staff members of the program are being conducted.
WCU's pool on South Campus is closed, so more tests can be done and the parasites can be killed.
It is crucial that if your child has any of the symptoms listed, he or she does not go into another public pool because it will spread the illness to other people.

A full report of this will be in tomorrow's paper.

Standards, criteria

Borough Council is going to consider a series and standards of criteria for development that could make the construction of new buildings energy-efficient in West Chester.

The standards that council will discuss during its work session Tuesday include requiring buildings above 45 feet tall to recieve an Energy Star rating. Energy Star is a federal program done through the Department of Enviormental Protection (EPA). It requires that developers meet certain guidelines to recieve the rating. Energy Star qualified homes include a variety of features, such as efficient heating and cooling equipment, high performance windows and tight construction.

Council, of course, could decide to send the whole issue back to the committee level, but council members serving on the committee, as well as Borough Manager Ernie McNeely, seemed at least impressed with the Energy Star idea.

We'll see what happens.

No more noise about noise?

During last night's Public Safety Committee meeting, council members discussed the whole issue of trying to limit noise from motorcycles and other vehicles in the borough. But by the end of the meeting, council members couldn't seem to find a resolution to the problem. Police Chief Scott Bohn said that the issue is difficult because it is a moving problem.

Councilwoman Holly Brown, who first brought up the issue at last month's meeting, said she wanted to hand out letters to motorcyclists advising them to be respectful.
But Borough Manager Ernie McNeely said the borough has an ordinance in place preventing people from putting papers on vehicles, in order to prevent a litter problem.

After the meeting, Councilman Stephen Bond said the issue seems dead, though he did say if more citations were given out, it could send a lesson that people need to be respectful. Brown said she is not certain if she will bring the issue up again at next month's committee meeting.

It seems there are a lot of big events going on in West Chester this month. Over the weekend, cyclists from across the country rolled into downtown West Chester for the Third Annual Iron Hill Twilight Criterium.

This weekend will mark the 25th anniversary of the Turks Head Music Festival. Eleven bands that range from reggae to rock will take the stage at Everhart Park Sunday and play throughout the day. The event is free and runs from noon until 8 p.m.

To celebreate the 25-year anniversary of the event, the borough's Parks and Recreation Department, as well as the Turks Head Committee, thought of a new twist for this year's event: Soundbites. People can purchase wristbands for $15 at Borough Hall on East Gay Street. The wristbands will give people free admission to Barnaby's, Ryan's Pub, Baxter's, Spence Cafe, Doc Magrogan's Oyster House and Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant on Friday night. Bands playing at Turks Head will be playing at those bars that night.
The money will go to the borough's "Send a Kid to Camp" fund, which helps needy families send their kids to a summer camp.

I'm sure most people in the West Chester area have sat at a bus stop, eager to go to Philly, wondering why the 104 bus is late yet again.
Well, the Transportation Management Association of Chester County (TMACC) is trying to better local public transportation and ensure the 104 is more on schedule.

According to Mark Cassel, senior director of business development and operations for the non-profit group, the organization is working on a traffic signal plan along Route 3 that would allow the buses to follow the same traffic signal schedule as emergency vehicles, meaning green lights could be extended a few seconds later or started a few seconds earlier, so buses could arrive to a destination on time.

TMACC is working with West Chester, West Goshen, East Goshen, Willistown and Westtown on the program. Cassel also stressed this is in very early stages. So far, all that has been done is a study. The progam needs funding, as well as support from the five municipalities.
A presentation by TMACC will be made tonight at West Chester Borough Hall on East Gay Street during Borough Council's Public Works Committee at 5:30 p.m.

Preview of council committee meetings

Borough Council is going to have a busy week next week.

The issue of motorcycles roaring in the downtown and disturbing residents will again be taken up during the Public Safety Committee meeting Tuesday evening.
This issue came up after Councilwoman Holly Brown said last month she is fed up with hearing complaints from people about the noise generated by motorcycles and wants to crack down on the noise.

In addition, the Parks, Recreation and Enviormental Protection Committee will talk about a feasibility study for a borough-owned recreation center. This feasibility study is a result of the fact the YMCA on East Chestnut Street is closing and moving to East Goshen. The meeting will be held Monday evening.

I hope everyone has a nice weekend. I'll be driving the Northeast Extension this evening to visit my hometown of Scranton to attend my friend's art show and visit my family.

Wyeth development and the downtown

While it still remains to be seen what will eventually go at the Wyeth property, the developer who has an agreement of sale for the 32-acre parcel of land in the borough, the Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT), said they would like to put retail and restaurants at the property, along with office space, 900 residential units and possibly a minor league baseball stadium.

When they discussed the plans at Borough Hall last month, realtor Stan Zukin and the owner of Kaptain K's Ice Cream on Gay Street raised concerns about the impact retail and restaurants at the Wyeth property could have on the downtown.
Similar concerns were raised by Mayor Dick Yoder and developer Eli Kahn when I talked to them for other stories last month.

Because I'm curious what retailers think, I'm going to go around town today and talk to them about this issue for a follow-up story on the Wyeth plans.

Looking for something to do now that the 4th of July is over?

Now that fireworks are over, or were cancelled because of poor weather, it is time for something a little different to roll into West Chester. Saturday, the Third Annual Iron Hill Twilight Criterium will come to downtown West Chester. The bike race features cyclists from all across the country and includes a kids' criterium, elite women's criterium, amateur men's criterium and pro men's criterium.

I went to his last year, and besides the heat and humidity, it was a lot of fun. I'm not really a big sports guy, but I enjoyed it. The race was something a little different than the usual restaurant festivals that come to the borough.

The event starts at 4 p.m. Racing starts around 5:15 p.m.

No Strike

Well, it seems students at West Chester University and other state-owned universities will not have to worry about packing their bags and loosing their summer classes. Late last night, the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and the faculty union reached an agreement.

A press conference was held today in Harrisburg to announce the agreement. According to the most recent Associated Press report, members of the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties would receive a $1,750 cash payment in the fiscal year that began Monday, followed by pay increases of 3 percent each in the second and third years and 4 percent in the fourth year.

Faculty members not at the top of the salary schedule also would receive seniority-based increases of 2.5 percent or 5 percent annually until they reach top scale.

The average nine-month salary for full-time faculty was $70,000 in the 2006-07 academic year, and maximum salaries currently range from $60,000 for instructors to roughly $98,000 for full professors.

So, don't expect to see any professors picketing outside of WCU today.

I hope everyone has a safe July 4th holiday. I'll be out of town, attending a friend's party in New Jersey.

Negotiations Continue

Summer classes are still in session today at West Chester University and other state-owned colleges.

Though contracts for faculty expired June 30, the union, APSCUF, has agreed to continue negotiations. As of 10 a.m. today, the union is meeting with the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education in Harrisburg.
We'll see what happens.