Earlier this week, the West Chester Zoning Commission approved two proposed apartment developments that could possibly feature rents greater than $1,200 per month. One of those developments, currently called The Cascades, will have its zoning change go before the West Chester Township Board of Trustees on Nov. 13.
The other development, The Lofts at The Streets of West Chester, will not have to go before the board since the zoning change was considered to be minor, according to West Chester Township public information officer Barbara Wilson. That minor change includes converting the development from owner occupied units to rental properties.
Meanwhile, the zoning change for The Cascades, if approved by the board, will allow the property to go from a commercial development to a special purpose planned unit development. This means that not only could the development be used as a residential property, but also feature some first-level retail space.
Overall, both developments are aimed at appealing to couples and individuals who choose to rent rather than own. Furthermore, both properties will be within walking distance of restaurants, retail and other amenities, as well as some of West Chester’s biggest employers.
The Cascades, which is considered to be a working name, will have approximately 180 units and is being developed by Capital Investment Group, Inc. The development itself will front Centre Point Drive just south of The Square at Union Centre and West Chester Town Centre.
Meanwhile, The Lofts will have approximately 272 units and will be located near The Village at the Streets of West Chester, which opened its first model townhome in August of 2011.
The Lofts is being developed by Hills Properties, while The Village is a Ryan Homes development.
Michael Copfer, who is the land acquisition and development manager at Hills Properties, said the new community would have the style of a urban community where residents can walk to everything at The Streets of West Chester and be a golf shot away from I-75.
Copfer also said that the new development would have a resort-style swimming pool, a tennis court and a central park modeled after urban community development parks in Chicago.
Hills Properties hopes to begin construction in the spring and have its first residents move in by the winter of 2013.
“West Chester is ranked as one of the best places to live in America and one of the reasons is this level of thoughtful consideration of development and how each piece builds on and supports the next,” said Larry Brueshaber, president of the West Chester Development Council.
