Politics & Government

What's Good and What Needs Improving in West Chester

The Mayor releases results of a survey of local residents and leaders.


What's great about West Chester and what could be improved?

That's the basic question that scores of West Chester residents packed the Borough Council Chambers to weigh in on back in May. Now Borough Mayor Carolyn Comitta has released a summary of the findings.  
The Mayor plans to hold another public session get more answer to questions about quality of life issues in West Chester. That meeting is schedule for October 3rd, at the Chester County Historical Society’s Cultural Center.

According to the Mayor's summary this is what over 100 community residents, leaders, high school and college students, business owners, elected officials, and candidates for office say is great about West Chester.
  •       Walkable
  •       Clean
  •       Historic beautiful buildings and brick sidewalks
  •       Lively downtown
  •       Tree-lined streets and parks
  •       Great art scene
  •       Strong local businesses
  •       Great shops and restaurants
  •       Farmers market
  •       Quality schools
  •       Diversity of people
  •       Festivals and parades
  •       Loyal community of residents

What Could Make West Chester Even Better?

The Mayor says members of the public had a lot to say in answer to that question: 

Improve Transportation

  • Create more parking and/or better relationships between parking authority and residents
  • Convert meters to accept credit cards
  • Secure taxi/shuttle service
  • Improve transportation options into and out of West Chester (e.g., trains and buses)

Promote Historic Preservation

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  • Promote and preserve the history of West Chester
  • Encourage historically accurate beautification  
Engage in Innovative Urban Planning

  • Consider the possibility of Gay Street as a pedestrian mall.
  • Establish Borough Center as more of a destination than passage from West-East
  • Increase trees and plantings
  • Preserve the farmers market
  • Preserve and expand parks, trails, access to waterways
  • Bring in food shopping options (e.g., grocery store, Trader Joe’s, co-op)
  • Beautify entrance from East
  • Address building heights
  • Repair brick sidewalks and provide assistance to homeowners and businesses to do so (e.g., how to guides and incentives)
  • Draw on local resources for planning (e.g., Universities)

 Support Environmental Initiatives

Find out what's happening in West Chesterwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • Preserve Barclay Woods
  • Establish a tree donation program: facilitate donations of trees in areas that do not have them and where residents may not be able to afford them

Improve Communication between the Borough and Residents

  • Improve the Borough website
  • Promote calendars and public announcements
  • Hold regular community meetings

Expand Recreational Opportunities

  • Establish a movie theater
  • Open a public pool
  • Allow regular street performances
  • Note: Preserve the festivals, street fairs, and parades already established

Maintain Strong Relationship with West Chester University

  • Foster ongoing relationship with West Chester University to address mutual interests (e.g., late night noise, rental property upkeep and conversions to single family homes) and to promote activities and events

Promote Quality of Life Issues and Solutions

  • Address late night noise and bar traffic issues
  • Launch and promote health and wellness activities/events
  • Ensure public safety
  • Offer free wifi

Increase Housing Opportunities

  • Ensure affordable housing is available
  • Establish a residential zone of single family houses surrounding the town center

What Do You Think?

Tell us what makes West Chester great and what could make it better in the comments below. 


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