Monday, September 17, 2012
West Chester Borough Council will vote on a new height ordinance Wednesday.
The West Chester Borough Council will vote on a new height ordinance Wednesday that would change borough code creating zones that would allow buildings of 60 and 75 feet. The current borough codes allows buildings of 75 and 90 feet. Borough council originally proposed the height ordinance change after the sale of the county buildings to Eli Kahn in downtown West Chester in 2011. Talks of changing the ordinance began in Sept. 2011. At that time they were pushed back until Jan. 2012 to allow the newly elected borough council to make any decisions on height. In Jan. 2012, council agreed to push the ordinance back until at least June to allow Eli Kahn to submit a plan for the buildings in the downtown he had purchased and slated for …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
What would your dream scenario be for the old county buildings.
The county has sold several buildings in downtown West Chester to the Eli Kahn development team. So far, Kahn and his associates have discussed constructing a 90 foot tall residence building on the land or a 75 foot tall office building. Both would include first floor retail space and an underground parking garage. We here at West Chester Patch would like to know your thoughts on the issue. In the comments below, please let us know if you like what you've been hearing so far, or if you have grand ideas of your own.
Jack Loew reviews his plans for the future of the Mostellar buildings he purchased from the county last year.
Developer Jack Loew spoke at Tuesday’s borough council meeting requesting that the borough takes its time in considering a new height ordinance as Loew and his partner Eli Kahn work up a plan for the Mostellar building. Loew and Kahn purchased the building from the county last year and have begun the development process. In response to Loew and Kahn’s potential plans, borough council tried to pass a new height ordinance earlier this year with hopes of limiting the size of the new development. At the time, Loew requested that the borough put off any height decisions until June so that his firm would have a chance to “pitch” the renovations for the Mostellar building. “At this time it’s unrealistic to continue to ask the borough to wait,” …
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Council agrees to delay taking action on a new ordinance until June.
At a special meeting Monday night, the West Chester Borough Council voted 5-2 to push back conversation about changing the borough’s height ordinance until June. However, council did authorize the borough’s solicitor to write a new ordinance that would limit building height to 45 feet by right and 60 feet by exception with the caveat that no action will be taken for six months. The six-month window would allow Eli Kahn and his development partner, Jack Loew, time to work with the community on a design for the recently purchased county land in the West Chester town center. “We’ve had three different architects come in and give us their impression, and we’ve denied all three,” Loew said. “We know this corner has to be special, and we want …
Monday, January 30, 2012
The West Chester Borough Council will hold a special meeting on the borough's height ordinances on Monday, Jan. 30.
The West Chester Borough Council will hold a special meeting on Monday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. at the borough building to discuss the borough's height ordinance. Last September, council considered a measure that would restrict building height in the borough to 45 feet by right and 60 feet by special exception. The whole issue started after council president Holly Brown proposed the change to the ordinance at a September Planning Committee meeting. Brown also sent out an e-mail to residents to rally support for the ordinance change at September’s standing room only work session meeting. Eli Kahn's recent purchase of county property in the downtown area has caused some residents and members of borough council concern. While an official plan …
Sunday, January 22, 2012
The West Chester Borough Council will hold a special meeting on the borough's height ordinances on Monday, Jan. 30.
The West Chester Borough Council will hold a special meeting on Monday, Jan. 30, at 7 p.m. at the borough building to discuss the borough's height ordinance. Last September, council considered a measure that would restrict building height in the borough to 45 feet by right and 60 feet by special exception. The whole issue started after council president Holly Brown proposed the change to the ordinance at a September Planning Committee meeting. Brown also sent out an e-mail to residents to rally support for the ordinance change at September’s standing room only work session meeting. Eli Kahn's recent purchase of county property in the downtown area has caused some residents and members of borough council concern. While an official plan …
Friday, December 9, 2011
Plans Unveiled for Former County Offices along High, Gay and Church Streets in Downtown West Chester Include Luxury Condo and New Retail Space.
In the next few weeks, as people stroll the streets, to shop and to enjoy the holiday festivities in downtown West Chester, the massive former Courthouse structure on High Street, known as the North Wing, will be quietly “gutted down to its studs,” according to Eli Kahn, the Downingtown-based developer whose name should be familiar to anyone who follows development projects in West Chester and Malvern. Kahn spoke Monday at a special meeting sponsored by the West Chester Business Improvement District (BID). The meeting was the first planned to give the public a glimpse of Kahn’s plans for the former county properties on more than an acre in downtown West Chester – all obtained this past fall when the Chester County Commissioners accepted …
Thursday, December 1, 2011
The West Chester Business Improvement District will host a discussion along with Eli Kahn's development team about the buildings recently purchased in downtown West Chester.
Eli Kahn and his business partner Jack Loew will meet with residents to discuss plans for the buildings Kahn recently purchased from the county in downtown West Chester. The event, sponsored by the West Chester Business Improvement District, will focus on the "Mosteller" buildings and is being characterized as an "idea exchange." The public is encouraged to attend and contribute at the meeting to be held Dec. 5 at 6 p.m. in the Borough Council Chambers. Kahn recently purchased the buildings from the county for the sum of $4.5 million under some controversy because the buildings are in the borough's historical district.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Borough Council denies an ordinance that would have confirmed 220 East Chestnut Street's Zoning as "town center."
In another round of legal wrangling West Chester Borough Council voted against confirming the zoning for 220 East Chestnut Street as “town center” on Monday night. “This ordinance would have no impact on the current legal proceedings,” said borough solicitor Kristin Camp. “This would affect how the land is zoned from this day forward.” “We’ve gone round and round about this issue,” said developer Eli Kahn who is trying to construct an apartment complex on the site. “We’re trying to end litigation as quickly as possible.” Several residents who live across the street from the proposed site have filed an appeal with the Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas to overturn a ruling by the borough’s zoning hearing board to allow the construction of…
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Borough Council will discuss whether or not they will begin proceedings to change the height ordinance.
The West Chester Borough Council will discuss whether or not to begin the discussion about changing the borough's height ordinance Tuesday evening. I want to make it clear that you did not read the previous paragraph incorrectly. Borough Council will hold a discussion about whether or not to begin a discussion. I phrase it that way because the last time the borough changed the height ordinance, the process took two years. Currently, the height ordinance in West Chester says that a building cannot be taller than 90 feet. For a reference point, the Chestnut Street garage is 75 feet tall. A number of citizens have become concerned recently because they fear that this 90 feet number jeopardizes the historical quality of the town. They fear …
Andrew
1:13 pm on Friday, March 1, 2013
The borough is the one trying to change the laws after sell. It is very clear who the corrupt one is... Its like if someone sold you an expensive car then telling you, you can't drive it faster than 40mph. Pretty silly right?.. Besides the article says its 9 floors. That is not exactly the Comcast tower... The University has dorms that height... West Chester should be happy developers are … more ›