Report: West Chester experiencing ‘remarkable’ growth

WEST CHESTER>> West Chester is continuing to experiencing incredible growth.

Business Improvement District Executive Director Malcolm Johnstone told borough council at Wednesday’s meeting that 2016 was a “remarkable” year.

“West Chester appears to be the place where people want to live,” Johnstone said, while delivering the BIDs annual report.

Johnston noted that West Chester was ranked first among 969 Pennsylvania boroughs in population growth, with a 7.9 percent growth rate between 2010 and 2016.

There was also an increase of $16,038,620 in assessed values within the BID district which will provide an estimated $111,000 in new taxes to borough coffers annually.

“Our mission is to revitalize the downtown and keep our community as prosperous as possible,” Johnstone said.

“(The) BID was established in 2000 by the West Chester Borough Council, with the approval by downtown property and business owners, to provide community and economic development with a focus on downtown revitalization,” reads the report issued by Johnstone.

Thirty seven new businesses opened during 2016 in the BID District, while 19 businesses closed for a net increase of 18 businesses.

Johnstone said that the first thing visitors purchase when visiting the borough is parking.

In 2001, net revenue from parking was $360,000, with the borough projecting net parking revenue of $1.5 million for 2016.

A new downtown information center will attract new visitors and entrepreneurs as the BID will share space with the Greater West Chester Chamber of Commerce, at 137 N. High St.

Johnstone proudly told council members that West Chester was awarded the Great American Main Street Award, the only Pennsylvania municipality to do so in almost 20 years.

Johnstone also pointed to expansion of social media outreach, after the hiring of Elle Steinman as communications specialist, with a subsequent increased outreach by 2.5 million.

Council also heard that two new apartment complexes opened, Chestnut Square and 124 Marketplace, for a total of 353 new market-rate apartments.

Uptown! Knauer Performing Arts Center added immensely to the borough’s diversity and number of live performances.

The arts center fills a void left by the long ago shuttered Warner Theater, and is home to more than 10 companies.

Johnstone is also excited by proposed development at the Mosteller Building site by builder Eli Kahn and plans for a Marriot Hotel by builder Stan Zukin.

The BID also hopes to work with the borough to improve directional signage for garages and attractions.