A couple’s search for their ideal West Chester home | Inquirer Chester County
Plus, the latest on the Pennhurst data center proposal.
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In the latest edition of Inquirer series “How I Bought This House,” a couple shares how they saved for and purchased their ideal home in West Chester. Also, East Vincent Township’s planning commission again recommended rejecting a data center proposal at the Pennhurst site, housing won’t be coming to the National Vulcanized Fiber site anytime too soon, plus, where to dine outdoors now that the warm weather is here.
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After living in a cramped one-bedroom in Manayunk, Chris and Tessie Payne, both 35, were looking to upgrade their space. The couple wanted to be central to both Center City, where they work, and aging parents in Baltimore and central Pennsylvania, so they homed in on the southwestern suburbs.
In the latest edition of Inquirer series “How I Bought This House,” the couple shared insight into their search for a larger home with a spacious backyard for their pup.
It wasn’t without its bumps, though. The couple were outbid on two other houses before finally finding the one, which they were able to afford thanks to a nine-month stay with Chris’ mom, during which they “aggressively” saved.
The couple ultimately bought a four-bedroom Colonial in West Chester, albeit with a few concessions.
“We definitely made the right decision with this house,” Tessie said. “It has all the things that we wanted.”
The Inquirer’s Abigail Covington spoke with them about how their search unfolded.
📍 Countywide News
SEPTA is hosting in-person and virtual public hearings today at noon and 6 p.m., along with in-person open houses at its Philadelphia headquarters, to discuss upcoming updates to its bus network. Among the changes the transit agency is planning is the February roll out of the first phase of its “SEPTA Go Zones‚” a “microtransit service” that’s a different model from traditional bussing. It uses “technology‑driven, on‑demand transit” in suburban areas with lower ridership and less frequent service. The first zones are planned for Paoli and West Chester.
In case you missed it, several Chesco communities are among the best places to live in the U.S., according to Niche’s 2026 rankings. Devon took the top spot in the county, ranking No. 8, followed by Chesterbrook. Its No. 12 spot was a drop from its third-place finish last year. Paoli also got a nod at No. 50.
💡 Community News
East Vincent Township’s planning commission has again recommended that its board of supervisors reject a data center proposed for the former Pennhurst State School and Hospital site. The supervisors are scheduled to begin a conditional use hearing process Monday at 6:30 p.m. at East Vincent Elementary School.
Plans to turn the contaminated former National Vulcanized Fiber site into affordable housing hit a snag last week when Kennett Square council didn’t get enough votes to support advertising an ordinance to change the zoning there. Doing so would have paved the way for potential development at the 22-acre spot. Zoning changes could come before council in the future.
West Vincent Township’s board of supervisors will consider an updated development plan for 46 single-family homes along South Chester Springs Road and Conestoga Road at Monday’s meeting. The resubmitted plan comes after the township’s planning commission previously recommended green lighting the development so long as developer Toll Brothers met a number of conditions. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m.
North Coventry Township’s zoning hearing board is considering an application for a Sheetz convenience store and gas station along South Hanover Street, Kutz Drive, and Temple Road, with meetings scheduled for tomorrow and April 30 at 7 p.m. Sheetz requires additional approvals given a small part of the 4.55-acre site is in a public well protection area and its plans exceed the number of allowed gas pumps.
West Chester University student Garrett Nicholas was killed around 1:30 a.m. on Sunday after being hit by a driver on the 300 block of South High Street. Police are investigating the incident.
A Phoenixville man, Russell Matthews, 58, has been arrested and charged with endangering the welfare of children and recklessly endangering another person after allegedly putting a loaded handgun into the wrong backpack, which his son took to Hares Hill Elementary School on Monday. The student notified a school counselor after discovering the firearm in his backpack, which was secured while the school waited for police. Nobody was injured as a result of the incident.
Kevin Pethtel, 55, of Spring City, was sentenced earlier this month to 40 to 80 years in prison for trafficking minors and other offenses. Pethtel pleaded guilty to the charges in November after being arrested in 2023 for sexually abusing and giving methamphetamine to a 15-year-old, and giving methamphetamine and fentanyl to other minors, and demanding sexual acts as payment. He was also accused of nonconsensual sex with one of the teenagers.
West Pikeland has a new township manager. Joan Blatcher, a corporate lawyer and former longtime township resident, began in the role last week.
As East Marlborough Township plots the Unionville Village Master Plan, it’s seeking feedback from residents about priorities and improvements through a survey that’s open until May 8.
A new rage room is opening in Phoenixville this Saturday at the Shoppes at Valley Forge. Located at 260 Schuylkill Rd., iSmash lets visitors 8 and older smash items like dishware, electronics, and even car windshields. The location also offers splatter painting and “floor frenzy,” a game with an illuminated floor.
In case you missed it, the new Aldi at 297 Schuylkill Rd. in Phoenixville is now open, after hosting a ribbon cutting last week. It is one of several grocery stores expected in the county this year.
Heads up for drivers: Valley Township will be paving roadways today through Tuesday. See all the impacted roads here. Peco is scheduled to begin electrical work in East Goshen’s Bow Tree neighborhood in mid-April, with work expected to last until late October.
There are several recycling and disposal events coming up. Chester County Solid Waste Authority is hosting a household hazardous waste event Saturday at Technical College High School’s Pickering Campus in Phoenixville. Residents can drop off things like paint, outdoor, and automotive products. Registration is required. There’s an e-waste event Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Coatesville Area High School, where residents can recycle unwanted electronics, though items like TVs and monitors have a $25 fee. And Thornbury Township is hosting a shredding event for its residents Friday from 9 to 11 a.m.
🏫 Schools Briefing
Coatesville Area School District is beginning the screening process for incoming kindergarten students who would benefit from its Jumpstart Program. Qualifying screening dates take place through June 2 for the summer program that helps prepare students for the school year ahead.
Owen J. Roberts School District’s board of directors voted last week to approve replacing three artificial turf fields and a track with a slightly more expensive material known as BrockFILL. It uses engineered wood particles instead of the more standard rubber. The replacement is expected to cost over $2.28 million, with work taking place over the summer.
Friday is the deadline to register students for Twin Valley School District’s 2026-27 kindergarten program. Learn more here.
🍽️ On our Plate
Does this week’s warm weather have you hankering for outdoor dining? The Inquirer’s Hira Qureshi recently rounded up spots with rooftop dining in the region, including Más Mexicali Cantina. The West Chester restaurant has a dedicated rooftop bar where you can order margaritas, tacos, enchiladas, burritos, and nachos.
Fellini Café of West Chester is rebranding over the coming months and will be known as Pecorino.
Today is opening day for popular ice cream joint Browns Cow in Phoenixville, which has been closed for the season since October.
Ice cream truck Alsies is celebrating its first spring season with a grand opening event at East Goshen Park.
🎳 Things to Do
💕 The Last Five Years: Catch this intimate musical about a couple’s love story. ⏰ Friday, April 17 and Saturday, April 18, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 19, 4 p.m. 💵 $46-$51 📍 Uptown Knauer Performing Arts Center, West Chester
🏮 The Lights Fest: See illuminated lanterns take to the sky and send up one of your own. There will also be music and food trucks. ⏰ Saturday, April 18, 6 p.m. 💵 $75 📍 Plantation Field, Coatesville
🥎 Off Season: A Sports Flight Night: The latest flight night event is sports-themed. ⏰ Wednesday, April 22, 6 p.m. 💵 $45 📍 People’s Light, Malvern
🏡 On the Market
Located in the Landenberg Hunt neighborhood, this four-bedroom Colonial has undergone a number of updates in recent years, including to its HVAC system. The first floor features a two-story foyer, a living room, a dining room, a flex room, as well as an eat-in kitchen that opens onto the family room, which has vaulted ceilings and a fireplace. All four bedrooms are upstairs, including the primary suite, which has a walk-in closet and a double sink vanity. Other features include a partly finished basement, a deck, an attached garage, and a shed.
See more photos of the home here.
Price: $599,900 | Size: 2,838 SF | Acreage: 1
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