David Henke Realtor (r) Homes Just West of Philadelphia PA

The real estate market for Eddystone Borough PA Homes continues to hold its own.

Located between the City of Chester and Ridley Township/ Tinicum Township just below Philadelphia along the Delaware River, Eddystone Borough continues its historic role as a center of commerce. Settled in the 1600s by the Swedes and then taken over by the Dutch in 1658, this was one of the earliest settled areas along the Delaware River. Originally an agricultural area as seen in Tinicum Township and Chester, it quickly grew into a center of manufacturing as industry grew throughout this area along the Delaware. Eddystone was incorporated from Ridley Township in 1888.

The growth of Eddystone Borough peaked in the twentieth Century with the growth of arms manufacturing and locomotive production. Remington Arms became a major arms manufacturer in the area during World War I. Their plant was built on Baldwin Locomotive Works land and originally manufactured rifles for the British and Russian Troops. These contracts were later replaced by US Government contracts, and the Remington plant ultimately produced almost 2 million rifles with a peak production of 6000 rifles/day before being closed on January 11, 1919. Interestingly, over two thirds of the rifles used in France were produced in the Eddystone plant.

During the same period, beginning in 1906, the Baldwin Locomotive Works built up its production in Eddystone as it moved its operations to this larger plant from facilities in Philadelphia. By 1928, all its locomotive production had been moved to the new facilities in Eddystone and its new Executive Office Building had been completed at a cost of $1,220,000. It quickly became the largest locomotive builder in the United States. Sadly, the company was unable to make the transition from steam to diesel and ultimately closed in 1956.

Today, the former Baldwin Locomotive land houses an office park (including the original Executive Office Building), a PECO generating Station, and various commercial properties. In addition, the Penn Terminals now occupy the property adjacent to the Delaware with their marine terminal and stevedoring services. The balance of the borough is primarily residentail and light commercial.

The Eddystone Borough real estate market has held up very well so far through this downturn. The average home price in Eddystone Borough approximately doubled from around $60,000 in 2000-2002 to peak with an average price of $120,000 in 2007. Since then, pricing pulled back to an average price of $103,000 in 2008 and $109,000 in 2009 year to date. (The 2009 price includes a $205,000 single family home sale).

Activity has also remained fairly constant with Borough sales ranging from a low of 23 homes in 2008 to a high of 34 homes in 2006. There have also been 26 completed home sales so far in 2009 with 3 sales pending. Today, there are an additional 16 homes on the market with an average list price of $110,000. Overall, this was one of the later areas to be impacted by rising prices seen throughout the region allowing it to avoid much of the overpricing experienced in some of the surrounding areas.

Now, the area is redeveloping with a stronger, more stable, and diversified business base including the PECO generating plant, the adjacent Boeing plant in Ridley Township, Harrah's Casino in Chester, and various other manufacturing and business opportunities. With its diversified jobs base, close proximity to Philadelphia, easy access to commuter options by SEPTA and the I-95/I-495 freeways, and affordable housing, the residential market should remain relatively stable.

As always, if you have any questions or need any additional information, please feel free to contact me anytime.

(All statistics per the TrendMLS System and believed accurate but not guaranteed)

November is here, the leaves are falling, we are quickly heading toward the Holidays, and Folcroft Borough has recently released their Fall Schedule of Events.

The Folcroft Recreation Board has several FREE resident Holiday events already organized this fall.

Saturday November 21 from 12:00-2:00:
Ornament Workshop for all resident Borough children 10 and under. They will be able to decorate their ornament for the holiday tree.

Saturday November 28 at 7:00
Holiday Tree Lighting Ceremony at the clock tower next to the Library on Delmar Drive. The children can decorate the tree, Santa will be visiting, and you can enjoy singing holiday carols and some hot chocolate and snacks at the firehouse.

Sunday December 20 starting around 7:00
Annual Best Decorated House Awards will be held with judging on Sunday and winners will be announced on Monday. Light up Folcroft with holiday cheer.

In addition, the highway department will be picking up leaves curbside beginning in late October through much of December. They request that all the leaves be raked curbside and not bagged. Please click here for the exact date and times for each street in the borough.

As always, please feel free to contact me anytime if you need any additional information.

Welcome to the Anderson Avenue station of the SEPTA 101 Trolley in Drexel Hill PA Upper Darby Township.

The station itself is located at the dead end of Anderson Avenue just two blocks south of State Rd. It is an on-demand stop located midway between the Aronimink and Drexelbrook stations just on the backside of the Drexelbrook apartments. This location provides easy access to the entire Aronimink section of Drexel Hill.

Anderson Ave has no dedicated commuter parking at this location and limited access so it is primarily a local commuter stop. There is a small shed on the eastbound side next to Drexelbrook for waiting commuters. The video will provide a better feel for the area:

Like Aronimink, this station is in the center of the greater Drexel Hill residential area providing immediate access to a great mix of twins, row homes, and a wide variety of single family homes throughout the area in addition to the Drexelbrook apartments. Please check out the Aronimink Market Update for the complete local sales statistics.

The Anderson Av Station is an ideal local station providing easy access to Media to the west and to the 69th Street Terminal and Philadelphia beyond to the east.

As always, should you have any questions, need any additional information, or be considering a move in the area, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

The Dorchester Academy Museum in Midway GA needs your help today!

Recently while traveling in Georgia, we had the chance to visit the Dorchester Academy Museum of African-American History in Midway GA. They need to raise funds to stabilize and restore their historic campus.

Following the Civil War, there was a great need for education throughout the south. In 1868, the school that would become the Dorchester Academy was started as a primary school and Congregational Church by the AMA. An abolitionist, Eliza Ann Ward, was sent from Massachusetts to open the school in "Goldings Grove" and taught until 1872. Floyd Snelson was then hired to foster the school. In 1879, the school was enlarged to provide secondary education to freedman in Liberty County and was then named the Dorchester Academy. The Academy was both a day school and a boarding school. In 1934 the entire graduating class was admitted to college, and the school was classified as one of the best schools in the state. The school grew and prospered until 1940 when Liberty County built a consolidated public school for black youth.

The Academy closed and many of the old buildings were torn down in 1945. The AMA then donated $10 for every $1 toward the remodeling of the brick boys dormitory - the Elizabeth Moore Hall. The facilities were turned over to the new Dorchester Cooperative Center (DCC). The Center included the Credit Union (founded in 1938), the Farmers Union, the Liberty County Political Council, and Dorchester Improvement Association. The programs developed at Dorchester were a model for later community development in the 1960's. In 1968, the Liberty County Schools were integrated.

"In 1961 the Southern Christian Leadership Council in cooperation with the American Missionary Association (AMA) established "Leadership Training Programs and Citizenship Schools" at Dorchester to train grass roots leaders from throughout the south". Andrew Young headed the project in the formative years and Dr Martin Luther King was deeply involved and often visited. Leaders from throughout the country taught and trained here and King's biographer contends he planned his 1963 Birmingham campaign while staying here.

Many of the original buildings have been removed over the years, but the original brick boy's dormitory built in 1934 (and named in honor of Miss Elizabeth Moore, the first African-American woman principal) is being restored in the center of the campus and has been listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. This building has been the center of much of the key activity over the years including the time that the Southern Leadership council used the facilities. The original rooms and furniture used by Dr King are still preserved in the building.

Today, the building is badly in need of restoration and needs your help. On April 28, 2009, the National Trust for Historic Preservation named the Dorchester Academy to its 2009 list of the 11 Most Endangered Places in America. "The Academy .... has been an institute for education, community development,and positive political and social change since its founding day" - Pres Jimmy Carter. Our Thank You to Don O'Neal for taking the time to show us throughout the property and explain its history.

All donations and help are greatly needed and appreciated - contact:

Don O'Neal
Dorchester Academy Museum of African-American History
912-884-2347
PO Box 51, Midway, GA 31320
www.dorchesteracademy.com

"In addition to its highly significant role as a school for generations of African-American students, Dorchester played a seminal role in the great social movements of our nation's history." - Richard Moe - National Trust for Historic Preservation

(Note: all above history is a compilation taken from the website, on site displays, National Trust site, and discussions - please let me know if you find any errors/missing information)

Welcome to 6 Keno Lane - Danielle's newest upcoming foreclosure in West Grove PA.

Recently, there have been fewer foreclosures in Delaware County PA as the activity appears to have become more concentrated in Philadelphia and down in Delaware. To continue our foreclosure series, this is one of the latest of Danille Mateu's foreclosures that is coming up in Chester County PA.

Located in Penn Township, Keno Lane is a small cul-de-sac off Corby Rd just west of its intersection with Jennersville Rd. This location affords the owner easy access to much of the region. Just north on Route 796, Route 1 provides quick access toward Oxford to the west and West Grove/Kennett and Delaware County to the east. Just to the west, Corby Rd intersects with Route 896 which leads to Lancaster to the northwest and Newark/ Wilmington DE to the southeast.

This is a nice example of newer Chester County ranch home construction from about 29 years ago. Keno Lane itself is a 3 bedroom 1.5 bath one story ranch with a full unfinished basement. The property is located right at the corner of Corby and Keno and the house is situated on the top of a rise over the intersection. The video will provide a better look at the home itself:

The pricing for this house has not yet been set but overall in zip code 19390, there are currently 116 properties on the market with an average list price of $359,000 and 24 are under contract with an average list price of $258,000. As has been seen throughout the area, both the activity and pricing have pulled back recently in this zip. Activity reached a peak in 2006 with 185 closed transaction while the pricing reached a peak in 2007 with an average sales price of $312,00. Both sales and prices have been drifting down for the last couple years resulting in 87 sales so far year to date in 2009 with an average sales price of $263,000.

This appears to be a great opportunity to obtain a home in the area for a good price without being a major fixer. As with all foreclosures any buyer should be prepared to put in money and time into the property before being able to move in. A potential buyer will only be able to perform limited inspections and must be prepared to buy in as-is condition with solid financing.

As always, if you have any questions or would like to be notified when the property can be shown, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.