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

Now is a great time to visit the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts in Wilmington DE.

Thinking of a more "traditional" museum for your final summer activities? You need to take advantage of the free admission to the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts (DCCA) along the riverfront in Wilmington Delaware.

Now celebrating its 30th year, the DCCA is located at 200 South Madison Street on the rapidly evolving Wilmington waterfront. Situated in a former industrial building, the facility now has 35,000 square feet of space offering 7 galleries, 26 artist studios, an auditorium, museum shop and support areas. It is directly served by the Dart Bus Route 32 and is just around the corner from the downtown Amtrak Rail Station, Frawley Stadium, several shops, and great dining and entertainment options.

From their mission statement, the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts is non-collecting art museum. Their mission is to present exhibitions, offer exposure to the creative process, provide educational opportunities, and extend innovative programs to a diverse community. Their success in following this mission is clear from the wide array of activities, exhibitions, events, and other programs that the center is offering on a continuing basis. From camps and classes to its Artist-In-Residence programs, it works toward this vision everyday.

Most recently, the Alternatives Museum Shop at the DCCA was named this years Best Museum Store by Niche Magazine for 2009. The award is based on the Retailers' Guide to Best Practices including Fair Business Practices and the support to the American craft community.

This is an excellent excursion for anyone in the region and offers a chance to catch up on the current trends in the art world - and then relax and enjoy the various restaurants, shopping, and entertainment venues now found along the Wilmington Riverfront. More great activities in our area.

As always, if you have any questions or need any information, call anytime.

Simon Pierce is a premier designer and manufacturer of hand blown glass and pottery items located just west of West Chester PA.

If you have the time and are thinking of heading a bit further west toward Chester County, Simon Pearce is another great free attraction that you should consider visiting before everyone heads back to school.

Since 1971, Simon Pearce has been creating original products in glass and pottery - at first in Ireland and since 1981 in the United States. Today, they have a dozen stores and two restaurants spread across the US from their original location in Quechee, Vermont out to southern California. Simon Pearce is now headquartered in Windsor Vermont where they have both glass and pottery manufacturing locations with additional manufacturing facilities in Quechee and Mountain Lake Park, Maryland.

In 2000, Simon Pearce opened a restaurant and retail store in Pocopson Township Pennsylvania just west of West Chester on the banks of the Brandywine. Occupying the former Lenape Inn space, the facility has been completely renovated and now offers a glass blowing demonstration area on the first floor accompanied by a retail store and a fine dining restaurant on the second. Every table offers a relaxing view overlooking the Brandywine.

While visiting, you want to allow time to take the opportunity to learn the hand blown glass process in the exhibit area downstairs. Throughout the summer, glass blowing demonstrations are held Wednesday through Sunday on the first floor. They also have some great displays describing the materials and processes used. Even while working, the artisans are happy to answer questions on the process and share their knowledge of the products. It's a great chance to get up close and personal with an ages old craft.

Simon Pearce is located off Route 52/ Lenape Rd in Pocopson Township at 1333 Lenape Rd. The facility is just south of the Rt 52 bridge over the Brandywine. They are open daily from 10:00 Monday thru Saturday (11:00 on Sunday), and they close at 5:00 Monday/Tuesday, 9:00 Weds-Sat, and 8:30 on Sunday.

This is another great chance to venture out and experience all that the area has to offer and the demonstrations and exhibits are free so you can save some money for the store and restaurant.

Enjoy!

As always if you have any questions, please contact me anytime.

Be sure to visit the Drexel Hill/ Aronimink Open House at 407 Morgan Ave on Sunday October 4!

Welcome to Drexel Hill PA - Zip Code 19026 for a quick real estate update.

Generally Upper Darby Township PA can be split into two areas by zip codes: 19082/ Upper Darby to the east and 19026/ Drexel Hill toward the west. The boundary between the two areas runs close to Lansdowne Avenue as it angles through the township. The western portion of the township, Drexel Hill, is bordered by Havertown to the north, Springfield to the west, and Clifton Heights / Lansdowne to the south. The zip code is primarily residential but has two mostly commercial areas concentrated along Township Line Rd/State Rd to the north and Burmont/ Garrett Rd to the south. The area is well served by SEPTA with multiple bus lines running through the township and two trolley lines (Route 101 and Route 102) providing direct through service to Sharon Hill, Media, and the 69th Street Terminal.

Drexel Hill is one of the earliest settled regions around Philadelphia. One of the oldest log cabins in the states, the Swedish Cabin built in 1654, can still be found along Darby Creek and the area has been inhabited ever since. During the 1800s, the township grew quickly as mills were developed throughout the area to take advantage of the available water power. During the Civil War, this was also an active area in the underground railroad and several homes of prominent abolitionists still exist including Hoodland, Thornfield, and Collenbrook Farm. In the 20th Century growth accelerated until Upper Darby became one of the most populous municipalities in the state.

Today, Drexel Hill continues to be one of the most popular residential options. The area contains a wide variety of housing choices from the row homes and twins found in the southern areas to the large gracious character single family homes found from Drexel Park in the east to Aronimink and Pilgrim Gardens to the west. There are also a selection of rental communities including Drexelbrook in the area.

As we have seen throughout most of Delaware county, the real estate market has seen reduced prices and activity as the area adjusts to the recession but the market is currently rising on a monthly basis. For single family homes, average pricing hit a high in 2006 at $274,000 with 198 sales. These prices have since drifted down to $270,000 in 2007, to $258,000 in 2008, and to $238,000 so far in 2009 with 103 sales. The balance of the housing has also taken a hit. After peaking in 2007 with an average price of $166,00, prices fell to $162,000 in 2008, and to $148,000 in 2009.

There are also an additional 103 single family homes currently on the market with an average listing price of $265,000 and 18 under contract with an average asking price of $250,000. As far as townhomes, twins, and row homes, 70 homes are on the market with an average $172,000 list price and 28 homes are pending with an average $152,000 list price. On closer inspection, it should be noted that prices have strengthened on a monthly basis and it appears that we could see continuing strength through the year as buyers take advantage of the $8000 First Time Home Buyers Credit and the historically low interest rates.

If you are looking for solid classic character homes in a central Delaware County location with easy commuter options by both rail and highway, you must check out Drexel Hill. With its prime location, history, and amenities, it should remain a great choice for years to come.

As always, if you have any questions or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me anytime.

Now is a great time to take advantage of the remaining days of summer to visit the free Pennsylvania Veterans Museum in Media PA.

As summer heads to a close and families begin to look toward school and all the fall activities, there is still time to take advantage of the remaining days to enjoy some of the local attractions. This becomes even better when the admission is free.

One of the newest museums in our area is the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum in Media PA that is located on the lower level of the old Pennsylvania Armory below Trader Joes. Since opening on Veteran's Day 2005, the Pennsylvania Veterans Museum has continued to expand and develop its collections. "The Pennsylvania Veterans Museum is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting the legacy and dignity of all veterans of the U.S. military."

It has great displays covering different aspects of the conflicts in World War II, the Korean War, and Vietnam. The museum is filled with exhibits, artifacts, dioramas, and first-hand accounts of the battles and events through the wars. The displays include special sections on the Tuskegee Airmen and the role women have played during the wars. Recently, they also opened a new diorama on the Korean War.

When I visited, there were several veterans on hand to answer questions and provide in-depth descriptions of the articles on display. Many of the items have been donated by local vets who are still very much involved in the museum. The museum also works closely with local veteran's groups as they plan and attend reunions and gatherings throughout the area. When visiting, be sure to save some time to view their educational films. In their "Ruptured Duck Theater", they have half dozen films available ranging from the history of World War II to pieces on the "Women in the Military" and "The American Humanitarian Effort" during Vietnam.

This is a smaller museum packed with informative, thought-provoking displays that are perfect educational tools. The Pennsylvania Veterans Museum is open Thursday through Sunday from 12:00 to 5:00 and special tours are available. This is a great time of year to visit.

As always, if you have any questions or need any additional information, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Welcome to the Oakview Station on the SEPTA Route 102 Trolley Line located in Upper Darby PA.

The station itself is located at the Creek Rd bridge in Upper Darby.  It is the southernmost stop in Upper Darby just above Darby Creek.  It offers quick access to the Swedish Cabin, Darby Creek, and several residential areas in lower Upper Darby Township.

There is no assigned parking at the stop for commuters but it does have some limited space for dropping off and picking up passengers.  The platforms are also within walking distance of several residential areas.  On a relative basis this is one of the more remote stations on the system and does not have a large commercial, industrial, or residential base from which to draw passenger volume.  The video will provide a better feel for the area:

This station has easy access to several different communities so the local real estate is better covered by stations directly serving those areas.

If you live in the area and need a convenient connection to downtown Philadelphia, Sharon Hill, or any of the spots between, this is a convenient station to connect into the system.  If you are looking for a commuting station with ample parking, there are better options available.

As always, should you have any comments or need any additional information, please let me know anytime.