Lancaster or Allentown/Bethlehem

[Anonymous]

Have you actually spent time in Lancaster? I've been there maybe 40 times, never lived there. It's a tired, old, quiet place where basically nothing ever happens. You can't judge an area based on pictures of restaurant interiors.

I certainly wouldn't buy a dumpy rowhouse like that on such an ugly street. I'd prefer to be in one of the SFHs on the edge of the grid.

[Anonymous]

I really like Bethlehem, definitely exceeded expectations!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here’s a good article about Lancaster’s burgeoning food scene from the Times.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2019/07/23/dining/lancaster-pennsylvania-restaurants.amp.html

You’re wasting your time, OP. DCUM wouldn’t know a good deal if it got kicked in the head. People who post here like paying high prices for mediocre services because it validates them and makes them feel special.

[Anonymous]

The nicer parts of the Lehigh Valley are suburban/rural and car dependent. There are affordable new construction neighborhoods for people who want good suburban shopping and good public schools. These areas are close to natural beauty and benefit from proximity to many colleges; they are rarely to never walkable.

Downtown Allentown is undergoing a mild "renaissance" but it has nowhere to go but up. Schools in the city are terrible and it has poverty/drug/crime issues. You should visit.

Downtown Bethlehem is very charming and historic, but also expensive. South Bethlehem is cheaper but you trade the ability to walk to things. Not sure about schools.

Have you thought about Philadelphia? There are some inner suburbs that might be in your range. You won't be downtown but you might be walkable to some shopping, and proximity to center city by rail is very nice.

[Anonymous]

There's more to do in Lancaster than some thing. That said, the housing stock around there is kind of meh.

I have family in Lititz. It's nice to visit. But I wouldn't want to live there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as someone whose inlaws are there, the Allentown area is awful. Lots of tract housing, lots of big box stores, nothing but chain restaurants and really bad quasi ethnic/attempted upscale dining as far as the eye can see. Not a whole lot in the way of parks or public recreation. Healthcare facilities are numerous and high-quality, but that draws a lot of retirees who aren't interested in funding schools. It is not a high-demand area. My husband's parents owned their house for 15 years and saw just $50,000 worth of appreciation.

The closer proximity to NYC is... not a plus. You're too far to go into the city easily (even Philly is an all-day affair). But the significantly lower prices attract all the NJ people who can't afford NJ. And they mix with the folks who take off from school and work on the first day of deer hunting. But if you think Disney hotel dining rooms are "elegant" and really love driving everywhere, you'll thrive.

Look into Lansdale instead.

Sorry, meant to suggest Lansdowne. Got my SEPTA stations mixed up.

Lansdowne? Wow. Delco AF. Lansdowne is the real deal!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you actually spent time in Lancaster? I've been there maybe 40 times, never lived there. It's a tired, old, quiet place where basically nothing ever happens. You can't judge an area based on pictures of restaurant interiors.

I certainly wouldn't buy a dumpy rowhouse like that on such an ugly street. I'd prefer to be in one of the SFHs on the edge of the grid.

I’ve been to the one of the restaurants PP posted, the food hall, and a couple places in the Times article. The neighborhood where the house OP posted is College Hill, which is up and coming. People posting about how run down the area are have probably never been to this neighborhood, these restaurants, and are judging the city based on outdated impressions. The Times isn’t writing articles like this about York or Reading. Lancaster has a unique energy because of the confluence of farm to table Amish traditions and different immigrant groups that are combining to make a good food scene for such a small city.

[Anonymous]

We stayed at the Renaissance Allentown Hotel the summer before COVID - driving to get there off the highway, my husband was concerned and asked WTF I was thinking getting a hotel in Allentown. The blocks all around it were run down. We seriously considered cancelling the hotel and continuing further along.

It looked like there was a 2 block area that had transitioned - but I would not live there for that.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My one visit to Lancaster was for business, and it was pretty rough/rundown in the downtown (if you can call it that). I would visit and spend some real time in the city, including at night, before you spend too much time thinking about this.

Have you been to the neighborhoods in Philadelphia where a rowhome like OP posted sells for $225,000? If so, how was it at night?

Lancaster is not dangerous compared to most Mid Atlantic mid size cities.

Yeah, the neighborhoods in Philly for that price would be far from the business center and fairly rough neighborhoods. But that doesn't mean that downtown Lancaster is not also rough. And you have the additional downsides of less to do (than in Philly) and less chance of price appreciation.

I mean, I feel for someone who wants to buy at that price point in or near any big city. Not a lot of great options.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as someone whose inlaws are there, the Allentown area is awful. Lots of tract housing, lots of big box stores, nothing but chain restaurants and really bad quasi ethnic/attempted upscale dining as far as the eye can see. Not a whole lot in the way of parks or public recreation. Healthcare facilities are numerous and high-quality, but that draws a lot of retirees who aren't interested in funding schools. It is not a high-demand area. My husband's parents owned their house for 15 years and saw just $50,000 worth of appreciation.

The closer proximity to NYC is... not a plus. You're too far to go into the city easily (even Philly is an all-day affair). But the significantly lower prices attract all the NJ people who can't afford NJ. And they mix with the folks who take off from school and work on the first day of deer hunting. But if you think Disney hotel dining rooms are "elegant" and really love driving everywhere, you'll thrive.

Look into Lansdale instead.

Sorry, meant to suggest Lansdowne. Got my SEPTA stations mixed up.

Lansdowne? Wow. Delco AF. Lansdowne is the real deal!!

If you want urban walkable rowhouses (and “twins”) Delco is your place. It is also the place where gentrification goes to die. Whether that is a plus or a minus, you can decide for yourself whilst enjoying Delco fine dining, aka a hoagie on the trash can over at the fancy Wawa.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Speaking as someone whose inlaws are there, the Allentown area is awful. Lots of tract housing, lots of big box stores, nothing but chain restaurants and really bad quasi ethnic/attempted upscale dining as far as the eye can see. Not a whole lot in the way of parks or public recreation. Healthcare facilities are numerous and high-quality, but that draws a lot of retirees who aren't interested in funding schools. It is not a high-demand area. My husband's parents owned their house for 15 years and saw just $50,000 worth of appreciation.

The closer proximity to NYC is... not a plus. You're too far to go into the city easily (even Philly is an all-day affair). But the significantly lower prices attract all the NJ people who can't afford NJ. And they mix with the folks who take off from school and work on the first day of deer hunting. But if you think Disney hotel dining rooms are "elegant" and really love driving everywhere, you'll thrive.

Look into Lansdale instead.

Sorry, meant to suggest Lansdowne. Got my SEPTA stations mixed up.

Lansdowne? Wow. Delco AF. Lansdowne is the real deal!!

It's a really weird suggestion.

[Anonymous]

This might be to far, but what about the Harrisburg area? Hershey has some really nice areas, as does the West Shore.

[Anonymous]

Lititz is cute !

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Lititz is cute !

OP said she wasn't looking for suburbs. That is the problem here. Central Lancaster (such as it is) is pretty mediocre, and the few nice parts are right next door to rough areas. Allentown and Bethlehem are even worse.

[Anonymous]

I grew up midway between Philly and Allentown. Don’t live in Allentown.

Bethlehem can be rough but they have a ton of family activities. My family all live in walking distance of Moravian- schools aren’t great but you can easily get a 3br/1b for less than $180.

You could also check out Doylestown, Lansdale, Quakertown, Germantown. They’re closer to Philly. Or Easton might be nice.