West Goshen seems to be one step closer to ridding itself of the Quality Inn on S. High Street. This week township supervisors held a Conditional Use Hearing on a proposal to allow for the construction of a 175-unit Assisted Living community and a four-story, self-storage facility on the property.
“It’s about making a beautiful place, a comfortable place,” said Jeremy Philo, lead architect on the project.
The proposal requires tearing down the existing 141-room hotel and replacing it with two separate buildings. Despite being separate enterprises the design of the buildings will provide a unified visual for future residents and visitors – think faux windows on the storage facility and a consistent exterior treatment throughout. Interspersed between the buildings will be plenty of rich outdoor spaces for gathering and rehabilitation.
The main questions from West Goshen supervisors and Westtown, that was represented by Township Manager Jonathan Altshul, were around a potential increased demand on local emergency services, planned stormwater management improvement, and traffic impacts, particularly regarding truck traffic on Stanton Avenue and nearby 202.
“It’s one of the most dangerous intersections in Westtown,” said Mr. Altshul of the area.
A single rather than a double entrance to the facility was debated, a new traffic study was proposed and a full-time onsite LPN (or RN) was agreed to, but in the end, those concerns seemed to pale in comparison to the promise a change could bring.
“Some nights I’m scared to go out to my car. I don’t want to bring up safety, because this is more technical, but I ask that we keep safety in the back of our minds.”
Amanda Hart, resident
“Some nights I’m scared to go out to my car,” said resident Amanda Hart, mom of a 1-year-old near the end of the hearing. “I don’t want to bring up safety, because this is more technical, but I ask that we keep safety in the back of our minds.”
With the hearing complete Township Supervisors have 45 days to decide whether or not to allow the Conditional Use after which all plans would go through the regular Land Development process.
Review the documents for yourself here.
Published, July 14, 2023
This story is part of a longer weekly West Chester newsletter. Curious what else is going on? You can find the full issue here and the latest newsletter here. Even easier? Subscribe here to get the future issues delivered directly.