New Cumberland

“I lived in Lower Allen for a long time,” says Beth Masland, Realtor with RE/MAX Realty Associates, “It’s a nice, clean area, the folks there keep the neighborhoods looking enticing.” Between Pennsylvania’s bustling state capital and the quiet, burbling creeks and lush green pastures of Cumberland Valley, Lower Allen is a classic American neighborhood born out of post-war suburban sprawl. A mixture of apartment buildings and commercial and industrial zones give way to old-growth trees towering over comfortable homes on wide, quiet, winding roads. It’s also a neighborhood with convenience, at the junction of major routes that allows residents to be in Harrisburg in minutes or access the wider Central Pennsylvania region. With a mix of Colonial Revivals, ranch-style and split-level homes, midcentury suburban architecture and road design characterize Lower Allen. Featuring off-street parking in carports and garages, as well as space out front for guests to park, these homes generally sit on plots of a quarter- to a half-acre. Most of these homes sell from $175,000 to $350,000. Larger houses from the same era with four or more bedrooms and offering over 2,000 square feet of living space sell for $375,000 to $525,000. In The Cliffs neighborhood, neo-traditional homes with European influence showcase Frederick Olmsted’s signature garden-like residence park design, with many sitting on manicured and partially wooded lots. These four- and five-bedroom homes spread over 6,000 square feet or more and include fireplaces, formal dining rooms, open floorplans, and professional-grade kitchens, regularly selling for $825,000 and up. Homes sell quickly on average, in under two weeks compared to the 44-day national average. West Shore School District serves Lower Allen, and Masland notes, “There are two high schools within the district, which allows them to compete against each other for sports, and they offer plenty of extra-curricular activities.” Students in Lower Allen start at Highland Elementary School, a school graded as a B by Niche. West Shore has three middle schools, and students from Lower Allen are split between Allen and New Cumberland – the former graded as a B, the latter a C-plus. Lower Allen students come back together at Cedar Cliff for high school, also graded as a B by Niche. The school is located within the neighborhood and is walkable for many students. As Masland mentions, the dual high schools offer unique opportunities, and Red Land versus Cedar Cliff has become one of Central Pennsylvania's most energetic sporting rivalries. Nearby private schools include West Shore Christian Academy, Al-Huda School of Pennsylvania, and Saint Theresa Elementary School and Trinity High School. With portions of the neighborhood blending into rural areas, living in Lower Allen means being comfortable with being car dependent. Bicycling is generally just a recreational activity, and Capital Area Transit busses have infrequent stops. However, the neighborhood’s location along U.S. Routes 581 and 83, as well as the Pennsylvania Turnpike, make it easy to get around the region by car. Usually under a 20-minute drive, Harrisburg International Airport is 13 miles away, and offers commercial flights throughout the country. While Capital City Airport is closer, service there is limited to charter, corporate and private craft. Penn State Health Holy Spirit Medical Center, 2 miles to the north, provides emergency care for the region. Capital City Mall brings all sorts of retailers together in Lower Allen. It regularly brings in new retailers as some cycle out, keeping it relevant while many regional malls are dying off. Local dining includes new international favorites alongside long-time favorites. “Brewhouse Grille is a good, low-key spot, a local favorite,” says Masland. Offering locally brewed craft beers and creative, elevated pub food, the outdoor deck can be busy in the warm weather. Just up the road, Flinchy’s offers signature Hot Rock dinners, serving up steak, seafood, and more on a volcanic stone. For groceries, residents head to Weis Markets or to the Trader Joe’s just down the road – it’s the only location of this cult favorite grocery store in Central Pennsylvania. Along the bends and curves of the Yellow Breeches Creek at the bottom end of the neighborhood, anglers fishing for trout and folks leisurely tubing along the creek are a common sight on warm summer days. The launch from Yellow Breeches Park makes the area convenient for kayakers to enjoy as well. The Hempt baseball fields are home to local Little Leaguers, a well-kept field that includes batting cages for practice. For those looking to hit the links, nearby Liberty Forge Golf Course offers 18 holes with various tee boxes to accommodate different skill levels. “Some neighborhoods hold block parties,” says Masland, “but everyone goes down to Lisburn Fire Company for their Olde Time festival; they bring in rides and food, live music, it’s a big community event.” A short drive out of town for residents, this four-day festival has been going for seven decades and shows no sign of stopping. Throughout the season, residents might take the short drive towards the city to watch the hometown Harrisburg Senators, a Washington nationals farm team, play ball on City Island.