Pottstown

Pottstown is a borough of about 23,000 people, located about 50 miles northwest of Philadelphia, that offers quiet, suburban living and, until recently, not much else. However, with the slow and steady revitalization of downtown Pottstown, North End's residents benefit from a small-town feel with a burgeoning dining scene and the emergence of fun annual events that give this neighborhood a big-city flavor. “There have been stops and starts to the revitalization of downtown, but over the last seven or eight years, it’s been on an upswing,” says Brian Kelly, a real estate broker and the owner of Kelly Real Estate, who has been selling in Pottstown for over 30 years. “Because of that, there are a lot of cool restaurants and brew pubs.” Residents have easy access to downtown, but when they live in the north end, they get bigger yards and a quieter way of life. “It has a real Norman Rockwell feel,” Kelly says. Dining is limited in the neighborhood, so locals head downtown to go out to eat. Stave and Sable is popular for its upscale dining, with meals like Elk Strip Loin and Seared Foie Gras. Off North Charlotte Street, Mike’s Brick Oven Pizza has been serving the area since 1999 and is a go-to for stromboli, cheese steaks and, of course, pizza. Closer to home, residents can walk to HG Palermo’s Pizza, located in the North End Shopping Center, and find pizza, plus burgers, hoagies and seafood dishes. Redner’s Warehouse Market is in the same shopping plaza and a convenient spot to pick up groceries. North End residents take advantage of the borough’s yearly events, including its GoFourth! Festival in Memorial Park, celebrating the 4th of July and The Pottstown Rumble, which brings volleyball fanatics from near and far each June to play in a three-day tournament. The homes in North End sit on spacious, grassy lots and vary in architectural style, from compact ranch-style and Minimal Traditional to bigger Colonials and Cape Cods. Most homes were built in the 1950s, but it’s possible to find some from the turn of the 20th century. While front yards are roomy, houses sit close enough to have a more suburban feel rather than a rural one. Mature trees dot sidewalks and line backyards, and the streets are wide and quiet. Prices range from $200,000 for three bedrooms and one bathroom to $425,000 for four bedrooms and two and a half baths. Those looking for a home with less upkeep can find condos and townhouses, ranging from $94,000 for two bedrooms and one bathroom to $208,000 for three bedrooms and one bathroom. Kids in North End can begin their education at Franklin Elementary School, then head to Pottstown Middle School and Pottstown High School. All three schools are a part of the Pottstown School District. Franklin Elementary and Pottstown Middle rate a C on Niche, while Pottstown High has a B-minus. Pottstown High serves about 926 students and has a student-teacher ratio of 14-to-1. It offers many ways for students to get involved, including marching band, Art Club and Key Club. Families considering private education for their kids can choose from several faith-based, Montessori and day schools in the area. Many locals go to Terrace Lane Park when they want fresh air and exercise. This green space offers a half basketball court and a playground for kids ages five through 12. Terrace Lane Park is also popular for its large picnic pavilion, which holds up to 30 people and is where many gather for outdoor celebrations. For indoor recreation, the Pottstown YMCA offers an indoor pool and gym equipment. Benjamin Franklin Highway runs just outside the neighborhood, south of Pottstown and connects to nearby Douglassville to the west and Kenilworth to the east. North End has a CAP Index score of 4, the same as the national average.

Split by the campus of a prestigious private academy with ties to Princeton University, some of the borough’s most expensive homes are in the Washington-Rosedale section of Pottstown. Located east of downtown Pottstown and its collection of restaurants, convivial beer gardens and boutiques, Washington-Rosedale is primarily residential. From west to east, the neighborhood begins with modest row homes, bungalows and duplexes on narrow, tree-lined streets in a traditional grid layout. Farther into the neighborhood, the residential lots become much larger, with stately Colonial Revivals and other classical homes. “Fifty years ago, that was the affluent part of town where doctors and attorneys lived,” Jennifer Davidheiser, an agent with The Real Estate Professionals, a family-owned firm established in the Pottstown area 30 years ago, says of the Rosedale area. “There are some really neat homes there.” Home values range from about $100,000 to $500,000. A few exceptional properties have sold for even more, like a 5,500-square-foot, 7-bedroom Colonial-style stone mansion with a heated saltwater pool, hot tub and gazebo that sold for $817,000 in December 2022. Even with a few high-priced properties selling for more than half a million dollars, Davidheiser said the city has seen more investment in its housing market and the downtown area because of the affordable real estate prices. “It’s still affordable and in the middle of a transformation,” she says. “Pottsville’s got a lot of stuff going on downtown now. So that makes it a much more exciting place to live.” Over the past few years, the downtown corridor has opened many new businesses, creating an exciting mix of upscale and casual places to shop and dine. Inside a historic bank building, the Asian-fusion Blue Elephant restaurant stands out with its blue velvet booths, polished brass work, Art Deco accent pieces and lush curtains that make the already tall ceiling feel even higher. At SOAR Aerial Fitness studio, anyone can become an amateur acrobat, training on elevated hoops to enhance strength, flexibility and balance. Downtown, folks can shop for groceries at Redner’s Quick Shop or the more organic-focused Deliah & Dean Market. Other supermarket options are just beyond the downtown area, with an Aldi and Landis Supermarket less than two miles away. Closer to the neighborhood, folks in the neighborhood patronize Jack Cassidy’s Irish Pub, an easygoing bar with a menu that includes Irish red ales, Guinness-battered onion rings and common Pennsylvania pub staples, including pierogies and cheesesteaks. Students in the community can attend Rupert Elementary School in the Pottstown School District. Niche gives the K-4 grade school a C rating. From there, students can advance to Pottstown Middle School and Pottstown High School. The middle school gets a C, while the high school has a B-minus rating. Though many families are pleased to have their kids attending local public schools, the Washington-Rosedale area is often associated with The Hill School and The Wyndcroft School. The Hill, a 9-12 grade boarding school that’s long been a feeder school for Princeton, was established in 1851 and spans approximately 200 acres. Alums include Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., businessman and professional sports pioneer Lamar Hunt, film director Oliver Stone and former Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. Also located in the neighborhood, the PreK-8 Wyndcroft School has an 8:1 student-teacher ratio with an average class size of 12 students. When it comes to recreation and relaxation, the Brookside Country Club is located right next to the neighborhood and features an 18-hole golf course, tennis and pickleball courts, a swimming pool and a fine-dining restaurant. In the Washington section of the community, neighbors gather to let their kids play or grow vegetables together in the community garden at Chestnut Street Park. Residents also don’t have to travel far to experience nature along the Schuylkill River Trail and Pottstown Riverfront Park, where you can take out a boat or kayak. As a small city, Pottstown is mostly comprised of neighborhood streets and smaller thoroughfares. Around its edges, Routes 422 and 100 guide motorists around the region and to the nearby cities of Reading, Norristown and Philadelphia. For local travel, residents can take Pottstown Area Rapid Transit buses, while SEPTA’s Route 93 buses connect the city to the system’s sprawling intercity transit network.

Pottstown’s steel and iron factories may be mostly gone, but East End South’s residential architecture alludes to grittier days. In this residential Pottstown neighborhood, twin houses with farmer’s porches and two-story structures with bay windows sit next to each other on urban streets. Locals walk down the tree-lined sidewalks, past bushes and wrought iron fences, and drop their kids off at the neighborhood public school. “We consider ourselves a walking school district,” says John Armato, a director on the Pottstown Board of Education who first came to the borough 54 years ago. “The only students bussed in our district either have to cross a hazardous roadway, which in our case would be Route 100, or students that are bussed for special needs requirements.” Pottstown gained notoriety as a major center of steel and iron manufacturing for the Industrial Revolution. Steel sections for the Golden Gate Bridge were built in this humble little town. But in the late 20th century, when manufacturing in the U.S. started its large-scale decline, most factories left. “We’re like probably 99% of other communities that at one time thrived on industrial facilities, to be their lifeblood. That’s kind of gone away,” says Armato. Small businesses downtown are filling that gap. The Blue Elephant serves Asian fusion cuisine in a grand dining room with high ceilings and blue couches and J.J. Ratigan Brewing Company pours beers in its wooden taproom. Inside a brick building closer to East End South is Little Italy Pizzeria, where locals order pizza and chicken parmesan grinders. Burgers, wings and beers are for sale at Jack Cassidy’s Irish Pub. Pottstown’s school district is relatively small, with about 3,300 students across 5.5 square miles, says Armato. Within that small area, he says, are about 60 identified churches. “Faith plays a role here. You name a faith, and we have it in our district,” he says. A synagogue called Congregation Hesed Shel Emet sits around the corner from Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Kids living in East End South can walk to Rupert Elementary School, which serves kindergarten through fourth grade and has a Niche rating of C. Pottstown Middle School also has a C-rating, and Pottstown High School is rated B-minus. Some schools separate academic and vocational programs, but Pottstown High School has them under the same roof. “They could be in AP European History class, and get up from that class, walk to the other end of building and be in auto tech, construction tech or any of those programs,” he says. Architecture in East End South reflects the sensibilities of early 20th-century industrial Pennsylvania. Twin homes with bay windows, Victorian houses and brick ranch-style homes line its residential streets. Prices in East End South range between $136,000 and $346,000, but the community is known for its high property taxes. The neighborhood has a community park, Maple Street Park, which has a baseball field, a playground and plenty of open space for dog walks and nature treks. Pottstown is proud of Memorial Park, a 70-acre green space with walking trails and a playground. “It’s the home of what we call ‘Memorial Island,’ a piece of the park that’s dedicated to members of community that have served in the military, going all the way back to World War I,” says Armato. The Schuylkill River Trail runs alongside the water, providing neighbors with a tranquil walkway. Pottstown has a lot of commuters, says Armato, and many of them use U.S. Route 422, which runs east to Philadelphia. The state capital is about 50 minutes away by car, and driving to Lancaster takes an hour and 10 minutes.

Beaming with historic charm, Beech-Wilson feels like an escape to the turn of the 20th century. From Beech Street to the south and Wilson Street to the north, you’re immersed in beautiful homes built from the late 1800s to early 1900s. Gary Pace, real estate agent with Zuber Realty, has lived in the neighborhood since 1974. He says, “The homes are the biggest attraction. All of my clients fall in love with the architecture. If they built houses like these today, they would be a million dollars. But they’re much more affordable and full of rich character that you can’t get from a new home.” Colonial and Gothic Revival architecture fuse together on Beech-Wilson’s tree-lined grid. They range from duplexes to single-family homes, ranging from $200,000 to $300,000. On the lower end, you can get a 1,200-square-foot colonial with three bedrooms and original interiors. A similar home with modern updates goes for around $250,000. In the higher price point, you’ll find 5-bedroom homes with 3,000 square feet of living space, original hardwood and cozy wrap-around porches. If you prefer a newer home, you’ll find some Cape Cods and ranch-style homes from the 1950s closer to Wilson Street, in the mid-$200,000s. Not only have the neighborhood homes been around for a while, but so have some of the local businesses. While there aren’t many businesses, most are on N Charlotte Street, including North End Florist, which has been selling flowers to the community since 1985. There’s also Mike’s Brick Oven Pizza, a popular spot for pizza, cheesesteaks and other comfort Italian dishes for decades. Then you have newer restaurants like Urban’s, a casual spot for breakfast and lunch, which opened in 2022. “That building used to be a bar until it went out of business about 50 years ago. It’s been sitting empty ever since, so it’s really nice to see how Urban’s has brought it back to life.” Urban’s isn’t entirely new to the area. The restaurant started out making wood-fired pizza from a food truck about 10 years ago and continues to do so today, so you’ll frequently see them around Pottstown. Kindergarten through fourth-grade students are split between Lincoln and Franklin Elementary Schools. They go on to Pottstown Middle and High Schools. The high school has a B- rating from Niche and is regarded as the third-most diverse high school in the state. For some outdoor recreation, head to Spruce Street Park, a small space where kids can play on the playground or a pickup basketball game. Less than a mile away, near Downtown Pottstown, you can visit the larger green space of Memorial Park. Bring a bike or skateboard to catch some air at the BMX track and hit the ramps at the skatepark. Anglers can cast a line in the Manatawny Creek, which feeds into the Schuylkill River. And when you want to cool off, run through the sprinklers at Fountain of Youth Spray Park. While just minutes from all of the excitement of downtown, you’ll appreciate the historic beauty of Beech-Wilson.

Manatawny-Farmington is an idyllic neighborhood within the historic borough of Pottstown in Montgomery County. Pottstown is situated along the Schuylkill River, boasting homes that exude a timeless charm. Set on rectangular narrow lots, homes in the community are closely packed next to one another, where you’re never too far from your neighbors. Central features such as brick exteriors, inviting front porches and steeply pitched roofs embellished with ornate shingles and facades add to the neighborhood's character. This historic enclave’s major architectural styles inclue Second-Empire, classic American Four Square and Shot-gun style homes for your choosing. You’ll find modest cape cod retreats and newer traditional constructions alongside these turn-of-the-century homes. Some streets offer driveways, while others utilize street parking. Prices range from $175,000 for fixer-uppers to $265,000 for up to four bedrooms. Lincoln Elementary School and Pottstown Middle School both earn an A rating in the diversity category, according to Niche. The middle school offers several afterschool sports programs for students wanting to stay active and practice sportsmanship. For upperclassmen, Pottstown High School has a golf team and an overall score of a B, according to Niche. Spanning 70 acres, Memorial Park is a small-town greenspace hub of recreational activities and community spirit. You’ll find several baseball fields, a splash zone, playgrounds and ample room for summer picnics. There is also a BMX track and skatepark for daredevils ready for a thrill. When residents aren't coming here to walk with their dogs on the trail or find quiet time at the War Memorial, they gather for annual town events. Residents flock to attend the firework celebration for the Pottstown GoFourth Festival, with food trucks and activities for the kids. The Pottstown Pet Fair is a celebration of furry companions across town featuring handmade pet treats and toys. When you want to grab a bite to eat, Tornettas Pizzeria is the place to go for its old-school pies including their savory Hot Jawn pizza drizzled with sweet Mikes Hot Honey. Ice House on King Street is an ideal spot for loaded cheese steaks, Italian hoagies and even funnel cake fries.. Off North Charolette Street, you’ll find a sweet place to start your mornings; Honey's Homebrewed Café is dishing out breakfast bagels and their signature Honey Bee Cold Brew. You’ll also find familiar chains like Starbucks and Chilis. Manatawny-Farmington's history and outdoor appeal are complemented by its convenient location. PA 100 runs directly through the neighborhood, providing easy access to neighboring communities. Residents can shop for groceries at Giant, while Upland Square Shopping Center is a one-stop destination for errands, with a Ross, Petco, Staples, Burlington and LA Fitness. After a day at the park or grabbing dinner, gather loved ones and head to AMC for the latest movie releases or Downtown Pottstown for access to breweries, a variety of restuarants and the scenic Pottstown Riverfront Park. Whether watching the sunrise on your porch or finding solace at the park, settling down Manatawny-Farmington is the place for those searching for a piece of history to call their own.

Downtown Pottstown is divided by North Washington Street to the east, Beech Street to the north, the Schuylkill River to the south and the Manatawny Creek to the west. The area is mostly made up of homes and churches built before WWII, including Zion’s United Church of Christ which was dedicated in 1796 and still in use today. However, there are modern signs do exist throughout the neighborhood with the opening of new stores and the renovation of the older Italianate homes. “Downtown Pottstown is up and coming,” says Jennifer Davidheiser, a Realtor with The Real Estate Professionals since 2005. “We’ve seen a steady increase in values, so I think it’s a natural progression as these old towns are starting to develop again.” East High Street acts as the main drag for the area, with plenty of locally owned stores lining the streets. But Pottstown doesn’t just have the locally owned places, it is also about 4 miles from the Limerick Clean Energy Center, with the two cooling units visible for miles around. There is also a railroad right that goes through the area a few times a day. During the summer, runners can spend Tuesdays at the Tuesdays in the Park Ice Cream 5k Summer Series, where ice cream is free for all runners. Occurring the fourth Tuesday from May to June, this flat course can help runners prepare for future events. At Riverfront Park, history is showcased with Powwow on Manatawny Creek, where Native American dancers and artisans share their culture. Pottstown also offers summer camp that lasts for eight weeks in the summer, where children can participate in outdoor recreation and a weekly Friday visit to various places such as the Elmwood Zoo and demonstrations from the police. The Steel River Playhouse is a non-profit organization that has live performances, where the focus is on the human element, throughout the year. Walking down East High Street showcases several locally owned restaurants and businesses, including The Blue Elephant, Good Fella’s Gourmet Food, Deliah and Dean, Three Cousins Diner and Ileana’s Kitchen. There is even a farmers market every other Saturday from May to October, where residents can get fresh produce and unique crafts. With a median price of $177,500 and a median year built of 1900, homes within Downtown Pottstown can be a wide range of architectural styles, from rowhomes to Queen Anne, to Italianate homes all within the same block. There are also a fair amount of single-family Italianate homes that have been transformed into multi-family dwellings, with many of these conversions still retaining two bedrooms. “There are more commuters and remote workers buying homes here,” says Davidheiser. “There’s a lot of charm and affordability.” A renovated Italianate home can begin around $169,000 and reach $310,000. Renovated homes can include updating the kitchen and paint throughout the home, although some homes do retain the original hardwood floors. The Pottstown Historic Architectural Review even has guides for what types of renovations to the exterior of homes are allowed, including the best way to repair original architectural features such as windows, doors and lintels. If repair isn’t an option, the review also offers replacement suggestions. Many homes have street parking, but alleyways may also have parking options on some roads. Children in Downtown Pottstown usually begin school at Elizabeth B. Barth Elementary for kindergarten through fourth grade before moving to Pottstown Middle for fifth through eighth grade. Both schools receive a C from Niche. At Pottstown High School, which earns a B-minus from Niche, students can take Advanced Placement and honors classes. The Hill School, a private boarding school about a mile east of the neighborhood, has been in operation since 1851 and receives an A-plus from Niche. There are two pocket parks within the neighborhood as well as Pottstown Riverfront Park, with access to the Schuylkill River for kayaking as well as the Schuylkill River Trail for jogging, walking or bike riding. Both Cherry Street Park and South Street Park contain playgrounds, although South Street also includes a basketball court for a pickup game. Memorial Park, to the west, has playgrounds, a skate park, spray area, dog park and even a BMX track. The Charles W. Dickinson Transportation Center acts as the hub for the five bus lines through Pottstown. The earlies bus lines start at 6 a.m. Monday through Friday, with most lines ending about 6 p.m. Downtown Pottstown earns a crime score of 8 from the CAP Index.