Parkesburg November Housing Index

Parkesburg 10 Year Home Value Trend

Parkesburg Zillow Home Value Index

Parkesburg Home Values - Interactive chart

Despite the troubled economy, as the graph below illustrates, Parkesburg homes have held their value relatively well compared to homes across the entire country.

Parkesburg Monthly Housing Index

Homes currently listed For Sale	38
Median home size (sq ft)	1,478
Home value index	$        167,300
Median list price	$        184,000
Median sale price	$        195,000
Median value per square foot	$               117

New Salon & Spa Opens On Main Street

Susan Boninu (center) has opened Salon Boninu at 217 W. Main St., Parkesburg. Joining Boninu are staff members (from left) Briana Taylor, Jen Zazo, Kathleen Malen, Katie Morgan, (not pictured) Suzanne Lane, Andrea Jacoby, and Kaela Chermak.

From the September 15th Gap-Parkesburg-Oxford Community Courier

Local resident and stylist Susan Boninu has opened Salon Boninu at 217 W. Main St., Parkesburg.

Salon Boninu is the only full-service salon and spa in the borough of Parkesburg. It is located in the renovated former home of the Parkesburg Country Store and Ice Cream Parlor. The salon offers services for hair, including color and extensions, as well as pedicures, manicures, massage, facials, body wraps, makeup, Reiki, reflexology, and more. Birthday and wedding parties are welcome. 

High-quality beauty products, such as Davines color and hair care products from Italy, Label M from London, and Cures by Avancé skin care, are available for purchase at the salon.

The owner, Susan Boninu, has worked in the beauty industry for 15 years. She has lived and worked in Chester County for all of her career. Boninu has had the most extensive education available in the beauty industry. She and her highly trained staff are proud of their new salon, which is open on Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Tuesdays through Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. 

To schedule an appointment or for more information about Salon Boninu, readers may call 484-712-5619, visit www.salonboninu.com, or find the salon on Facebook.

Parkesburg's Progress Gets Noticed

Brad Sinrod’s Great Oak Capital is renovating the building at 224-228 Main St. in Parkesburg. It will be occupied by Keller Williams Realty Midway. (Staff photo by Amy Dragoo)

“We’re trying to get to that tipping point where (development) becomes self-fulfilling.”

So says Brad Sinrod, co-developer of the Main Street's Parkesburg Bank building on the front page of the business section of the tomorrow's Daily Local.

Read the entire Daily Local article and watch the accompanying video featuring Council President Mel Keen and Mr. Sinrod speaking about Parkesburg's progress and the restoration of the bank building.

Parkesburg Question Box

Q: Why do Parkesburg police officers park their cars in front of the police station and why do officers leave the car running while they are in the station house?

A:  The answer to the first part of the question is simplicity and speed.  Officers entering the station from the back of the station must pass through several doors to access their work area.  When they park their cars in the front of the building their work area inside the building is just one door and a few steps away.  Officer’s proximity to their cars allows them to respond faster when an emergency happens or a resident needs help.

Why do officers leave the car's engine running while working in the station?  The answer is because the sophisticated electronics that are standard equipment in each police cruiser.  911 calls dispatching officers are no longer transmitted via two way radio.  Instead call details are transmitted to an officer via the laptop computer mounted on every cruiser’s dash.  Since the computer take three or four minutes to boot, turning the computer off when not being used is not an option. And leaving the computer on but turning the car off would drain the car’s battery in 10 minutes.

Have a question about something you see in town?  Drop me a note and I'll get the answer.

'Bottles' Author Book Signing

Parkesburg antique bottle collector, Gerry Treadway (a.k.a Uncle Sam), has written a unique history about bottles that were used in Parkesburg from 1852 to the present.  The book, Parkesburg Bottles, includes pictures, description and histories of bottles used for milk, drug, malt liquor, mineral water and others.  Included are many interesting stories integrated with historical information about Parkesburg.

Read more about the book in the Philadelphia Inquirer or watch a video.

A book signing and display will be held on December 4 10:00 to 1:00 at the Parkesburg Free Library as part of the Christmas in Parkesburg tour.

Octorara School Board 11/15 Meeting Notes

Without a weekly newspaper it is next to impossible to know the business before the school board and what district administrators and board members are doing to improve education while keeping costs down.

A new blog named Octorara Report has the agenda for each meeting and summary of comments made by administrators, board members and visitors attending the meeting.

Parkesburg Today notes the hard work of Parkesburg resident and board member Bob Hume.  Bob was the only board member to vote 'No' on a measure to approve a work order change increasing the cost of the new gym.  According to meeting minutes, after the item was presented "Mr. Hume had some comments about the capital project funding.  He feels that the district's debt resembles the problem the country is having.  We are mortgaged to 2030.  He doesn't think the money that has been spent has been wasted, but that the district has gone too far in spending.  He thinks that the District should sit down with Breslin & see if there can't be some dampers put on the spending.  He believes we can wait 3-4 years to do the gym.  He doesn't think that people in the district understand how much debt the District has."

In other business board members reviewed test scores, looked at tax projections for the next several years and finalized this year's budget schedule. 

"Making a Difference" Nominations Sought

The Octorara Community Education Foundation is asking for your help. Each year the foundation recognizes a few outstanding individuals and-or businesses from the Octorara Community with the OCEF -“Making a Difference in the Community” award.

This award is designed to honor residents, business owners, or alumni of the Octorara Area School District who have earned the admiration of their peers and deserve to be recognized for the commitment they make to the Octorara community.

Please fill out a nomination form for your child’s coach, teacher, boy/girl scout leader, a business owner, neighbor, friend, or anyone you feel has gone “above and beyond” to make a difference in our Octorara community.

All completed applications must be received by January 12, 2011.


Get an application and read more here.

A. Duie Pyle Greens Up

Craig Dwyer of MainLine Solar, left, and Timothy Koch of A. Duie Pyle stand on the roof of the warehouse with the solar panel installation in the background. Daily Local Staff photo by Amy Dragoo

4,466 solar panels installed on the roof a of the Duie Pyle warehouse at the west end of Parkesburg will be finished by the end of the year and supply 100% of the site's electricity needs.

Read more and watch a video at the Daily Local website.

Bank Building Owners Cut Ribbons

Parkesburg history buffs will appreciate the comments of Pete Satz, developer of the Parkesburg Bank Building, made Saturday afternoon before cutting the ribbon opening the building with his business partner Brad Sinrod.

_______________

"Brad and I would like to say a few words about the Bank Building, and the 3^rd and last grand opening. 

First I would like to speak to the history of the building and this project.  I have enjoyed discovering the history of the town and this building during the last year.

"We believe the building was built, when the bank, Parkesburg National Bank, was established, in 1869.  As the bank prospered, an addition was placed on the east side of the original building, which is the stone front of the Bank building.  By 1900, Main Street sported a hotel, a bar for the hotel, (currently the Amtrak switching station mm the building), Owens Department Store, Stables, which was located where the parking lot is, and Sachs General Store.

"The commercial front of the Bank building housed a number of different stores including the Parkesburg Drug store, a variety store called the “bee hive”, and a jewelry store.  The third floor was headquarters for the Masonic Lodge in 1883. We discovered during the renovation that the basement housed a bowling alley.  The flooring material was repurposed countertops in the bank building and quite a few other buildings in the area.  We added some additional “bowling alley” breakfast bar islands which has become an attractive leasing feature in the apartments.    

"By 1924, the Parkesburg National Bank failed and the 30-40 shops that were present at the turn of the century where diminished to a handful of shops by the 1970’s, and many of the associated building where is disrepair or demolished.

"1n 1980, the building was in complete disrepair, boarded up and was slated to be demolished by the borough.  Local developers Wick Williams along with Jeff Hery’s help saved the building by stepping up, when no one else would to renovate the building, in the face of strong opposition from the borough and county.  Their grand opening was on a Saturday in November in 1982, almost 28 years ago to this Month.  Wick owned the building for 22 years and sold it in 2004.

"We took over the building just about a year ago.  Once again, the building was in disrepair. The building was vacant and in rough shape.  There were 12 active leaks in the building coming from the roofs, windows, brick, gutters, downspouts, just about everywhere.  The building was in need of renovation from top to bottom.  Other than some of the obvious renovations, we rebuilt mansard level which included re hanging slate, rebuilding dormers, new windows throughout the 3^rd floor.  We replaced 85 percent of the Heating and Air condition, made major roof repairs and replaced and repaired all of the gutter systems.  Work in the apartments included new flooring or refinishing the wood floors, extensive dry wall and finishing work, paint and had major upgrades to the kitchens and baths.    

"I Would like to thanks the following folks:

"Wick Williams- He is owner and architect of Williams/Loustau.  He performed architectural services for us during this project.  In addition, he offered guidance and direction on the many questions we had during the renovation process of this building.   Thanks for your support and passion for this building.

"Brent Balla- Brent is the owner of Balla Construction, a general contractor located in Parkesburg.  Balla Construction performed numerous projects on the interior and exterior of the building including the rebuilding of the mansard level.  Your commitment to this project was proven to me when you worked through last winter on the exterior of the building during many of the sub zero weather.  Thanks for your commitment to getting this done.

"Jeff Taliercio- Jeff is owner of Premier Home Improvements. Jeff has been involved with daily operation of the building and renovation. Thanks for your efforts in handling the many problems that come with an old building like this.

"John Wilfong- John worked on some of the painting of the building and was the very involved with the commercial fit out.  John, thanks for your excellent craftsmanship and quality work.  I appreciate your commitment to doing this project right.

"Dave Smith- Dave has spent a good part of 9 months, primarily painting the building inside and out.  Thanks for your tireless commitment and loyalty to completing this job.  Dave this was no small feat and something you should be proud of. 

"Thanks for my family for the sacrifices they have made to during this project.

"Brad—my partner at Great Oak Capital.  Thanks for having the guts, and courage, and determination to pull this off during the heart of the worst recession since the depression. 

"As we worked through this process, it was amazing to see how many people who searched us out to speak of their passion for Parkesburg and this building.  They all thanked us for what we have done to the building. I feel honored to take a part in restoring this building and bringing the glory back to this building and making  a positive change to main street in Parkesburg.

http://www.greatoakcapital.com/index_files/Ribboncutting.htm

Amtrak Paves Station Parking Lot

In yet another step forward for Parkesburg, Amtrak paved the train station parking lot this week.  Long unimproved, travelers and commuters catching a train endured bone-jarring ruts and lake-sized puddles, obstacles made worse every time a summer thunderstorm blew through.

No more! Train riders turning off Culvert Avenue into the train station now enjoy a smooth ride on the macadam path up to the station and over 70 unmetered parking places.

Some of those spaces are so close to where the train stops passengers frequently opt to wait the few minutes for the next train not on the platform, but in the comfort of their cars.

I'm told the north parking lot located off Main Street will receive the same treatment in the coming weeks.

With all the development and new business coming to town, do you sense the town springing back to life?

The Still Missing Parkesburg Fountain

The Parkesburg Fountain (center)  in a turn-of-the-century postcard.  The Parkesburg Bank building is the prominent set of buildings on the far right. (Gerry Treadway's collection)

In a post in August 2009 I asked if anyone knew who had removed Parkesburg's historic water fountain, pictured above, from its pedestal across the street from Rocco's and Anna's restaurant on Main Street.

The fountain sat at the intersection of Main Street and Strasburg Road and gave horses at the turn of the century a cool drink of water while their riders shopped at nearby hardware or department stores.

Removed in a burst of modernization in the 1950's and restored by Jeff Hery in the 1990's, the fountain disappeared from it's red brick pedestal without explanation in the summer of 2009.

As the restoration of the Parkesburg Bank building pictured above wraps up in the coming weeks and Keller-Williams opens Parkesburg's first real estate office in decades in the three store fronts of that historic building, its time to ask again...

Who took the fountain, where it is now, and how can Parkesburg get it back?

Monday Night's Council Meeting

Here's the agenda from Monday evening's Borough Council meeting.  Council President Mel Keen's notes from the meeting are below.

Council President Keen's Notes:

Mayor Hagan commended Detective Jerry Davis for his service to Parkesburg, awarding him the esteemed and sometimes coveted Fedora Hat award.  Detective Davis is now a detective for Chester County.

Borough Council appointed Bernie Beegle of 8th Avenue to the Zoning Hearing Board.   Thanks Bernie for giving to the community.

Council is moving forward with the 2011 budget. Tax revenue estimates from changing assessments are pending. We are not planning on a tax increase for 2011 at this point.  During 2010 costs have been examined and reduced when possible.  We started by asking all vendors with hourly rates to sharpen their pencils for 2010, they did.  We updated our permitting process, making the department cost efficient. Recently we locked into a lower electricity rate for the next couple of years.  This will hold the line on Borough electricity costs.

The Borough received our Recycling  Performance Grant, based on tonnage,  for 2008.  The grant was for $4057.00.  This offsets some of the cost of collecting recycling.  We expect the grant amounts to increase as recycling tonnage increases.

Parkesburg recycling is co-mingled, ALL material is to be in dump-able containers.  Residents should have more recycling than trash.  All the boxes and plastic trays from freezer food goes in recycling and well as kitchen and laundry plastic containers, glass bottles, tin and alum cans, junk mail, newspaper and boxes.  Just dump it all in can together and put it out for recycling.

Craft and Book Fair This Saturday

Where: Schneider Parish Center 
            Our Lady of Consolation Church

            Cemetery  Road, Parkesburg

When:  Saturday Nov. 20, 9am- 3pm              

                            

Holiday Crafts, Tasty Food, Home Decor, Sassy Jewelry and more! 

Two floor of Treasures.

Visit with Santa!

Click here to learn more.

Keller Williams Realty Opens Parkesburg Office

In my last post I asked about the commercial development happening at the bank building at 224 Main Street.

Per the press release below, its now official. Keller Williams Realty will open Parkesburg's first real estate office at an Open House this Saturday (11/20) from 3 to 4 PM.

First a letter from Brad Sinrod of Great Oak Capital, the property's developer followed by a press release announcing the agreement with Keller Williams:

Letter From Developer Brad Sinrod:

We have signed a lease with Keller Williams Realty Midway, who will be taking the ground floor of 224-228 Main Street.  Vince Taliercio is the broker of record and will be managing the office. 

We purchased the building in November 2009 when it was in shambles.  The roof was leaking, all of the units were vacant and the police were frequently called to the property to deal with squatters and loiterers.

We have spent a year fixing the building from top to bottom.  We patched the roof, replaced windows, updated fixtures, painted and carpeted throughout.  We now have 9 families renting the apartments, and will soon have KW on the ground floor.  With the exception of some space that is currently unused, the building is complete.

The borough council and borough staff have been very helpful to us, and we have felt very welcome in the community.  It’s been a great process.

Our company specializes in purchasing, repairing and managing multi-family and mixed use properties.  In addition to 224 Main Street, we own one other multi-family property in Parkesburg.  We are under agreement to buy a third building and are actively looking for more. 

We are active in the community.  Brad was appointed by the borough to the Western Chester County Emergency Services Consolidation Committee which is looking at ways for the Parkesburg, Atglen and Pomeroy fire companies to work together.    Brad and Pete are also active participants in PABA and the Main Street Revitalization Committee.

We are having an open house at the property this Saturday, from 3:00 to 4:00 and people can take a look at the finished space that we’ve created. 

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Brad Sinrod
(610) 659-8551
brad@greatoakcapital.com

Parkesburg, PA sees surge in businesses opening on Main Street

Keller Williams among companies opening offices

Parkesburg, Chester County, PA – November 20, 2010 – One year ago while the real estate market was in a downward spiral, real estate developers Brad Sinrod and Pete Staz of Great Oak Capital Properties purchased one of the landmark historic properties on Main Street in Parkesburg. Formerly a trophy property and an important part of the local economy, 224-228 Main Street was vacant and facing foreclosure. Sinrod and Staz, along a handful of local contractors, spent nearly a year renovating the property and bringing it back to its earlier glory. The nine renovated residential units located in the property have been fully rented for several months.

Great Oak Capital Properties restoration work was rewarded this month when Keller Williams Realty Midway, who serves western Chester County and Lancaster County, announced that they were opening their regional office in building. Keller Williams joins several other new businesses revitalizing Main Street in Parkesburg including a salon, bakery and computer repair shop.

Parkesburg was a “boom town” during the railroad era. Keller Williams Midway moves into a building that was formerly the Parkesburg Bank (founded in 1869). The bank went bust in the 1920’s and the building went on to be used for doctor’s offices, a pharmacy, jewelry store, Masonic Lodge and even a pool hall. Great Oak Capital worked closely with the borough of Parkesburg to restore and update the building to attract a leading company like Keller Williams.

Great Oak Capital Properties is attracted to smaller “Main Street” locations and has restored a number of buildings in Chester County. They have owned several properties in Parkesburg over the years. When they had an opportunity to purchase the Bank Building on Main Street, they had a vision of bringing new life to the town by restoring this key property. According to partner Brad Sinrod, “we were excited to turn this property around. We saw the potential to help Parkesburg’s historic commercial district come back by renovating one of the most visible properties on Main Street.”

Sinrod and Staz aren’t alone in seeing potential on Main Street. In addition to Keller Williams Midway and long-time restaurateurs Rocco and Anna’s, new businesses such as Salon Boninu, computer repair shop RMON Tech and others are opening up shops on Main Street. The Octorara Regional Planning Commission is currently forming a Main Street Revitalization Committee to help encourage and coordinate the growth on Main Street.

New Commercial Development on Main Street

New commercial development is happening at the Parkesburg Bank Building at 224 Main Street.

Anyone know what's coming?  I heard rumors of a real estate office.  If its true it will be a Parkesburg first.

If you know drop me a note.  I'll post it here as soon as I know for certain what's coming.

Mental Health Break

OK Go - This Too Shall Pass - Rube Goldberg Machine

On a regular basis I come across things on the web that are just fun but alas, have absolutely nothing to do with Parkesburg. 

Stealing an idea from Andrew Sullivan's Daily Dish blog, when I come across one of these items I'll post it here under the guise of a sorely needed "Mental Health Break"

Here's the first such posting.  A prize for the first person who comes up with the correct number of times they had to run the contraption to get a clean video from start to finish.  Enjoy!

Here's a four part look at behind-the-scene making of the music video.

State and Local Police Drill To Keep Students Safe

More than 75 law enforcement officials participated in an exercise Friday that simulated a gunman in the halls of a school.

State police coordinated the drill with help from Parkesburg and West Fallowfield police, the county Department of Emergency Services and Cochranville Fire Company.

The drill took place at the Octorara Area School District Building, and teachers and district administrators participated. Students were off from school that day and did not participate, said state police Trooper Corey Monthei.

Read the full story in The Daily Local..

Houghton Takes Parkesburg, Drops District Race

On election day 2010 Parkesburg residents said thank you and goodbye, for now, to Representative Tom Houghton.  As the town's representative in Harrisburg for the last 2 years, Houghton had worked tirelessly to bring economic development to the Octorara Region and curb escalating property taxes.

In a year where Republicans carried Parkesburg, albeit narrowly, Representative Tom Houghton eaked out a narrow 37 vote victory over his Republican challenger John Lawrence.  The margin however, was not enough to lift Houghton to a district wide victory in a seat he won for the first time two years ago.  When all the ballots were counted Houghten came up 2,123 votes short.

Houghton's work ethic, his ability to bring people together to work towards common goals and objectives all the while remaining above the dirty game of politics, will be missed in Parkesburg.  I suspect we haven't seen the last of him!

Here are the election result from last week:

Straight Party Vote
	Parkesburg N	Parkesburg S	Total
Democratic	89	173	262
Republican	83	176	259
United States Senate
	Parkesburg N	Parkesburg S	Total
Joe Sestak (D)	148	297	445
Pat Toomey ( R)	154	297	451
Governor
	Parkesburg N	Parkesburg S	Total
Dan Onorato (D)	141	282	423
To Corbett ( R)	160	311	471
US House of Representative
	Parkesburg N	Parkesburg S	Total
Lois Herr (D)	132	271	403
Joe Pitts ( R)	170	326	496
PA Legislator - 13th District
	Parkesburg N	Parkesburg S	Total
Tom Houghton (D)	158	311	469
John Lawrence ( R)	144	288	432