In a borough top-heavy with progress and runaway success, a shining ray of fairness and equity recently shone down on those living there who cannot afford to enjoy the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. 

At a Nov. 7 presentation at the Kennett Library, representatives from several architectural, engineering, legal, traffic and development agencies formally introduced a concept that has been on the back burner of Kennett Square Borough’s residential radar for more than the past decade. Speaker by speaker and slide by slide, those in attendance witnessed the unveiling of the proposed residential complex at the 22-acre, former site of the National Vulcanized Fibre Company (NVF) along West Mulberry Street in the borough. 

The first half of the presentation introduced the proposed construction of 294 residential units that will include 246 single-family townhomes, 38 single-family townhomes and 104 stacked townhomes, projected to be priced between the upper $300,000s for a 1,200 square-foot residence to the low-to-mid $500,000s for a 2,220-square foot residence. 

It was nothing new to residents of a borough that have seen a veritable residential construction bonanza dramatically alter its landscape in recent years. Kennett Pointe, The Flats at Kennett, Magnolia Place Apartments and, most recently, the Kennett Square Apartments and a new, 16-acre residential and commercial development springing up on Walnut Road have risen – and continue to rise --  in the aftermath of a borough that has handed over the key to its identity to real estate developers, who offer “luxury living” at rates and prices that are unthinkable to the working class, and in the process have converted the dynamics of a town from that honors its diversity to one that only honors those who can afford to live there. 

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Then, about halfway through the presentation, the ray of hope that many residents of the borough and throughout southern Chester County have been anxiously hoping for, suddenly began to shine. Glen Morgan, a principal of Delaware Valley Development Corporation (DVDC), introduced 48 mixed-income and affordable multifamily residential units that are being proposed as part of the NVF residential complex.

Residents of these affordable housing units can expect to pay monthly rent that will start at approximately $300 for a one-bedroom unit and go up to $1,400 for a three-bedroom unit. The complex will be green friendly, constructed under energy star certifications and offer residents a full support of services that will include a clubhouse with professional property management and 24-hour maintenance and accompanied by 149 additional parking spaces. This is not the first affordable housing option DVDC has or is proposed to develop; the company has already developed 35 affordable communities in the area that include Granite Ridge in Kennett Township and Red Clay Manor in Kennett Square.  

The vision of Delaware Valley Development Corporation to design affordable housing options in southern Chester County can and must serve as the guidepost for future residential development, and every stakeholder of every municipality in this region – every elected official, planning commission member and township manager – needs to write in their contracts with every developer that a portion of all planned residential development must include affordable housing options.

Morgan described the 48 units as “housing for the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker.” His words were accurate, heartfelt and specific to the those who contribute the most to the way of life that many in Kennett Square Borough have come to enjoy, and are afraid of losing, permanently.