Chester CountyPRESS
www.chestercounty.com
Covering Avon Grove, Chadds Ford, Kennett Square, Oxford, & Unionville Areas
Volume 157, No. 33
Wednesday, August 16, 2023
$1.50
Council hears ideas for creating affordable housing options in Kennett Square Borough By Richard L. Gaw Staff Writer The increasingly crucial issue of making housing more affordable in Kennett Square Borough -- one of the key priorities of the current Kennett Borough Council -took a step forward on Aug. 9, when council heard from a Planning Commission member who proposed three new initiatives. Finding – and ultimately developing – affordable housing options in a borough that is a little more than one square-mile in size “is a complex challenge,” said Planning Commission member Luke Zubrod, who in a public workshop suggested that council direct the seven-member commis-
INSIDE
sion to develop “first-step” changes in the form of three policies that aim to improve housing affordability and increase “non-luxury” housing supply in the borough: 1. That the construction of internal, attached and detached accessory dwelling units (ADUs) be permitted in the development of future borough residential development within all zoning districts. (ADUs are defined as smaller, independent residential dwelling units that can be in the form of additions to new and existing homes or new stand-alone structures. Now supported by cities and counties across the U.S., ADUs have the potential to increase housing affordability and create a wider range of housing
options.) 2. Reforming minimum parking mandates at new developments and redevelopment sites. 3. Taking the steps to accommodate “Missing Middle Housing,” an initiative that will invite greater density within a community while still attempting to enable development at a neighborhood scale. The initiatives proposed by the Planning Commission were included in its July 11 letter the Borough Council that stated the need for policies aimed at housing affordability in the brough are supported by several compiled facts: • Twenty-nine percent of Photo by Richard L. Gaw households in the borough The Kennett Square Borough Council heard a presentation at its Aug. 9 meeting Continued on Page 6A
FROM OUR LENS Chester County pastoral
Brandywine Festival of the Arts returns for 62nd year.……1B
Kennett Square resident selected to lead county department ...3A
To Subscribe Call 610.869.5553
Photo by Richard L. Gaw
© 2007 The Chester County Press
With their crests and backs shining in the midday sun, these horses enjoyed a frolic in a pasture along Hillendale Road near Kennett Square last Friday afternoon.
that proposed methods of providing more affordable housing in the borough.
Post-pandemic, Philter writes its next chapter By Caroline Roosevelt Contributing Writer Through the turbulence of a worldwide pandemic, Philter owner Chris Thompson somehow cleared hurdle after hurdle and kept his popular coffee shop in the heart of Kennett Square afloat. Now, on the soon-to-be occasion of its tenth anniversary on Dec. 9, Philter has come to mean so much more than just coffee. Although its coffee keeps Philter’s loyal customers coming back, the concept that Thompson began also represents community, creativity and camaraderie, and it has emerged from COVID19 better than ever with a new menu in partnership with business partner Meredith Mitchell and her new catering and culinary business called A Little More. I recently sat down with Chris and Meredith to unpack the new Philter and its business plan. Caroline Roosevelt: Let’s start with what happened during the pandemic. It killed so many businesses, and yet you were able to ride out wave after wave.
Photo courtesy of Philter
Philter has re-emerged from the pandemic with a new business model and a partnership with Meredith Mitchell and her new catering and culinary business, A Little More.
Chris Thompson: It took a while to get back to normal. There were temporary changes but when we reopened, we knew that people wanted quicker service and I wanted to maintain quality. We invested in new equipment, and we didn’t do in person dining at all, and everything
was to-go. We had the grab n’ go breakfast sandwiches because I did see a need for those. It was a good option, but it was never right, because it was never what Philter was supposed to be. CR: How did you transition back to the original model? Continued on Page 3A
Dan Breslow turns wood into art By Betsy Brewer Brantner Contributing Writer Few people can resist the allure of a craft show. Everyone is intrigued by creative people, and the process of finding a unique handmade item. Recently, Dan Breslow made an appearance at Ware’s Christmas In July craft show in Oxford, and astounded people with his contributions in the art of wood turning. “I was the unicorn in the show at Ware,” he said. “My price range may have been higher than others, but I sold very well.” He was the unicorn, and people couldn’t walk by his table without stopping and Courtesy photo Dan Breslow is shown holding one of his smaller cre- talking to him and his wife. ations that shines like glass. He is surrounded by art And many onlookers quickly of all different shapes and sizes.
Continued on Page 2A
Du Pont’s gardens of the Brandywine Valley showcased in new book A new hardcover book highlights Du Pont’s glorious gardens. Du Pont Gardens of the Brandywine Valley is a hardcover book with 240 pages and 220 photographs showcasing the dazzling beauty of five former Du Pont estates. Please see the full story on Page 4A.