tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33710212641622498742024-03-12T21:29:37.326-07:00Lancaster City LivingMWShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871137248025552702noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371021264162249874.post-17983898424643334352008-10-01T13:27:00.000-07:002008-10-02T11:27:02.213-07:00Don’t let the Green Grass Fool You – Part II<span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >The <a style="color: rgb(255, 204, 153);" href="http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2008/05_carbon_footprint_sarzynski.aspx"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">“Shrinking Carbon Footprint of Metropolitan America,”</span></span></a> <a style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);" href="http://www.brookings.edu/%7E/media/Files/rc/reports/2008/05_carbon_footprint_sarzynski/carbonfootprint_report.pdf">(Click Here for the Full Report)</a> by the Brookings Institution discusses the problems created by America’s growing carbon footprint. Says the report, “…Americans are driving more, building more, consuming more energy, and emitting more carbon. Rising energy prices, growing dependence on imported fuels, and accelerating global climate change make the nation’s growth patterns unsustainable…Metropolitan America is poised to play a leadership role in addressing these energy and environmental challenges.” <a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);" href="http://www.brookings.edu/reports/2008/%7E/media/Files/rc/papers/2008/05_carbon_footprint_sarzynski/metroprofiles.pdf">The report also provides the carbon profile of 100 metropolitan areas.</a> <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 255, 102);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >Interestingly, Lancaster City is one of those areas (See page 46)</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 153);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">. In the lineup, Lancaster comes in 29th (1 being the lowest output and 100 being the highest). <span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);"> The profile also breaks down the sources of carbon output. The findings?</span> Lancaster comes in 2nd on auto emissions. Essentially, Lancastrians are getting out of their cars and walking. At number one, the only city with a lower auto emissions output is, population dense, New York.</span> </span>MWShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871137248025552702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371021264162249874.post-54429820797796381702008-09-30T12:52:00.000-07:002008-10-01T06:38:34.374-07:00Buying a House in Lancaster City Makes Sense<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kBtvGBFtGVE/SOKJpghVqAI/AAAAAAAAABc/nf7XdQ-GgWg/s1600-h/JSIDPhotoCroppedSmall.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kBtvGBFtGVE/SOKJpghVqAI/AAAAAAAAABc/nf7XdQ-GgWg/s320/JSIDPhotoCroppedSmall.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5251911461664827394" border="0" /></a>
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namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" name="place"></o:smarttagtype><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if !mso]><object classid="clsid:38481807-CA0E-42D2-BF39-B33AF135CC4D" id="ieooui"></object> <style> st1\:*{behavior:url(#ieooui) } </style> <![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal"><a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);" href="http://www.lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=266"><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >People used to choose living in <st1:place><st1:placename>Lancaster</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>City</st1:placetype></st1:place></span></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" ><a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);" href="http://www.lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=266"> <span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">because it was cool, then they did it because of the creative energy it inspired</span></a>.<span style=""> </span>Now, people are moving to and buying homes in <st1:city><st1:place>Lancaster</st1:place></st1:city></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" > because, frankly, it just makes sense.<span style=""> </span>The economic picture nationally is not a pretty one.<span style=""> </span>And, while you can’t control what goes on in <st1:state><st1:place>Washington</st1:place></st1:state></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" > and <st1:state><st1:place>New York</st1:place></st1:state></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >, you CAN control what happens to you right here, right now.<span style=""> </span>Most advisors will tell you that now is not a good time to make a major purchase or to go take a dip in the suburban housing market.<span style=""> </span>But <st1:city><st1:place>Lancaster</st1:place></st1:city></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" > is different.<span style=""> </span>It’s different because of all the great things it’s always offered while still being affordable.<span style=""> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Think of it this way.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">What if someone offered you a four bedroom house for only $625 a month rent.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Would you take it?</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">What if that person agreed not to raise the rent for 30 years?</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Then would you take it?</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">What if that person told you that if you stayed there for those 30 years, they would give you the house?</span><span style=""> </span>Buying a house in <st1:place><st1:placename>Lancaster</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>City</st1:placetype></st1:place></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" > for about $97,000 at 6.75% interest for 30 years is about that.<span style=""> <a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);" href="http://www.lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=267"> </a></span><a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);" href="http://www.lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=267">Here is the bonus:<span style=""> </span>if you take the offer you will burn less gas and walk more places</a>.<span style=""> </span>You will probably get more exercise and will spend less time idling in your car.<span style=""> </span><a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);" href="http://www.coldwellbanker.com/servlet/News?action=viewNewsItem&contentId=14472660&customerType=News">More and more Americans will stop seeing their home primarily as a financial investment to be bought and sold like stocks and will start seeing it as a place to live and grow</a>.<span style=""> </span>And, there is no better place for that to happen than in <st1:place><st1:placename>Lancaster</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>City</st1:placetype></st1:place></span><span style="font-size:12;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-family:arial;font-size:130%;" >.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p> MWShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871137248025552702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371021264162249874.post-37344687278527703832008-02-12T07:19:00.000-08:002008-10-02T11:24:45.023-07:00Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_kBtvGBFtGVE/R7G9torq1FI/AAAAAAAAABE/8UTuCKuodXA/s1600-h/MiniNewYorkTimesIllustration.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_kBtvGBFtGVE/R7G9torq1FI/AAAAAAAAABE/8UTuCKuodXA/s320/MiniNewYorkTimesIllustration.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166118839283012690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">The </span><st1:date style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);" year="2007" day="10" month="2">Sunday, February 10, 2008</st1:date><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);">, issue of the</span> <a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/10/fashion/10suburbs.html"><u>New York Times</u></a> <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">containes an article which </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">challenges the assumption that just because suburban neighborhoods have lots of green landscaping that they are “green.”</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">Nothing could be further from the truth.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">In fact, early on in the piece, the author lays it out with the assertion that suburbs are places “built to defy nature.”</span></span> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">The problem, according to the article, is about more than just light bulbs, </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">“…In the end, the very things that make suburban life attractive — the lush lawns, spacious houses and three-car garages — also disproportionally contribute to global warming.” <span style="font-style: italic;">Michael Bloomberg, the Mayor of New York city touts the differences in the average production of greenhouse gases for a </span></span><st1:state style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255); font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"><st1:place>New York</st1:place></st1:state><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255); font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> resident (7.1 metric tons annually)</span> to those of the <span style="font-weight: bold;">average American (24.5 metric tons).</span></span></span></p> <p style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;">Weighing in, Thomas Sugrue, a professor of history and sociology at the <st1:place><st1:placetype>University</st1:placetype> of <st1:placename>Pennsylvania</st1:placename></st1:place> says “The very essence of the post-Second World War <st1:country-region><st1:place>America</st1:place></st1:country-region> suburb militates against ‘greening,’…Given the almost complete dependency of suburbanites on the car, it’s an uphill battle.”</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">All is not lost.</span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">The continuing urbanization of </span><st1:country-region style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><st1:place>America</st1:place></st1:country-region><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"> will help to ease the production of greenhouse gases as more and more people move to cities like <a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);" href="http://www.lancastercityliving.org/">Lancaster </a>and trade their daily automobile commute for a walk to the office.</span><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);" href="http://www.lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=187"><span style="font-size:130%;">Even the creation of higher density suburban developments help. TND's anyone?</span></a><br /></p><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style=""></span></span>MWShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871137248025552702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371021264162249874.post-53116074142238980372008-01-30T10:04:00.000-08:002008-01-30T10:38:15.943-08:00In Lancaster, 70 is the new 50<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">Lancaster, as it is turning out, is the place to be not only for young professionals and members of the</span> <a href="http://creativeclass.com/richard_florida/column.php"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">creative class</span></a>. <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">It is also becoming something of a hot spot for empty nesters and retirees. Trends nationally have shown that the move to a retirement community as a model for your golden years is giving way to urban living. And, why not? Life expectancies are running way ahead of what they were when the idea of retirement homes took off.</span> <a href="http://www.newsweek.com/id/55187"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">Seniors today don't want to be cloistered away from the bustle of activity</span></a>, <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">and are choosing to spend their retirement and semi-retirement years within easy distance of life's amenities without the regular maintenance of that huge lawn they used to have.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">With this trend in mind, the</span> <a href="http://www.lancasterdowntowners.org/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">Lancaster Downtowners</span></a> <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">formed to create a resource network for those wishing to retire in</span> <a href="http://www.lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=183"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">Lancaster City</span></a>. <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">Based on the model created in</span> <a href="http://www.beaconhillvillage.org/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);">Boston's Beacon Hill</span></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">, the downtowners have already gained considerable momentum and are now applying for 501 (c) (3) status. In addition to its other offerings, the Downtowners also operate a list serve allowing members to connect quickly with important information. </span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">You don't have to be retired to join the downtowners. Increasing numbers of pre-retiree's are joining the bandwagon to see to it that the services they need when they do retire will be available. Check it out.</span></span>MWShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871137248025552702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371021264162249874.post-18642207066060472812008-01-29T11:48:00.001-08:002008-01-30T05:51:10.399-08:00Traditional Neighborhood Developments (TND's)<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(102, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" >Traditional Neighborhood Developments (TND's) are supposed to be the wave of the future. But like a lot of things in suburbia, the concept is meeting with some pretty stiff resistance –</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> <a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);" href="http://www.lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=187">most recently in <st1:place>East Hempfield</st1:place></a><a href="http://www.lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=187">.</a> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" >And, as some have said, if people want to live in traditional neighborhoods, why don’t they live in places like </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><st1:place style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><st1:placename>Lancaster</st1:placename> <st1:placetype>City</st1:placetype></st1:place></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" >? Interesting.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" >Lost amid the talk about this “new” concept is the fact that traditional neighborhood development is actually an old concept that has been forgotten in the last few decades. Lancaster city is a complex web of traditional neighborhoods that dates back more than 250 years . </span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);" href="http://lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=34">A bunch of TND’s glued together, if you will</a>.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" >What makes traditional neighborhoods attractive has much less to do with the actual density of the housing than what the physical structure of such neighborhoods do for their residents.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"> </span> </span><span style="font-size:130%;"><a style="color: rgb(255, 153, 102);" href="http://psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20070622-000003.xml">They provide places where human interactions create a social and commercial fabric that makes the community not only richer but more competitive</a>.</span><span style="font-size:130%;"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family:arial;"><span style="font-size:130%;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" >It might be the fate of every suburb to oppose even the very things that will increase their viability.<span style=""> </span>But, in a changing world, our lot is probably better cast in a city.</span></p>MWShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871137248025552702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371021264162249874.post-1031191401401984382008-01-18T07:23:00.000-08:002008-01-23T09:07:10.666-08:00About First Time Homebuyers<span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">It might be that the only truism about housing is that it will become increasingly expensive as time goes by - excepting short term fluctuations, of course. This is certainly true if you are a renter. But, it is also true if you are a potential homeowner waiting to buy. Few things are as important to the first-time homebuyer than affordability.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">Data shows us that the most remaining affordable homes in the Lancaster area are in Lancaster City. The numbers also show that the city's stock of affordable homes is slowly disappearing as demand increases. That means buy now.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">Of course, a house is far more than an investment. It's a place to live. And, there is great incentive to live in cities like Lancaster.</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> </span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-size:130%;" ><a href="http://lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=55"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Employees of Downtown</span></span></a><span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">have discovered that living close-by means</span> <a href="http://lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=131"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">spending less time on the road</span></span></a> <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">and more time with family and friends.</span></span> <span style="font-size:130%;"><a href="http://lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=75"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Retirees </span></span></a><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">are discovering the joys of life within close walking distance of Lancaster's many amenities without the frustration of maintaining a large yard.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">Others are moving to into Lancaster City and buying houses because</span> <a href="http://walkscore.com/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">living where you can walk to your destination</span></span></a> <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">means burning a lot less gasoline or simply because the city</span><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">is</span> </span><a href="http://lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=127"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">"just the place to be."</span></span></a><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">If you need a boost in getting started with <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">a good <a href="http://lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=42"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">Realtor</span></a></span> </span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">,</span> <a href="http://lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=35"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">a listing of available homes</span></a> <span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">or an</span> <a href="http://lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=39"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">agency that can help you find your way</span></a> <span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"> </span><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">contact Lancaster City Living.</span></span>MWShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871137248025552702noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371021264162249874.post-69516226091504542752008-01-17T06:24:00.000-08:002008-01-18T12:43:04.107-08:00Hmmm...City On Fire<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp2.blogger.com/_kBtvGBFtGVE/R49xzvQ_tOI/AAAAAAAAAA8/h4zOEHOnNwM/s1600-h/PM_068.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 141px; height: 212px;" src="http://bp2.blogger.com/_kBtvGBFtGVE/R49xzvQ_tOI/AAAAAAAAAA8/h4zOEHOnNwM/s320/PM_068.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156465232037524706" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">When people used to use words like "on fire" or "exploding" to describe Lancaster City it wasn't a good thing. They were talking about problems the city was struggling with. <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);" href="http://www.lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=59">This isn't the case anymore</a><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">.</span> Today when people use terms like that, <a style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);" href="http://www.lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=176">they are talking about the massive amount of development</a> (mostly commercial) that has taken place at break-neck speed. You'd think that all this would have a spill-over effect on the residential market. Well, the data says it has. <span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">Property values have increased and houses are spending less time on the market.</span> What does this mean for potential buyers? I'll address that in my next post. But first, the numbers:<br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 102);">In 2000, the average house in the city sold for $59,968 and spent 96 days on the market. A chain of unbroken property value increases has continued from then until now with a 5.6% increase in 2001, 13.5% in 2002, 3.7% in 2003, 16.9% in 2004, 5.1% in 2005, 4.5% in 2006, and finally 5.3% in 2007. That's an annual average increase of about 7.8%. During the same period, the amount of time houses were spending on the market dropped from 96 days to about 45.<br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><br />Lancaster City is probably the last bastion of affordability in Lancaster County and the window of opportunity to buy while it is affordable looks like it's closing.<br /></span></span></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"><br /></span></span></span><span style="font-size:130%;"><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);"> </span> </span></span>MWShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871137248025552702noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3371021264162249874.post-35562719584935815522008-01-16T10:42:00.000-08:002008-01-18T12:47:53.694-08:00Welcome to the Lancaster City Living Blog!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp3.blogger.com/_kBtvGBFtGVE/R49bZ_Q_tLI/AAAAAAAAAAU/5gnv7OtF0Z0/s1600-h/LCL+living+new.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 154px; height: 195px;" src="http://bp3.blogger.com/_kBtvGBFtGVE/R49bZ_Q_tLI/AAAAAAAAAAU/5gnv7OtF0Z0/s320/LCL+living+new.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5156440600400082098" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);font-size:130%;" >Lancaster City Living is in its second year of promoting increased <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">homeownership</span> in Lancaster City. The effort has employed the use of a website <a href="http://lancastercityliving.org/"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">(www.lancastercityliving.org)</span></span></a>, a magazine (The Ultimate Guide to Owning a Home in Lancaster City), a "storefront" at 308 East King Street and a host of other activities.<br /><br />What makes this issue so important is that increased <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">homeownership</span> helps to take care of a lot of other community issues. A good number of well kept rental units is important but, when the rental stock becomes the majority of housing units, the majority of the population takes a temporary view of their role in the community. In short, when you own your home you care more about issues like crime, schools and trash.<br /><br />The good news is that Lancaster is on fire with development. The promise this holds is on a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">magnitude not seen in decades. The push for homeownership is simply one of the last pieces in this development. If you want to know what is going on, visit the Lancaster City Living website and check out <a href="http://www.lancastercityliving.org/index.php?pID=100"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);">what's new</span></a><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 102);"><span style="color: rgb(51, 255, 255);">. </span></span> You can find it by clicking on the "Pop" icon on the lower right hand corner of the home page.<br /><br />For the back story check here.<br /></span></span></span>MWShttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871137248025552702noreply@blogger.com0