Lancaster Neighborhoods: West End

This West End spotlight brought to you by RE/MAX Agent Gil Lyons. Gil brings 34 years of real estate business experience to RE/MAX and his clients. Serving all of Lancaster County, and specifically School Lane Hills, Chestnut Hill, and the West End of Lancaster, he specializes in the marketing & sales of fine and luxury homes, smart growth initiatives, historic properties, and land planning and zoning.

The West End, one of Lancaster City’s most historically coveted neighborhoods, has it all—old-world elegance, flowering trees, and a picture-perfect parkside location. It’s almost entirely residential, with a great mixture of historic mansions, charming row houses, and unique,
tucked-away homes on two square miles of quiet streets.

Gil Lyons, realtor with RE/MAX Pinnacle, grew up in the West End. His favorite block is a hidden stretch of Virginia Ave. lined with beautiful gardens. “Many of the residents moving into the West End today are young families who love the walking distance to the New School and plethora of outdoor activities for children and canines at the park,” says Lyons.

Buchanan Park is home to a state- of-the-art dog park, where amblers can watch dogs and owners coming and going all weekend long. The park is also home to a giant playground, the city’s premier sledding hill, and community gardens. Buchanan Park hosts many citywide events, including a regular outdoor movie series, a carnival, and professional biking races. On the hottest days, little ones enjoy a wading pool that’s emptied and refilled by the Parks Department daily in summer.

For West End resident Mike Schmelder, who lives in a townhome on Buchanan Avenue with his wife, Bernadette, school-age son, and Boston terrier, the neighborhood is the perfect spot. “We have this huge park across the street where we go to play football or lacrosse, or take our dog to play in a lavish dog park with his own friends,” he says.

Locals know that summer is the best time to walk across Buchanan Park to College Row on Franklin and Marshall’s campus. The outdoor patio at Blue Line Cafe (561 Old Main Dr.) is the perfect place to extend a day spent at the park over fresh local fare. Residents can walk through the park to The North Museum (400 College Ave.), a science museum with its own planetarium and a lower level full of cabinet curiosities to delight young and old discoverers. While enjoying a West End walk, visit the Little Free Library located on West End Avenue to find or share a favorite book.

Most West End homes have porches decorated like an extension of the home; you’ll see reading lamps, chandeliers, ceiling fans, rugs, and cozy nooks where residents gather well into the evening hours. “As soon as we get home from work, my wife and I immediately sit out on the porch,” says Schmelder. “It provides an interesting contrast to neighborhoods where people generally stay in the backyard. Here, it’s a more social thing because we all end up relaxing and socializing among our neighbors out on our porches.”

There’s something for everyone in the West End. Homes here come
in a surprising variety of styles and price points, and a welcoming neighborhood porch culture awaits.

Must-Visit Neighborhood Assets:

LUCA

TONO Group

Champion Forge

College Row

Franklin and Marshall College

Buchannan Park

North Museum of Nature & Science

Interested in finding a home in Chestnut Hill or beyond? Contact Gil to help find your perfect city home. Check out the website or call at 717-569-2222.