The Coatesville Area School District Board Meeting on September 9, 2025, featured a significant discussion regarding the proposed Brandywine View development, which aims to transform a challenging 75-acre site at 320 Adams Drive into a mixed-use residential area. The meeting included presentations from representatives of the development team, including attorney Gina Gerber and fiscal analyst David Babbitt.
Gerber outlined the project's scope, which includes four multi-family dwelling units and a townhouse development, with the first phase focusing on the multi-family units. The development is seen as crucial for addressing the housing shortage in Coatesville, particularly for market-rate apartments and townhouses. The city has expressed support for the project, recognizing the potential benefits of adding new residential units to the area.
Babbitt provided a detailed fiscal impact analysis, highlighting that the development is projected to include 562 units, with an estimated assessed value of approximately $53.2 million upon completion. This figure represents about 17% of the current assessed value of all properties in Coatesville. The analysis also estimated that the development would generate around 68 public school students, which has raised questions among board members regarding the accuracy of these projections given recent housing trends.
The board discussed the implications of the projected student population on school district resources, noting that the average expenditure per student in the district is about $29,000. This translates to an estimated annual expenditure of nearly $2 million for the new students anticipated from the development.
Overall, the meeting underscored the importance of the Brandywine View project as a potential catalyst for growth in Coatesville, while also raising critical questions about its impact on local schools and community resources. The board will continue to evaluate the development as it moves through the approval process, with further discussions expected in upcoming meetings.