A municipal planner has asked the Coatesville Area School District to consider a property tax exemption for a planned housing development on the city’s last large undeveloped tract. At a Sept. 9 school board finance committee meeting, consultant David Babbitt said the 75-acre site at 320 Adams Drive is approved for 266 apartments, with a second phase of about 300 townhouses awaiting approval. The developer, Brandywine View Tri-Corner, is seeking relief under the state’s Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance Act (LERTA), which allows tax exemptions in struggling areas. The proposal would grant a full tax break in the first year, with reductions decreasing by 10% annually until fully expiring after 10 years. Developer Jon Juffe said the steeply sloped property is too costly to develop without the incentive. Babbitt estimated the project would add 68 students to the district at a cost of nearly $2 million a year. After the exemption expires, the new units are projected to generate $3.37 million in annual tax revenue, leaving the district with a net gain of about $1.4 million. Liz Muirhead, the school board’s finance chair, said the board will review the proposal and gather community input before taking action.
Source: Lancaster Online; 9/16/2025