Historic Chase Barn Demolished In Chesterbrook

CHESTERBROOK, PA —A developer's plan to demolish the historic Chase Road Barn near the Riding development in Chesterbrook has come to fruition.

The property owner, Finery LLC of West Chester, obtained a township permit on April 17, 2023, to remove the barn at 355 Chase Road

Subsequently, contractors, Green Bridge Development LLC, West Chester, demolished the 1890 barn.

The barn was located near the former Chase Road Swim Club which closed in 2016. The property was originally part of the Green Valley Farm, owned by Alexander Johnson Cassatt, who bred horses there.

Several residents at a recent Tredyffrin Township meeting asked the township to stay the demolition and questioned the procedures for getting the permit.

Supervisor Murph Wysocki said all of the proper procedures were followed.

Erin McPherson, director of planning and zoning, said the developer followed the proper procedures, noting the township’s Historic Commission and Historic Preservation Trust were notified.

McPherson said the developer has not presented a plan for the property to the township.
The property is zoned for rural conservation. An appeal of an ordinance change request about the property is pending in Chester County Court.

Art Zadrozny, a Chesterbrook resident on Painters Lane, said the residents were hoping for a chance to find an alternative to the demolition.

Zadrozny also said the developer had originally claimed that he was going to use the barn as part of the development, turning it into up to four unique carriage-type housing units.