Though little remains of the dense avenue of willow trees that gave the city its name, this bucolic Pennsylvanian suburb still oozes charm and iconic Amish-country comforts.
This expansive city manages to pack in a huge swathe of gorgeous countryside, and its residents wouldn't have it any other way
Though little remains of the dense avenue of willow trees that gave the city its name, this bucolic Pennsylvanian suburb still oozes charm and iconic Amish-country comforts.
This expansive city manages to pack in a huge swathe of gorgeous countryside, and its residents wouldn't have it any other way. While a favorite location for apartment hunters of all ages, its proximity to Lancaster has ensured that it's also a great place to live for its diverse network of residents. But really, and unequivocally, let's be clear: like so much of Pennsylvania, the magic is in the view, and it's an absolutely stunning one.
A Town Within a City
There's nothing Willow Street residents love more than their beautiful landscape, so it seems fitting that Willow Street proper is confined to a relatively small portion of the overall land area. But what a charming area it is. Nestled in the curve of Highway 222, "The Town," as residents call it, has all the hallmarks of small town Pennsylvania. Any property outside these confines is likely to be overtly rural, so plan your expectations accordingly.
Apartments Within a Town
If you're looking specifically for Willow Street apartment rentals you're likely to be confined pretty concretely to Willow Street proper itself. Several concentrations of duplexes for rent and rental condos exist within these charming streets, but out in the countryside you'll be hard pressed to find anything but detached, single-unit homes.
Set Your Sights Wide
While plenty of reputable and knowledgeable real estate agents set up shop in the area, there are just as many private property owners who may be offering rental opportunities. To make sure you don't miss out on the pastoral home of your dreams, it's important to make sure you lift every rock and examine every nook. Your best bet is to start your search with an agent, ask for a tour of the city, and keep your eye out for the inevitable signs proclaiming "Apartment for Rent" along the way.
All the Paperwork, All the Time
Because your rental search has as much chance of ending up with a private landlord as it does with a real estate agent, it's important to make sure that all of your paperwork is in order to avoid any surprises. Keep the standard renter's kit of income statements, credit histories, employment histories, and landlord testimonials handy at all times in order to make sure you're not disqualifying your search before it's even begun.
Get the Lay of the Historical Land
Though it may seem an esoteric concern, Pennsylvania is a state that's rich in history. Rules, regulations, and accepted customs for stewarding the area's cultural heritage can range far and wide. It's important to make sure you've asked all the right questions about what your responsibilities as a tenant are in terms of safeguarding your chosen home's potential past. The last thing you want to do is offend the neighbors by letting a historic structure fall into disrepair. Or, even worse, offend the authorities. When it comes down to it, better safe than sorry, and better to ask the question than find out the answer too late.
Embrace the Quiet Life
Perhaps it's the state's deep Amish heritage, or perhaps it's simply love for the gorgeous landscape. Whatever the reason, Willow Street, like so many Pennsylvania cities, places an emphasis on quality of life over density of commerce. When it comes to shopping and employment, options within the city limits are not what one might call expansive. You don't get to keep rolling vistas of forest and field when you're addicted to retail sectors, and residents of Willow Street have taken that lesson to heart. You'll never have problems finding a gallon of milk and other staples, but when it comes to retail needs more expansive than that, you should pretty much always plan on taking a bit of a drive. Luckily, Lancaster is a short jaunt up the highway, and will provide for all the amenities of any urban center.
As far as employment is concerned, it's all but certain that you'll need to consider a range far afield to find a decent center of industrial or professional activity. Commercial concerns within the city limits are pretty exclusively centered on the immediate needs of the few residential patches, and are unlikely to offer a budding professional much in the way of opportunities.
Take a look at the various neighborhoods in Willow Street and see which area is calling your name.
Willow Street Proper: "The Town" is everything you might expect from a small Pennsylvania hamlet: small grids of idyllic thoroughfares, a main street straight out of Disneyland, and bed and breakfasts far and wide. Though rental properties are typically detached single units here, it's also the city's greatest concentration of duplexes, apartments and other multi-unit options. If you're looking for anything but a townhouse or country parcel, it's best to start here. It's also the locus of the city's relatively limited retail options, and will easily provide for all of your staple needs.
Willow Valley: North of Willow Street Proper lies a small valley, home to a regionally renowned golf course and a variety of gated communities, as well as the area's two single largest multi-unit complexes. Though properties in this area are often given over to retirement communities, options do still exist for tenants who are drawn to the neighborhood's status as an island in a sea of rolling countryside.
South Willow Street: Directly attached to Willow Street Proper, this small offshoot community is the most rural of the three neighborhoods. With just a handful of streets looping widely around one another, this area offers the greatest chance to snag a home that's still close to the centers of civilization, but utterly surrounded by countryside bounty. Homes are almost exclusively limited to townhouses and other single unit options.
Life in Willow Street is, perhaps more than most towns, explicitly about the slow lane. While Lancaster is always a quick commute away, there's absolutely zero pretense towards hustle or bustle within these city limits. Rich in history, dense in heritage, and absolutely overflowing in postcard-perfect vistas, Willow Street is where you come when you really and truly want to get away from it all.
