During the January 5 Kennett Square Borough Council meeting, debate and opposition emerged on whether to advertise rezoning the National Vulcanized Fiber (NVF) company site from industrial to residential, writes Jen Samuel for The Daily Local News.
When the issue appeared on the agenda, many residents and some council members voiced concerns about the community’s future.
The council ultimately approved the resolution in a 4-2 vote.
In 2024, Rockhopper, a limited partnership in Pennsylvania, presented a proposal to build nearly 300 apartments and townhouses at the Kennett Square site, which spans ten percent of the borough, in front of a packed town hall. At the time, residents opposed the project, citing concerns about environmental safety and the potential traffic impact.
“After nearly two decades of focusing on the cleanup, we’re excited to finally have the project in a place where we feel comfortable moving forward with the borough’s development process,” said Tyler McNeil, managing partner for Catalyst City Development, who led the town hall on behalf of Rockhopper.
If elected officials approve the project, Kennett Square’s population would increase by 15.7 percent, meaning a rise from its current 7,000 to around 8,100 residents once the project is completed.
Read more about the NVF site housing plan and what is being discussed for the future in The Daily Local News.
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National Vulcanized Fiber was a private company based in Yorklyn, Delaware.
Editor’s Note: This post was originally published on VISTA.Today in January 2026.
