By Josh McKnight | The McKnight Team
Norristown Municipal Council voted unanimously to advertise a zoning change for its R-2 district. The amendment would allow townhouses and multiplex homes. It supports a plan from Progressive New Homes for 48 townhomes at 600 E. Fornance Street, priced in the mid-$300,000s.
Norristown new construction at that price is rare in Montgomery County. Advertising the change is the first formal step, with a hearing and an adoption vote still to come.
What the R-2 Amendment Changes
Four things move. Townhouses and multiplex homes become allowed uses. Front yard setbacks grow from 10 feet to 25 feet. Lots need at least 2,000 square feet. Garages can count toward parking requirements.
Each one shapes what gets built. The bigger setback pushes homes back from the street. The 2,000 square foot minimum keeps lots from shrinking too far. Counting garages lets a builder meet parking rules without paving more of the site.
Put together, the rules open the door to attached homes while setting limits on density and how close buildings sit to the street. That is how a municipality says yes to more housing without saying yes to anything.
Text amendments like this one change what can be built going forward. If you own a home in the R-2 district, read the final language to see how the new setback rules apply to your lot.
What Norristown New Construction Actually Does to Prices
New homes usually sell well above the local average. Not here. This pricing lands close to where the market already sits. That matters.
Set that against what the numbers show right now. The typical Norristown home value is $335,907, up 2.3% over the past year, per Zillow data through August 31, 2026. Homes go to pending in about nine days. If you own in Norristown, that is good news. A builder pricing new homes near the typical value is betting that demand at your price point is real.
New construction near market price. Buyers will notice.
Why This Hits First-Time Buyers Hardest
Most new construction in Montgomery County is priced well above what first-time buyers can reach. A new townhome in the mid-$300,000s changes the math for a buyer choosing between an older home with deferred repairs and a brand new one with no roof or furnace to replace for years.
That choice puts pressure on owners of older homes nearby. If your home needs work, a buyer can now compare it to new. Your price and condition have to answer that comparison.
For you as a buyer, the choice gets real. Older homes often come with more space and character. New townhomes come with lower upkeep in the early years. Your budget, your timeline and your tolerance for repairs decide which one fits.
Sellers in the mid-$300,000s across Montgomery County should pay attention, too. A new option at your price point gives buyers one more place to compare before they make an offer on your home.
Both things can be true. Forty-eight homes will not flood the Norristown market, and they will still reset what a buyer expects at this price. Reasonable people land differently on whether new supply helps or hurts nearby owners. More often than not, it brings buyers to a town who were not looking there before.
If you know someone renting in Norristown and waiting for the right starter home, send this their way.
What This Means for You
If you are selling an older home near Fornance Street, get ahead of the comparison. Handle visible repairs and price to condition before the townhomes come to market. If you are buying, watch this project but do not wait on it. Zoning votes, approvals and construction take time, and Norristown homes go to pending in about nine days. Get your financing preapproved now so you can move when sales open.
Our Norristown community guide breaks down the neighborhoods and price points across this part of Montgomery County. We can help you compare a resale home against new construction side by side.
Thinking about buying or selling in Norristown? Let’s talk.
