Meet Brien Tilley, CHCA Board President

Chestnut Hill Community Associaton Board President Brien Tilley sat down with Patch to talk about life on the hill.

How did you come to Chestnut Hill?: "I moved to Chestnut Hill in July 2000 after growing up in the northeast. My wife, then fiance and I were looking to buy a house and we realized that we spend most of our time in Chestnut Hill, so if this is where we want to be, then this where we should live."

What attracted you to the neighborhood?: "We liked the sense of community, the Avenue and all the resources that are here. We wanted to be able to walk to the park, the arboretum, the museums: it fit the lifestyle we were looking for, but it still offers a city experience. We can be downtown in 15 minutes. If we want, we can ride our bikes there."

How did you get involved with the CHCA?: "Initially, someone on the board asked me to help run a fun drive. That first year I ran it, I wasn't a board member, just a volunteer. I saw first-hand that they were doing some good stuff and I've always been involved in my communities growing up, so I thought 'this is the next step, let's get involved.' It all started out with someone reaching out and that lead me to the board." 

 What as the decision process like in becoming the board president?: "It was really very organic. I was on the executive committee, and slowly getting more intrenched in the CHCA. The board is very dedicated and the community is unique in the sense that people feel very strongly about it. People might not always agree on perspective, but that's okay because everybody cares. At the end of the day, everyone is trying to do something impacting to enhance the community."

Read more about Tilley's vision for the CHCA here. 

Where do you see Chestnut Hill going in 10 years?: "In my view, a lot of young families have moved here in the last 10 years or so. They like the community, they like being able to walk and that's what I've enjoyed. What I see for the future, I see an Avenue that's coming out of the recession better than when it went in. There are a lot of new developments and I give the Chestnut Hill Business Association a lot of credit. I think the future looks good."