Is this blight?

Last night at the last BOC in Lower Merion, we may have seen an interesting topic blossom once again - unless of course the topic gets buried, right?

Is this blight?

Last night when "New Business" was announced, Commissioner Lance Rogers brought up some truly old business that no one wants to be discussed.

Commissioner Rogers asked a question that VP of SAC and Ardmore Business Owner Scott Mahan has been asking for quite a while- a question many of us have been asking since the resolution NOT to use eminent domain for private gain was passed:

Why should the formerly eminent domain bogus blight targeted block of Ardmore's historic district remain blighted at this point?

Is this blight?

We found the sole commisisoner who really responded to Commissioner Rogers' question most interesting indeed (and not to be TOO tough on him since he was the only commissioner who actually responded to the question/topic). It was one of the formerly "freshman five" whom signed onto our pledge against eminent domain when running for office initially. This commissioner made the comment that Ardmore would be ineligible for certain types of funding if the blight designation were lifted (and we proved long ago that those that laid on the blight district CAN reverse the decision and tell the state to lift the designation).

OK, well now, let us pose a valid question in return:

We have been talking about Ardmore revitilization long enough to ask WHAT SPECIFIC FUNDING THE TOWNSHIP IS REFERRING TO AND WHERE PRECISELY WOULD IT BE APPLIED?

Further and to the point, are they speaking of TIFs (tax increment finance)? because only ONE building project has mentioned that need: the proposed and too often discussed luxury building on Schauffele Plaza, and are we to understand that if the township is referring to TIFs in the need for funding train of thought, are Ardmore business and property owners real estate values to hold in potentially a very negative balance so that TIF funding can be applied to a luxury building or can a TIF be achieved without a blight designation and has nothing to do with it? (If you know the specifics on that, please post a reply - we really need that question answered to understand the thought process behind keeping non blighted areas blighted.)

Now that the horse is once again out of the barn over the bogus blight designation we have a question for ALL developers in the RFP process --- Mariner, Strategic, EBL&S, BET/Bruce Toll, and Dranoff:

As a developer submitting either a partial or complete RFP how do you feel about the blight designation? If chosen at the end of this process would you need our merchants' businesses to remain blighted to bring your vision for Ardmore to fruition? If you answer "yes", please indicate specific types of funding you would absolutely, drop dead need that you could not achieve through other avenues.

Of course the other thing that bugs us is that the blight designation makes us worry about is the Harrisburg loophole in the eminent domain legislation signed into law - SB 881 , and who knows the answer to THAT question?

Well while all ponder this post, we'll wish you Happy Holidays from the best looking blighted block in Ardmore...no wait, isn't it the only legally lighted block of Ardmore?