..... Ed Lipkin and his team from EBL&S. Congratulations Ed, now let's get to work.

Here is how the BOC Voted:
Zelov - Dranoff
Gelber - Dranoff
Dellheim - EBL&S
Phillips- EBL&S
Rogers- EBL&S
Rosenzweig-EBL&S
Gordon - Strategic
McElheney -EBL&S
Brown- Dranoff
Reed - EBL&S
Rogan- EBL&S

Here is who didn't participate in Vote:
Taylor: Recused
Manos: Recused
Gould: Recused

The commissioners who took the higher moral road and recused are to be commended for their honesty and devotion to a honest and open government. What they did is not easy, but they did it and bravo. We look forward to them now rejoining the process!

SAC was there in full force,the community, the ABA, AI and the civic associations and the pastors from our local Ardmore churches- It was a truly amazing evening that leaves us exhausted and hopeful. Cameras from 3, 6, and 10 attended as well as the print media. Here are links to the reports from 3 and 6 and Main Line Life thanks to the endless devotion of our local papers to our communities along the Main Line - Main Line Life has given us permission to post their entire online update :

Online Extra: Developer picked for Ardmore revitalization By Cheryl Allison

Lower Merion commissioners are dreaming big for Ardmore.

In a vote late Thursday night, the board named EBL&S Development as its choice to lead revitalization of the downtown.

The team, headed by Gladwyne resident Edward B. Lipkin, submitted the most ambitious and comprehensive, but also the most intensive, of five proposals for a new transit center and new mixed-use residential and commercial development in key locations in the business district.

Its signature feature is a new train station building, topped by a hotel, spanning the railroad tracks.

AdvertisementIt was that “substantial connection” between the business district along Lancaster Avenue and the Suburban Square shopping center that several commissioners said gave EBL&S the edge among several high-quality proposals.

Another determining factor, they said, was its inclusion of a broad range of new housing options, which would help maintain Ardmore’s historic social and economic diversity. The expertise of the team’s architectural, engineering and other consultants, as well as its strong financial backing and Lipkin’s early efforts to reach out to the Ardmore community, were other favorable points.

The decision came after another two hours of public comment, which saw a dramatic demonstration of a new cooperative spirit among civic and business groups once bitterly at odds over a township redevelopment plan that raised the specter of eminent domain.

Standing together, representatives of the Save Ardmore Coalition, the Ardmore Initiative business authority, the Ardmore Business Association and First Friday Main Line read a joint statement of a vision for Ardmore’s future.

In their statement, and in the comments of some others, a concern was expressed that EBL&S’s plan was simply too much: too urban, too dense and too likely to get bogged down in the mechanics of construction over the rails.

Commissioners made it clear, however, that they will look for flexibility from the developer on the scope and scale of the project, through an extensive process of community involvement.

“It’s easier to make a larger project smaller than it is to do the reverse,” said board Vice President Maryam Walker Phillips, whose ward encompasses much of the business district and South Ardmore. She said she is concerned, “If we start the bar too low, we won’t have done enough” to make the critical difference for that area.

Technically, the board’s decision this week was to authorize the start of negotiations with the developer to reach a written agreement with the township. Board President Bruce Reed said he would appoint a negotiation team to being work on that agreement almost immediately.

The board set a target date to reach an agreement of March 19.

For a full story on the Ardmore decision, see the Jan. 16 edition of Main Line Life.

CBS3: Ardmore Residents Voice Concerns On Development
Reporting:Angela Russell

ARDMORE, Pa. (CBS 3) ― The Main Line community of Ardmore is on track for some changes.

Township officials are poised to select a developer for the revitalization project for the train station and the business district. A meeting was held Thursday evening.

"The bottom line is whatever you decide it has got to represent really what we want," Lower Merion Township Ken Haskin said.

Dozens of residents showed up at a township meeting for the selection of the developer and to give officials an earful about what they want and do not want in their community.

"There needs to be a diverse mix of the type of services and the types of retail that we see in Ardmore," Save Ardmore Coalition's Sharon Eckstein said.

"Accessibility, affordability, we want to see creativity. Often times some of the minority groups are not represented well in this community," Household of Faith Deliverance Pastor Mike Brokenborough said.

Several community groups are pushing for diverse retail, more pedestrian access and bike lanes. Also at issue is affordable housing, sighting one new development in Ardmore as the perfect example where several of the town homes were reserved with people with moderate incomes.

The developer that was selected was E.B.L & S and according to the Save Ardmore Coalition some of the selling points of that plan included a possible small hotel over the train tracks as well as a possible cultural arts center

Ardmore Ready For A Makeover/WPVI By Lisa Thomas-LauryARDMORE, Pa. - January 10, 2008 --

ARDMORE, Pa. - January 10, 2008 -- A section of the Main Line is getting a major makeover and officials in Lower Merion Township have decided who will do it.
The township commission heard five hours of discussion on Thursday night before handing the job to developer EBL&S....Ardmore community groups agree on this much: the redevelopment needs to promote pedestrian traffic, connect downtown to the bustling Surburban Square and keep the old world charm in tact.

"We also believe Ardmore should retain it's village feel. It should not be a big urban center," said Sherry Tillman.

With Ardmore's designated historic business district, another project priority is making sure that area is enhanced.

"It's very important that whatever is done in Ardmore is done to compliment the historic district and the many amenities that are already here," Cleland said.
The revdelopment will focus on the train station and other township owned land, mainly existing parking lots. That is raising concerns that the area will become too dense.

"We want parking that isn't just one big garage. We want a mix of surface parking and garage. We don't want traffic jams and big tall buildings that are out of scale with the Ardmore we have," said Carla Zambelli of the Save Ardmore Coalition.