Since as we all know that government,media, and developers alike read the SAC site, here is some of the first feedback we have received from Carla's homework assignment as a follow-up to Sharon's meeting notice:

"I am originally from Washington, D.C. and have witnessed over the years the massive development around the D.C. and Maryland subway stops that has changed many sleepy neighborhoods into bustling areas with commerce and high-rises. I suspect that some version of this is going to happen in Ardmore and, eventually, in Bryn Mawr....While some development is very good, I hope the developers here proceed with a few ideas in mind. Namely:

1. Give plenty of commercial space to the less-wealthy non-chain -- even family-owned -- stores and restaurants. As I walked around Silver Spring, Maryland last week, I was disappointed to see EXACTLY the same stores -- Whole Foods, Borders, Fuddruckers, for example -- that every other recently developed neighborhood had. Why would Ardmore want to be like every other neighborhood?

2. Establsh bike and pedestrian paths and bicycle parking. With the new development will certainly come traffic. One way to ease that traffic, obviously, is to encourage walking AND biking. And one way to ease traffic up and down the Main Line is to encourage other parts of the Main Line to consider bike and pedestrian trails by establshing biking trails whereever new development occurs.

3. Finally....I would like to see some space devoted -- or even donated -- to the arts, such as a center for readings and performances or -- as exists in places like San Francisco and Brooklyn, New York -- places where writers and visual artists can rent inexpensive spaces to work. Think of a community you admire, where good restaurants and interesting activities draw people out and about after dark, and you'll almost certainly think of a community where arts and artists play an important part."

I could not agree more with the person above. I moved here two months ago from Washington D.C. as well and found both downtown Ardmore and Bryn Mawr to be pretty disgraceful. It is completely run down, filled with tacky nail salons and other retailers, not to mention completely dilapidated buildings. I really can't tell that part of Lancaster Ave from the part east of city ave. Washington has many vibrant neighborhood developments with new shops, restaurants, etc. I completely agree that what lower merion does not need is redevelopment that brings nothing but chains, like those found in Silver Spring. That being said anything is better then the disgrace that currently surrounds downtown Ardmore and Bryn Mawr. Coming from Washington I have no idea how those of you who live around were not embarrassed by this area. All the money in this area and this is the best you can do, nail salons, run down buildings that look like they could collapse at any moment. Seriously you could blind fold me, drop at the corner of cricket ave and lancaster and I would swear I was in west philly.

After reading Mike Weilbacher's column in the MLT today, I have to say I fully agree with him in regards to the use of Shauffele Plaza.

We need a communtity performing arts space/ or a movie theater.

I also appreciate the "fresh eyes" of the comment above. It reinforces at least to me that we need more than tinkering and that we need some significant changes.