Will Ardmore Survive

"MUST" see t.v..... we have had a full night in Lower Merion of development, development and more development.

Apparently 106 Cricket seems to be moving forward? Despite the block house feel? And some commissioners are "excited" by the prospect of this thing?

Maybe, Lower Merion, it would be more exciting if plans like this weren't so darn large? Maybe, Lower Merion, it would be more exciting if MUST was not so contradictory as well as existing only to service developer interests? Where is MUST good for the people of Ardmore?

So, this marathon meeting this evening trucked along...right to the issue of Suburban Square.

Residents of Ardmore on sofas all over town almost fell off their seats when once again when certain commissioners described this project as exciting? (Just curious but does LARGE=EXCITING?) Why did one Commissioner tried to "move" what was supposed to be a presentation to a motion to vote to get a public hearing going in JULY when no one is around?

Here's some stuff on Kimco that is not so flattering:

Work screeches to a halt on Kimco's Harlem development
Real Estate Weekly, Feb 20, 2008 by Jason Turcotte

Work has come to a screeching halt for Kimco Realty's development on Harlem's 125th Street. Up in arms over the displacement of 16 businesses, a neighborhood group has taken the matter to court, in an effort to stop demolition of the existing buildings there.

Kimco, the largest owner and operator of shopping complexes in the country, plans to redevelop the property, into a four to six-story building offering both office space and retail. But to do so requires the demolition of 2331-2333, 2341, 2343, 2345, 2349 Frederick Douglass Boulevard, and 301 W. 125th Street.

And the Save Harlem Association, comprised of neighborhood business owners, say the project threatens the black heritage of 125th Street. Establishments including House of Seafood Corp., Body-Lawson Associates, Roti Plus, Manna's Restaurant and Million Nail Salon will suffer displacement under existing plans.

"This building is Harlem's last stand and its people are rallying around this case to save the civil and social center of the black world--Harlem USA," said Adam Leitman Bailey, the attorney representing Save Harlem.....But a source told Real Estate Weekly the gentrification argument is merely a "facade" and claims this particular matter has more to do with an extortion strategy than anything else.

.....Termination clauses in existing tenant leases spurred developers to move with redevelopment plans for the property. With the acquisition, New Hyde Park-based Kimco plans to develop a mix of office space and, according to Larry Rose, vice president of development, up to three floors of retail.

"I think the rest of Manhattan is so saturated with certain retailers, that this becomes one of the last frontiers that they haven't been to," Rose said.

Rose said Harlem is finally on the radar for developers, an offshoot of the last 15 years of real estate success Manhattan has seen. And projects like the W hotel suggest the Kimco development is just a drop in the bucket when it comes to activity on 125th Street.

Follow this LINK to see videos about this Save Harlem thing - scroll to the bottom of the web page. Very interesting

Also read this: The Real Deal: February 2008
Harlem up in arms, again
125th Street rezoning proposal pits longtime businesses against developers
A rendering of Vornado’s proposed Harlem project that would offer Class A office space and retail.
By David Jones

So that's what we heard this evening, right? A discussion on re-zoning?

Suburban Square has done just fine for nigh on a century without 275 or whatever living units wrapped in retail on the Ruby's lot.

If Lower Merion Township says "yes" and allows Kimco to re-zone NOW and they go gangbusters into that development it might, plain and simple, kill the rest of Ardmore, right? Doesn't it seem that Suburban Square does not seem to be trying to compliment the Ardmore redevelopment plan, but rather compete against it?

Oh and why does Kimco want to re-zone you might ask? So they can take advantage of MUST.

Ardmore is groaning under the weight of plans.....how about some common sense instead?