If you are hypersensitive, please skip this post. Otherwise understand that I am entitled like everyone else in this country to an opinion. It's called the First Amendment

I am sick to death of dancing around the topic of development in our communities. I am tired of being politically correct.

I do not think that all this development has ever been solely about community betterment, I think it is often about bottom lines and personal legacies at the expense of ordinary people, o.k.?

Do I think all developers are bad or we should have NO development in our communities? No, of course not. Do I feel the need to vent? Yes. Does that make me anti-development? NO, it does not.

Look at Ardmore. We had to fight to eliminate eminent domain, but now what do we have? Oh right, a redevelopment plan.

Do I have a problem with the redevelopment plan as a concept? No, but do I think the best interests of the concept will ever be met? I will let you know.

In Ardmore, the township needs to stop the bickering between political parties and get busy on the train station and garage. Do I think that the new train station needs to be some ginormous complex? No. After all we are dealing with Amtrak and Septa.... and what have they done for us lately? Oh right, we have that weird R5 schedule that basically means not enough trains during the day during the work week, yet Septa is heralding a rise in ridership. Well it certainly ain't due to their stellar service,ADA compatiability, cleanliness, fares, and good looking train stations. And if ridership is up, why are they trying to cut out that bus route in Gladwyne? Hmmm?

Amtrak isn't getting off the hook, either. Why do residents have to badger them to take care of their properties? Why is it hardly an Amtrak train stops in Ardmore? Why is it the tickets are so expensive now considering the fact that Amtrak trains aren't on time most of the time and smell?

So listen, don't build the Ponte Vecchio over the tracks, just build us a darn station. And Lower Merion, we want the Bernicker Lot built now, not someday down the road in vague land. If the developer for Ardmore thinks it too onerous a burden, then farm the Bernicker Lot out as a project part of the redevelopment but completed by someone else. Or float a bond issue and Lower Merion, YOU build the garage. Come on, with all the money taxpayers gripe about being wasted on experts, consultants, staff, etcetera, why not give Lower Merion taxpayers something they can see? A garage. Something we all can agree (or mostly agree) that we need. Even the ULI would argue.

What should you do to save taxpayers money and appease residents? Dump MUST. It's not working, and in 20 years another Board of Commissioners will be trying to undo the mess called MUST. If anything ever gets built, that is. We're all still waiting for the infamous edifice to be built on Schauffele Plaza. At one time, it could have been a ground breaking project. Now it is just one of the pack, and if it ever happens will follow the development of Stuard at 106 Cricket, which seems preliminarily approved even if it doesn't seem to quite fit the lot?

So if the plan for 106 Cricket is approved, is it approved just so some can say that a project has been approved under MUST? This project sure is not attractive. Yes, what to do about a death rest stop when it's use stops, we all get that...BUT...

I do not think anyone minds development there at 106 Cricket, what people DO mind is the size and scope and scale of the project proposed, along with the basic human wondering of how we can trust a developer who has the township and taxpayers in court over 130 Cricket Ave, a plan that will destroy a neighborhood and is ridiculous for numerous reasons? Then there is the basic question of unit affordability, and that must be discussed. Speaking of "must", that is why this project is so large and hulking: MUST. This project isn't exciting, it's troublesome.

And let's trot on over to Suburban Square, shall we? The new owners of the MALL, knew what they were buying when they purchased it, and not to be a snob, the purchase of Suburban Square has given them a certain cache as a company they were previously lacking. There is no hardship wherefore they NEED to develop, they just WANT to develop. They also do not wish to develop because they want to help anyone other then themselves. This is not about being a partner in Ardmore, it's about them seeking to make more money on their investment. While that is the point of a free market society, there is much else to be considered by local government, namely the rest of US.

It is not exciting, this Suburban Square project, it is terrifying. They can't contain their parking and other issues now, if allowed a rezone and if allowed to build NOW while we are trying to make the Ardmore Redevelopment Plan work as a community, we might as well just drop an atom bomb on Ardmore, because it will have just about the same effect. It's a huge proposal even if it could fit and even if the economy was sound - we're talking well over 200 additional high end living units wrapped in retail. And where will everyone park?

Will Lower Merion say NO to Suburban Square? Or will it become a new battleground for commissioner differences?

This township has saddled the citizens and taxpayers with the Ardmore Redevelopment Plan, so with all due respect, they have a fiduciary and moral responsibility to see that it works or just get rid of it altogether. It won't work as a plan if Suburban Square develops at the same time, or prior to Dranoff getting started because it will stress saturation points. These are plans that in this cruddy economy are competing with each other, so if they are truly concerned about the taxpayers and residents they need to consider that.

But Lower Merion Township should also be concerned about the small business owners of Lancaster Avenue, because guess what? Suburban Square doesn't care about those merchants do they? Suburban Square cares about their property,what they own - their personal investment. You know what I envision if this project goes forward right NOW? I envision them NOT having enough room for parking etc from construction to completion, and I envision valet parking. And where will that valet parking go? Into the neighborhoods of North Ardmore and across the tracks to Lancaster Ave and South Ardmore.

Right now they can't contain their shopping population, or deal with their traffic and congestion. Right now the rest of Ardmore is their dumping ground. It might as well be East and West Berlin, and if they rezone, that is what it will become.

And the simple economics: whether or not they do high end / high rent rentals or condos, how much do we need in Ardmore? Do you want people to go out of their way to avoid Ardmore when it finally becomes that dense that people think it isn't worth it?

Oh yeah, it's terrific that Suburban Square can be built without taxpayer monies, but it will cost the taxpayers and residents anyway. What do you think the effect of that might have on homeowners in North Ardmore and their property values, etc? And what is Suburban Square doing for the residents and taxpayers of this township other than letting us spend money in their stores? What are they doing for us? And oh, by the way, can you ask them why they are charging for people to park in the lot across the street from Seidenberg Luggage that hugs the train tracks? They told the planning commission once upon a time they weren't ever going to charge for that lot and now they are? Do they even own that whole lot or does Septa own part of it?

Either this township has the redevelopment plan or it just has random development in Ardmore. It can't sustain both because there is no master plan to make it all cohesive and a viable partnership of any kind.

MUST is not a substitute for the Master Plan and MUST quite frankly is a huge bomb of a failure and has caused nothing but problems since enacted. MUST is not about improving anything. MUST is about giving developers too much of an edge and increasing density where it is already dense. And if MUST was working, we would have had a project completed or nearing completion by now. But we don't. So what does that tell you?

And I do not subscribe to the notion that in order to have transit oriented development we have to have so much density we might as well be a major metropolitan city instead of suburbia.

The bottom line is this: When it comes to Ardmore we're tired. First we got saddled with plan A and B and eminent domain. We had to fight eminent domain and the voters voted quite a lot out of office over it.

Then we all came together and got the redevelopment plan going. The township initiated it, the citizens are going along with it, and now comes Suburban Square plus all the other extraneous development projects and it's every developer for themselves. That can't be, plain and simple. IF Bryn Mawr can have modest heights of no more than 4 stories, so should Ardmore. If Bryn Mawr has a Master Plan that says what should go where, so should Ardmore.

This township has created chaos in Ardmore, and if you put the cart before the horse and say ok to Suburban Square right now, you will bear the forever responsibility of the Board of Commissioners who killed Ardmore. If Suburban Square wants to add to their properties, it should first demonstrate good will of rectifying other pre-existing issues. Every time Suburban Square adds to itself, it promises it will be better. Only better never happens. Such a HUGE project at 2 W. Montgomery Ave will create more problems than anyone can handle. It will be a logistical nightmare among other things. Once again, we are looking at another plan that is simply TOO BIG. Ardmore can't handle it all. Nor should it have to.

This Board needs to put aside party differences, and get it together before it is too late. While it was the right and prerogative of one commissioner to try to push a discussion over Suburban Square to a vote for a public hearing, it was still wrong. It was precipitous, as well as fostering a sense of distrust between residents and government because all last night was advertised as was a discussion. And when you do a public hearing in the dead of summer you know what happens, it's what ALWAYS happens: no one is around and it gets passed through without proper attention paid to it.

Yet here along the Main Line, we keep denying reality. We still are in the mode of develop, develop, develop. We are in the bubble of fantasy island. Municipalities along the Main Line pay little more than lip service at times to historic preservation and affordable housing, and by "affordable", I am not just talking subsidized, I am talking about preserving what we've got so people from all walks of life and all age brackets can afford to stay here. With affordable, comes diversity, diversity is part of a healthy community that is also sustainable into the future.

A minimum wage economy while the passive income set live in McMansions is quite the statement, eh? The Main Line, as well to an extent, the rest of this country is well on it's way to creating a very interesting feudal system.

And Radnor, you aren't off the hook either. You are respendent in dumb planning as well.

Garrett Hill, for example. Garrett Hill is Garrett Hill, why do you wish to supersize it? Why does Garrett Hill need some grand plan? Do the people who live there really want it? Why not do things like clean up the student housing and bars? After all, if you dress up Garrett Hill in the end without taking care of the issues that already exist, all you will be doing in the end is compounding exisiting issues and adding new ones.

And up to the center of town. Why on earth would Radnor wish to destroy the charm of the center of Wayne with some fantasy land project over by the post office and library that looks like a bad wedding cake on steroids? Are all the other condo projects built in or near the center of Wayne doing so well that you really wish to do this? For example, those condos that look like a mental institution behind that Land Rover dealership? How are they selling? What about Disneyesque "Wicklow" or whatever? Are these projects sold out? Are folks so demanding condo living? Or is this just the Emperor's New Clothes moves west?

Again, I do not subscribe to the notion that in order to have transit oriented development we have to have so much density we might as well be a major metropolitan city and not suburbia. And of course, when the transit systems leave a lot to be desired and Main Liners don't seem to be giving up the mammoth SUVs even with current fuel prices, well, what are you accomplishing by developing? And look at last evening's Radnor Board of Commissioners Meeting: people are fighting sidewalks in St. David's that promote pedestrian friendly environments and community walkability, so what's the point?

And Radnor, let's chat about Little Chicago, shall we? It's part of the history that makes North Wayne unique, so why not get busy and preserve it? Be a better custodian of the past? Is Radnor ashamed of Little Chicago? If so, why?

Say no to things like public storage for spoiled Main Liners who don't wish to park their cars on their own properties. Say no to public storage units on Pennsylvania Avenue on the Burket site. Why not get smart, Radnor, and turn that parcel into something useful and tasteful? It could be developed with a couple of small retail establishments and much needed municipal parking. The site is but a very short walk to the center of town. Put in long term meters.

While Radnor is saying no, say NO to 236 North Aberdeen Avenue. Not only because they should be preserving Jonathan Lengel's home - after all this is a township which waxes poetic over structures designed by architects like the Prices and David Knickerbocker Boyd that were built by Jonathan Lengel, yet they can't preserve Lengel's own home built in 1888 before even the Wayne Natatorium was built? Wow that's some dedication to preservation, huh?

But Radnor should say NO to 236 North Aberdeen for the pracitcal issues it will cause: it will create unwelcome density where none can be tolerated, it will remove valuable street parking on a street that is by best guestimate 95% ON street parking. But hey, this is a humble neighborhood, so should we be wondering who really cares about it other than the residents?

The design of the proposed development of 236 North Aberdeen is completely and utterly out of character for the surrounding area, and isn't a neighborhood necessity. It's just a case of residential realtors wanting to be develoipers, isn't it? There is NO hardship, and is it or is it nt true that it has been a consistently inhabited rental property for many years, and prior to that owner occupied? They don't have to develop 236 N. Aberdeen, they just want to be profit piggish, don't they? And does anyone believe the developer/realtors will move from their digs elsewhere in Radnor Township to be urban pioneers in Little Chicago? Gimme a break, right?

Oh and what else? Ahhhh, how about the part of theneighborhood on the other side of the creek? The street on the LOW side of the creek that got pummeled by Floyd? Willow Avenue?

Willow Avenue, duh, used to be the Wayne Natatorium, at the time purported to be the world's largest outside pool. The Natatorium was created in the late 19th century by damming up water sources, right? When the pool was deemed no longer profitible and drained, Radnor Township allowed development of modest homes. Did the water sources disappear over time? Uh, NO.

When Floyd happened and a good portion of the residents of Willow Ave ended up with the contents of their basements floating away or being put out on the curb as flood damage, could have Radnor Township bought out the homeowners? I don't know, but what I do know is the homes are still there, and these residents have property rights as well. Willow is low side of the creek and residents of Willow know they have to respect the water source. They are terrified of the potential ompact of unwelcome development on the high side of the creek. Can't unwelcme development effect just about everything imaginable? (Sheesh, this poor little street can't even get a much needed speed hump, let alone respect, can it?)

FEMA floodplain lines are like 40 feet or so IN from the edge of the creek on the property that is 236 North Aberdeen, correct? This proposed developement would move the floodplain line to about 10 feet from the edge of the creek in on the property, right? Isn't that a pretty big jump when no one has a crystal ball and an ironproof guarantee that problems will never occur?

Now when it comes to this issue, some are going to get skirts in a bunch over my saying 236 N. Aberdeen is a dumb plan, but hey guess what? It is. If it was that Desolation Station at the corner of Plant and Willow being discussed for development, would I be saying any of this? Nope. In my mind, people would welcome THAT particular corner getting spruced up, right?

Radnor and Lower Merion are at tipping points in history. As municipalities they should exercise better discretion over things. The future is being laid out. Among other things, the future shouldn't negate the history of our areas.

Oh, and the Main Line shouldn't just be for those with more money than sense, either. The Main Line evolved with diversity, and should move forward with it. The Main Line isn't just about the "Philadelphia Story", but hey, who knows what will happen to Ardrossan...maybe it will end up as "Scott Mews", "Ardrossan Estates", "Hopeton Manor"....but that is a conversation for another day, isn't it?

Main Line residents from all walks of life need to wake up. The economy ain't what she used to be, and before we allow tons MORE of new development, we really should look at plans in different municipalities that were approved and have yet to be built...and plans that have been completed but might not be living up to or exceeding all expectations. We need to take a realistic look at development saturation points in our communities. That is not being anti development, that is exercising common sense.

And above all else? Government on all levels needs to listen to what ordinary people are saying. And not just listen, but act appropriately. Government doesn't always know what's best...especially if government isn't listening with both ears, right?