Memorial Day is drawing to a close here in Ardmore, PA. Fox News’ Hannity and Colmes are focusing on eminent domain this evening. They just finished interviewing a WWII vet born in 1917 and facing eminent domain. Public officials just don’t get that this veteran doesn’t want to end his days in a condo. He wants to end his days in his home.

What a difference a year makes. This time last year, we were those folks we are seeing on TV from Long Branch, NJ. If it hadn’t been for our group’s tenacity in the face of adversity, where would we be now?

Today, as we assembled for Ardmore’s Memorial Day Parade, the different feeling struck us. Last year, we were gearing up for battle; this year it was almost a “victory lap”...and the warm feeling of contentment reflected by the more peaceful countenances of our beloved merchants.

Last year was different....so different

As we marched down the parade route along Lancaster Avenue, people stood and cheered - applauding and waving at us. Us. How cool was that? It was sweet music to our ears. And for every person that cheered us today, it reaffirmed all that much more that we did the right thing.

After the parade and grave side Memorial Day Service (which was very moving and special), we wandered back through the streets of Ardmore. We stopped in the VFW to say hey to our vets for a while, and then we all went our separate ways to enjoy our Memorial Day.

There are some things that are troubling, though. Let’s start with our own block. Would someone please tell us what is going on underneath the sidewalk at the curb between Fellini Café and Brownies 23 East? Why are they covering up gaping holes in the ground again? Why are there gaping holes in the ground again? And why aren’t the holes adequately covered up? In at least two places, a human foot could slip in, and then what? ANOTHER case of sidewalk versus human? Where are the orange cones warning people off?

We also noticed some more vacancy signs. Now, while there are none in our block, the same can’t be said for the rest of downtown Ardmore.

Another troubling detail no one is talking about? Do you all remember those sidewalks that were JUST redone not that long ago? Especially, those large expanses of brickwork, like the brickwork in front of the old Ardmore Movie Theater, now the Philadelphia Sports Club.

For brickwork that is barely a couple years old, it is showing deterioration in places, as well as bumping up and becoming uneven in a way that it took two centuries to happen along the streets of Philadelphia! As Ardmore moves forward with redevelopment, we hope better bricklayers and sidewalk folks are chosen. It truly is disgraceful that sidewalks which should still look new, look so shabby. Ugh.(and we know they cost a pretty penny)

We also couldn’t help but notice, since we marched right by it on the parade route, how sad Ardmore West looks. It looks like a ghost mall. Funny, with the setbacks already there, it would be an ideal MUST location. At Ardmore West you could put those tall buildings the developers are craving. Buildings with height would actually fit there. A movie theater might be nice too.

The former site of Manhattan Bagel also looks quite downtrodden. We noticed that Bryn Mawr Trust Company has chosen TN Ward, an Ardmore Construction Company, to build their bank on the site. That is at least good news, keeping it local.

But, Bryn Mawr Trust has a new branch they built not too long ago in Newtown Square. It is on Route 3 (West Chester Pike) right before 252. Go look at it. It might be new, but it is grotesque in design. It even has turrets. We can only assume it’s Cinderella’s, Rapunzel’s,and Sleeping Beauty’s bank branch, and hope they don’t repeat the design in Ardmore. (Pretty soon bank branches are going to outnumber nail salons and fast food in Ardmore).

Another irony? This weekend the History Channel featured a program on Ancient Rome. The Ancient Romans were building malls with condos above centuries before we even walked the earth. Roman Emperors and modern developers have a lot in common, actually. Hopefully modern developers know a bit more than the ancient caesars of Rome. After all, Rome fell....didn’t it?

We walked the streets of Ardmore today and saw the promise there. Question is, when will we begin? Where’s that resident/business owner committee that was supposed to form? When will some of OUR businesses be on the board of the Ardmore Initiative? Will that organization even survive? Where’s the RFP process? Will we get a comprehensive plan for the whole township? Are they saving the Pennywise?

So many questions. But folks, we’re here. Waiting to take that next step along with the rest of you. Thank you Ardmore for believing in us.

Happy Memorial Day.