Businesses

Oh The Political Headache That is Suburban Square!

carla — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 12:24:54 -0700

Should they re-zone? Should they NOT re-zone? Should it be one meeting? Should it be two meetings? For answers to SOME of these burning questions, check out what Cheryl Allison is saying in this week's Main Line Life....and please, if you love Ardmore, turn out for November's public hearing. Posted on Thu, Oct 9, 2008

Breaking SEPTA News: Up To $10 Million Pledged Towards Ardmore!

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 13:42:40 -0700

Excellent News! We have learned just a moment ago that in addition to the approximately $6 million we are getting from the Federal Government (thru Gerlach/Omnibus) and the $6 million from Harrisburg (from Rendell through Dranoff) for Ardmore, SEPTA today announced that they were pledging up to $10 Million towards Ardmore! Way to go SEPTA!

Dirty Fellini?

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 05:26:41 -0700

Ok, so it is no joke that when you go past Fellini Cafe the windows look grimy and slimy. If you park in that little parking lot near where the rear of their property is, well, it is dirty. Check out these reports from Montgomery County Health Department...and be grossed out: Facility Name: Fellini Café, Inc. License Number: A13407 Address: 31 E. Lancaster Avenue City: Ardmore Municipality: Lower Merion Inspection Dates: 8/27/2008 8/8/2008 Total Inspections: 2

Free Market Profit, Socialized Debt?

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 05:31:37 -0700

We've had Federal bailouts announced on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and this morning we are waking up to the news that Merrill Lynch has a new owner and Lehman is going under? Add to the fact that Big Oil has treated all of us to "hurricane pricing" - yep Main Line gas stations have jumped their prices by 20 cents or more per gallon.

Real Estate Booming on the Main Line?

lmwatcher — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:47:43 -0700

Despite Philadelphia Magazine, the Inquirer and Daily News touting how great the real estate market is in the Philly area to make their advertisers and owners happy, I think this article on Allen Iverson trying to sell his Villanova home says a lot.

According to the Wall Street Journal's Private Properties column, Iverson has dropped the price to a "desperation deal" of $3.999 million — a million less than he paid for it in 2003. (/crunches numbers on calculator watch.) Yep. That's not good business.

Ardmore Exxon DENIED!

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 08:52:25 -0700

We LOVE sharing good news, no AWESOME news on a Friday!:) :-) :smile: The citizens of North Ardmore have prevailed, and Exxon was told NO to their proposal of a car wash and mini market at Woodside and Montgomery. Way to go Lower Merion! By the way, this Exxon still sports among the higest prices for gasoline.

O R D E R AND NOW, this 4th day of September, 2008, it is hereby ORDERED that the application of 200 West Montgomery Ave. Ardmore, LLC for a special exception to expand the nonconforming gasoline service station at 116 W. Montgomery Avenue to include a convenience store and car wash is DENIED for the reasons set forth in the foregoing opinion. Applicant's alternative request for a use variance and its request for dimensional variances from the front yard and buffer requirements are DENIED. Chairman Aaron and Members Fox and Brier participating, all voting "aye."

You may read the order in it's entirety (and it is an opinion worth reading down to the last bon mot)...check it out HERE! Take THAT franchise of Big Oil!

Check this out - they are giving away gas cards as prizes

MainLineThoughts — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 16:49:51 -0700

So I was noodling around on the www.mainlinelife.com website and they had a survey in the top right corner of the website - I loved the weekly surveys they had on the OLD website (along with the search feature to hunt through archives) - anyway, it's a survey about what you want to see more of, less of, etc in Main Line Life. It's short and if you give your name and e-mail you could win a $100 gas card. I don't know about you, but that's a decent amount of gas for me... follow this LINK or hunt it down on wwww.mainlinelife.com (upper right corner)

Look At Amtrak Now...And Mark Your Calendars For October 2nd in Ardmore

carla — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 13:32:08 -0700

On October 2nd, 2008, unless it changes, Congressman Jim Gerlach is planning a transit summit at which Amtrak and Septa will be present and accountable to US the public - this meeting will be in Lower Merion Township - at the Township Building, probably around 7 p.m. And in my mind it can't happen soon enough. (You can call Jim Gerlach's Montgoemry County Office for more information: 610-409-2780 ) So, anyway, much to my surprise as I was dozing off last night, and there was LuAnn Cahn on NBC10 talking about Amtrak and how they sprayed systemic herbicides all over the place, including in my neighborhood. Well, Cheryl Allison tackled it last week in her article Rail neighbors are not all aboard with Amtrak's spraying By Cheryl Allison. Well this week the plot thickens: Posted on Tue, Sep 2, 2008 Transit agency to rail neighbors: No trespassing By Cheryl Allison

Amtrak, Amtrak, Amtrak...Poisoning Plants,Killing Trees, and Making Friends...

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 20:54:49 -0700

Yep, Amtrak is out along the Main Line for it's annual rape and pillage of the landscape. This is yet another great reason to attend the TRANSIT SUMMIT Congressman Gerlach's office is getting together in Lower Merion in October...October 2, is the date we're hearing, but we'll keep you faithful apprised....Imagine, having Septa and Amtrak in the same room and having to answer questions? Posted on Tue, Aug 26, 2008 Rail neighbors are not all aboard with Amtrak's spraying By Cheryl Allison

Amtrak is a Bad Neighbor. What a Shocker.

Haverford19041 — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 17:10:29 -0700

Oh what to do with AMTRAK. The railroad that is our neighbor. They do not maintain their properties and when they do, it is always a study in bad extremes. Their tree maintenance comes to mind. Like PECO they seem to employee Asplundth the tree murderers. And they have done so recently. You see, one neighbor complained to Amtrak about Amtrak's trees falling on their property, specifically their garage. Well Amtrak came out and not only stripped the trees out from behind this one neighbor's yard, but behind other neighbors' yards as well. Too bad no one else wanted the protective screening of trees clear cut, eh?

BREAKING NEWS!!!! O'Neill's Conshohocken Empire is Up In Flames!!!

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 14:57:37 -0700

Dante's Inferno is how one reporter is describing the HUGE blaze in Conshohocken that represents Brian O'Neill's Conshy Empire! One building flattened, another apparently on the way. The news reports are frantic - it's 203 Washington St off Elm in Conshy - a huge complex - something like 375 units "upscale" in downtown Conshy - like 5 or 7 alarms right now - $51 Million dollars and black smoke "billowing for miles". Remember a couple of years ago when his brother's building went up in flames on Elm Street?

Uh ohhh...Our Philadelphia Area Newspapers are in Trouble....

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 11:10:57 -0700

So there I was surfing PA Watercooler, and BAM! this item hits me: Inky & Daily News In Trouble August 5 2008 . I tried to follow they hyperlink to a Bulletin article, but once on the Bulletin's website got lost...so I did a little search and lookee below at all I found: whispers of financial issues and a consolidation of newspaper newsrooms (Daily News and Inquirer)? Wow, are our newspapers on life support? Then I found something about Journal Register too...Journal Register is the parent company of our beloved weeklies..... Editor and Publisher: Philly Newspapers Face New Debt Troubles By Joe Strupp Published: August 06, 2008 12:50 PM ET

NEW YORK The owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News is facing more debt troubles, according to a Standard & Poors report that says the company has received a forbearance agreement from creditors through Sept. 10.

Baldwin, Baldwin, Baldwin?!

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 16:44:47 -0700

Baldwin, Baldwin, Baldwin...you haven't completed your pedestrian "green bench" that I can see (unless those roots I tripped on the other day while avoiding becoming road pizza ARE the green bench?), and there you are on page 24 of the Thursday July 31st, 2008 edition of Main Line Times advertising a new swim club? Ahh yes:

Bryn Mawr- Originally known as the Polar Bear Swim Club (circa 2006),the Baldwin Swim Club will be open to the community, and plans to continue the tradition, in it's home at the new Athletic Center on the Baldwin Campus....the Baldwin Swim Club's first practice will be Sept. 15. For more information....call 610-527-2700, extension 601 or e-mail dhart@baldwinschool.org

Wow...yet another institution trying to get their facilities to pay for themselves, eh? Now, that's not being mean, just check out artificial turf field at another private school with parking issues - it is in constant use, and not just school functions, right?

What Does Everyone Think of The Inquirer Right Now?

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 08:51:39 -0700

I am deciding whether or not I think it is worth it to continue to subscribe to The Philadelphia Inquirer any longer or not. They recently decided to stop production of favorite sections like Image and Neighbors on Sundays, and yesterday my Sunday paper was woefully thin - even the car ads that used to be so plentiful were but a couple of pages.

Which Came First The Chicken or the Egg?

Haverford19041 — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 09:12:23 -0700

When you live with an institution in your neighborhood, life can be irritating at times. Take this morning for example.

Restauarant Chatter and Table Hopping

MainLineThoughts — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 08:09:53 -0700

Time for a little restaurant chatter.....

UPDATE on PECO Issues in Ardmore

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 09:35:12 -0700

Now special thanks and double snaps should go to Christine Vilardo of the Ardmore Initiative who has worked like us towards resolution of this latest issue in Ardmore with PECO. We will point out for the record that PECO and other utility companies need to keep pace with development and redevelopment. They can't just talk about it, they need to DO IT. What is below ground is obviously problematic or we wouldn't have problems. Below are some updates:

PECO Problems Again in Ardmore?

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 21:32:35 -0700

Many small businesses between Radio Shack and Pennywise Thrift Shop along Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore have been suffering dreadfully since this past Thursday. From Radio Shack at 9 E Lancaster Ave through to Suburban Office at 49 E Lancaster Ave, the power has been OFF as often as it has been ON.

Verizon Fios Follies

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 13:29:04 -0700

So, who thinks it was a mistake letting Verizon into our communities with Fios somewhat unchecked? I do. It's probably redundant at this point to ask Verizon if they can hear us now, 'cause I think they CAN hear us and don't give a rat's fanny....Anyway,have you had your sight lines blocked by one of those bad beige boxes while in your car on a small street, or even a large street? Have you moved into a rental unit or purchased a property that has Fios and you don't want it? Do you think Fios is all about hype and not so much about dollar value or service?

Check Out The Welcome Wagon In Bryn Mawr...

MainLineThoughts — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 11:16:15 -0700

[color=red]UPDATE![/color][color=green] Well, apparently, you can't smoke on Lower Merion Township owned property, but you CAN take a nap. :jawdrop: Check out this photo from the same day as the "no smoking" photo. Can you imagine just HOW relaxed or oblivious one must be to take a nap on Ludington Library's lawn along Lancaster Avenue in Bryn Mawr? This was definitely a photo op![/color] [color=red]PREVIOUSLY:[/color] All hail the Welcome Wagon! :wink: So check out the paper sign taped to a public bench in Bryn Mawr outside Ludington Library (also nice to know how our taxpayer dollars are being spent and wonder what they have to say about those occasional homeless seemong people that pop up in this location?)...too bad the signmakers can't be as proactive with the Graffiti clean up that is needed next to the Bejing Inn, or even tackling Bejing Inn's gross looking building: Welcome To Bryn Mawr, Please Enjoy Your Stay

NOW READ THIS: Flim Flamming Going On At Ardmore Restaurant?

MainLineThoughts — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 05:26:03 -0700

Wow - what establishment is this? What kind of scum sucking pigs would basically perpetuate what sounds like fraud? Whatever restaurant this is, Ardmore doesn't need these kind of bad-for-business problems, huh? Where there is smoke there is fire....bet this letter grows legs, huh? People like this should be OUT of business, not IN. Hmmm....this person signed a slip that was 1/2 the bill? That is fraud if they charged this customer the whole amount, isn't it? Reprinted from Main Line Times: Posted on Wed, Jun 18, 2008 Beware of using card when splitting a check

TO THE EDITOR:Diners beware when splitting checks with credit cards! On May 24, I dined in a well established restaurant in Ardmore with three other ladies. When the check arrived, two of us gave our credit cards and asked for the check to be split in half. The waitress returned with a credit slip to each card holder for half of the bill, and we each added on a nice tip. I only signed a slip that showed half the bill! On or about June 1, I was checking my card account online and discovered that this restaurant charged me for the full bill (of which I never signed a slip for the complete amount) PLUS the correct charge for half plus tip. My bank advised to first work this out with the restaurant. The owner has been difficult and I still have not received a credit for the $60 charge that I never signed for but was charged against my credit card. He refuses to charge the amount back on my card and says he will only give me cash. I went today and no cash.

Another Shame of The Main Line: The Sordid Tale of Rosalind Lavin...

carla — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 08:23:04 -0700

Jill Porter: Channel your fury over Lavin case to change assisted-living regulations By Jill Porter Philadelphia Daily News

YOU'RE NOT alone if you're still haunted by the fact that Rosalind Lavin got off so easy. You're not alone if you think she should have been criminally prosecuted for the horrific conditions endured by the residents of her personal-care homes. I continue to be contacted by readers appalled that Lavin, who lives lavishly on the Main Line, was able to get away with paying $700,000 and avoid acknowledging wrongdoing to resolve a federal investigation.

Wow. Got a call from someone about this who asked me what I thought about someone named Rosalind Lavin. "Who?" I said. "Just Google" said the other person...."it's horrifying" So I Googled...and am appalled. Appalled that this Villanova resident could do these things she is charged with, and somewhat appalled that her sentance in the end wasn't 100% a punishment to fit the crime, and was more like a pricey slap on the wrist? As a matter of fact, can one disagree with what Jill Porter says on June 11th?

Spotlight on SEPTA: Are We Satisfied With Our Transit Authority?

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 08:58:33 -0700

Do you trust Septa? Do you wonder why Septa can't come on out to Lower Merion and talk to people who need the R5 and supporting bus routes? So SEPTA was granted $6 Million along with Lower Merion for what we thought was a new train station, parking, bus access. The funds came through a Federal "earmark". The earmark expires September 30th. Will this money cover a modest train station? According to some, apparently not. Is it true that it could cost upwards of $20 million? Who knows? What will our money available be spent on? "Transit related improvements"? Ok? Ok, well we need a modest train station and parking and a place for the buses. And we need something ADA compliant (and how is it that many stations including Ardmore have been allowed to NOT be ADA compliant?) But will we see it? And now that SEPTA claims ridership is up, why is it the R5 schdule has so few trains until 4:30 in the afternoon Mon thru Friday? Seriously, look at the March 23, 2008 Septa R5 schedule. Pick Ardmore as your departure. The times trains run are 5:42, 6:17, 6:47,7:12,7:39,7:58,8:14,8:43,9:01,9:54,10:54,11:54. There used to be many more trains. We lost trains a year ago on a temporary basis, so why aren't they back now? Septa claims ridership is up due to increasing fuel costs, and there was even some snippet on KYW news radio yesterday about where they were adding more parking, etc (they did not mention Ardmore), yet all we see slipped in amongst the PR fluffernutter are notices for decreasing services, or increasing fares and why is that? Ardmore Train Station

Is this O.K.?

MainLineThoughts — Fri, 23 May 2008 12:43:13 -0700

So, just a couple of little questions: 1. Does everyone think that these raised platforms as an addition to outside sidewalk dining in Ardmore are O.K.? Or does it present a potential pedestrian hazard and the platforms should be removed?

Will Spin Keep The Local Real Estate Market off Life Support?

MainLineThoughts — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:25:16 -0700

This week on page 3 of Main Line Life we can all see a story about Tredyffrin Township’s Planning Commission saying “no thanks” to extending boundaries of a proposed “Devon/Strafford Mixed-Use Center”. It would have been a mixed use road clogger like we are seeing proposed elsewhere along the Main Line and there was this one largely debated section, a stretch of Old Eagle School Road that starts at Lancaster Avenue. Like other mixed use plans, as proposed, this stretch would have colored outside the lines and if it had been enacted, gobbled parts of side streets like Meadowood Road, Strafford Avenue, Forrest Lane and Fairfield Lane. Nice, would this have been a potential TRID zone too if it had come to pass? But once again when it comes to Tredyffrin, both residents and a local government who seem to be able to get it together over issues like this said NO. Good for them. (This week we also learned that Tredyffrin passed on a dog park seemingly due to sheer cost of construction as much as anything else.) Why when the economy is in the toilet, do we see a continued rush to develop everywhere? Is it so those who would profit stay off the bread lines that the rest of us in this country seemed headed towards thanks to this economy? And speaking of economy, now we are seeing the new trends in housing running towards rental units. Yep, there was a rise in housing starts, but do you all know in what specific sector? Rental units - as in the economy is bad, people can't afford to own, so now they rent? Market Scan Rentals Are Up And Consumers Are Spent Melinda Peer 05.16.08, 4:55 PM ET

Ardmore West Parking nightmares

lynnralphie — Mon, 19 May 2008 15:59:30 -0700

While it is wonderful to see the Ardmore West Shopping center thriving, I would like to know if anyone believes the parking is adequate or safe. I frequent the shops there and recently had a fender bender in parking lot. Does anyone have data on how many accidents a day occur there ?

It's Just A Bryn Mawr Kind of Day

SaveArdmoreCoalition — Thu, 15 May 2008 11:22:28 -0700

Last night was all about Bryn Mawr at the Lower Merion Township Building. Everyone was very dressed up and had their hair done...television cameras and all...a lot of people spoke...some were quite curious - like that Bryn Mawr business owner who spoke about the "BID" (i.e. having an Ardmore Initiative for Bryn Mawr). One thing? Are all the property owners there hip to the fact that if it goes through there will be annual assessments they will have to pay? That is one of the realities of those things - also, if the proposed "BID" for Bryn Mawr is formed, they will have to get along with the Bryn Mawr Business Association, and a BID needs a healthy business association associated with it since a BID would be more for the property owners, while a business association addresses the needs of business owners... We also suggest if they are serious about this that they spend some time with Christine Villardo and some of the Ardmore Initiative folks...not just people with BIDs in other communities - talk to one right in our own township. Anyway, apparently this zoning thing will come back again in June, since there are wrinkles to be ironed out. Here is an update from Diane Mastrull and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Also, check out a couple little virtual tours of Central Ave, Old Lancaster Road in Bryn Mawr and Pennsylvania Ave: Central Ave Bryn Mawr Old Lancaster Rd Bryn Mawr Pennsylvania Ave Bryn Mawr Posted on Thu, May. 15, 2008 Bryn Mawr downtown plan closer to final approval By Diane Mastrull INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

Congratulations Pennywise Thrift Shop on HARB Award!

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:50:57 -0700

Well, lookee here! The Pennywise Thrift Shop won a HARB award! How about that? Wonder what those sweet people who wanted eminent domain and to knock down the beloved Pennywise think now? Congratulations Audrey, Bobbi and all the fine folks at the Pennywise! A special note of thanks goes to Ken Haskin of KGH and Associates who devoted endless hours to see that Pennywise got a historically accurate face lift. His plans made this renovation a success. Way to go Ken! Also, Audrey has volunteered for the Pennywise for like 40 some odd years. She deserves a LOT of praise as well. That sweet lady gets the true meaning and spirit of volunteerism!

Is Suburban Square a Good Ardmore Neighbor? OR NOT?

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 14 May 2008 17:30:27 -0700

Well, well, well. There are fresh rumors afoot concerning Suburban Square and their new owners Kimco. It is no deep, dark secret they want to redevelop the Ruby's lot. But are they now really going to push for rezoning before the long sought Ardmore redevelopment happens with Carl Dranoff? How neighborly of them! What Suburban Square/Kimco wants to do is NOT by right, and it IS huge. Suburban Square is already a logistical nighmare, and if they start this before "Main Street" Ardmore starts it's renaissance, it could further hurt "Main Street Ardmore".

Bryn Mawr Learns Her Fate This Evening

MainLineThoughts — Wed, 14 May 2008 16:25:08 -0700

Tonight is the night for Bryn Mawr. Will it end up being zoned to be supersized, or is that a special treat reserved only for Ardmore? Will the remaining residents feel any protection from hospital sprawl? Thirty years from now how will we feel? Will we wonder why we had to have "hospital town"? Hospitals are still in the business of medecine, right? Just checking. And what of Five Points? Where are the "improvements"? When do they start? Who will lose land or sidewalks? Whatever. At this point, can it be said why discuss it any longer?