Morning Headlines: Neighbors Say Dranoff’s One Ardmore Place Is Too Tall
Dranoff Properties’ One Ardmore Place was off to a rocky start and that doesn’t seem to be changing anytime soon. According to Cheryl Allison at the Main Line Times, residents recently banded together at a meeting to express their disapproval for the redevelopment project’s height.
During a forum with the Lower Merion Township Board of Commissioners this past Wednesday, neighbors wore t-shirts with the words “Save Cricket Lot 4 Ardmore” and argued that the sections of the planned mixed-use building that rise up eight stories do not adhere to the neighborhood’s character. They then reiterated past complaints, as well. From the Main Line Times:
The arguments against the project by now are becoming familiar. It is too dense, too tall and too urban in character. A construction period of 18 months or more, when the parking lot will be out of commission, will sink the small, independently-owned businesses on Lancaster and Cricket avenues that depend on it for convenient parking. After construction, traffic congestion and competition for parking with new residents will exacerbate existing problems. Others object to spending public money — $10.5 million in Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program grants, in this case – to “subsidize” a primarily private development project. Ardmore’s special MUST (Mixed-Use Special Transit) zoning, with a maximum building height of 98 feet, needs to be reexamined.
Despite their protests, a public hearing was scheduled for December 3rd.
• Residents worry One Ardmore Place’s 8 stories are out of character with surrounding buildings [Main Line Times]
In other news…
• Montco business centers to get revitalization plan [Philly.com]
• O’Neill visits Somerton meeting, discusses Council bills to amend zoning code [Northeast Times]
• Council adopts bill amending daycare regulations [PlanPhilly]
• Newtown Township planners support plans for addition at Bucks County Association for the Blind [Bucks Local]
• Transit oriented development is seen as the cure for the commute: but what makes it fail or succeed? [NewsWorks]
