Issue Position: Lower Merion Board Should Reconsider Cricket Lot Development

Issue Position

An 8-story development project is planned for the Cricket Avenue parking lot near Lancaster Avenue in Ardmore. As a frequent user of
the lot and a State Representative whose district will soon include this area, I write to express my serious concerns. The scale of the
project is out of character with the surrounding area and is not the best approach to revitalizing downtown Ardmore.
"Ardmore One" would include 121 luxury apartments, 10,000 square feet of retail space, and a four-level parking garage. Construction
is set to begin in mid-2014 and last from one and a half to two years on the site of the 175-space municipal parking lot.
The eight story height of the proposed structure would change the "small town" feel of the area. Most nearby buildings are no more than
three stories.
This project will not add parking to the area but instead make it less convenient by requiring garage parking.
The development would eliminate an important community asset. The Cricket lot, in addition to providing a large convenient parking
area, also allows for events such the annual Ardmore Oktoberfest and First Friday events including the car parade, outdoor movie
screenings and the annual Cricket Avenue Block Party.
Although a stated reason for this project is to help Lancaster Avenue business owners, today vacancies there are at an almost all time
low (three).
The feedback I have gotten from area residents is overwhelmingly negative while the reaction from Ardmore business owners is mixed.
While some business owners support this project others doubt they will survive the long construction period when the Cricket lot parking
is not available to their customers.
The total cost of the project, to be developed by Dranoff Properties, is estimated to be $46 million with Dranoff contributing $34 million.
Dranoff would subsequently own the structure and land.
Recently Pennsylvania withdrew $12 million in state funding for this project, citing the ineligibility of the residential component of the
development among other reasons. Township officials have appealed.
It is an open question whether this state funding will be restored or whether the project will proceed without state funding. For now the
project continues to move forward through the Lower Merion Township land development process.
Despite its problems this project has an enormous amount of momentum so citizens wishing to change its direction need to be heard.
There will be three opportunities in March: the Lower Merion Planning Commission meeting on March 3, the Lower Merion Board of
Commissioners Building and Planning committee meeting on March 12 and the Lower Merion Board of Commissioners meeting March
19. The agendas of all of these meetings are tentative. Check the township website, www.lowermerion.org, prior to attending.
Lower Merion residents should also contact their own commissioners because it is they at the end of the day who will determine the
fate of this project.

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