OWL-DRAGON

A quick post on an article that bothered me. There were three plots of land that the Township was looking to acquire. One is in Ardmore and has been the subject of much community pressure. The tract of land there is surrounded by mostly twin homes and the neighbors feared the plan to place additional homes and the impact it would have on parking, flood control, etc.. One is a small triangle of land at the intersection of West Chester Pike and Darby Roads. It has been abandoned for years. Although zone commerical it is too small for any practical development and is an eyesore. But the owner wants some ridiculous amount of money. The idea is for the Township to acquire and make a pocket park.

The last tract is occupied by a private home currently on the market. It sits on Karakung Drive a greenway between Manoa Road and Haverford Road. On one side is Karakung Creek and the other is the Route 100 trolly line (know by old timers as the P&W). The Fanelli Tract has a nice enough house and an ugly garage. A developer would probably buy the property and subdive it and built several homes. It would definitely impact the greeway. I can't imagine anyone buying there but I have seen stranger places built on and the properties sold.

The Township is using HUD money to buy the Ardmore Tract. There was a vote to condemn the Fanelli tract to give the Township the opportunity to purchase the property. The vote 5-4 was strictly along the standard division of the Board of Commissioners (5 Republicans vs 3 Independents and a Democrat). The rhetoric sounded very partisan and sure sounded like a payback (control of the board switched last January when a former Independent went back to the fold).

It seems a shame. I had really hoped the Township would acquire this property. I hope I'm wrong but it sure seems like the politics of revenge took precedence over the long term good of the Township. Check the link and see what you think.