Sunday, January 11, 2015

Media in Two Minutes

MEDIA IN TWO MINUTES



Deepest Sympathy and Condolences
Very sorry to hear the passing last week of well know RTMSD music teacher, Charles M. Terry.  I had Mr. Terry back during my Springton Lake days and he had a knack for making music fun and interesting.  He taught us the amazing sound abilities of a music synthesizer.  Back in the 80's that was quite a piece of technology.

This week I also learned the passing of Ronald.  I never knew his last name, but he was also affectionally known as 'Sleepy' and was around more in the warmer months.  He was a very kind soul who many in the community looked out for.

Granite Run Mall Acme Remodeling
GRM Acme applies for Liquor License
Media's Acme isn't the only store being remodeled.  Work is underway at the Granite Run Mall Acme which includes taking out the self check out lanes and an application for a liquor license to sell six-packs of beer.  They also have plans for a small cafe too.

Barnes Foundation hires Penncrest Alumni!
Congrats to Thom Collins who last week was selected as the CEO and President of the world famous Barnes Foundation.  That’s a huge achievement and one I know many are proud of.    I don’t know if Penncrest Alumni get a special discount, but that’s a good question.

Cold Week in Media, PA
The temperature bottomed out to below 10 degrees this week in Media.  I was no sooner  sitting at my kitchen table on Tuesday morning realizing how cold that was, when I saw a trash truck out front picking up the garbage cans.   I work in an office, but I can appreciate what the Media Highway Department does.  Thanks!  And Great Job!

Is Jefferson Square just the start?
The Jefferson Square developers released details on the 23 units they are building off of Jefferson Street behind the McDonalds.  Two things people took note of, 1) The price ($380k to $420k) and 2) the density.  What’s further interesting is that in a 4 mile strech between Media and the Granite Run Mall, there could possibly be over 700 new dwellings consisting of high-end home and apartments.  Here's how that roughly breaks down: 388 proposed for Granite Run Mall, 150 discussed by Arcadia development for the west end of Media, 22 discussed on the West End of Balitmore Ave (Old Dive Shop), 117 under construction in Rose Tree Reserve and the 23 underway at Jefferson Square.  That’s potentially a lot of housing, development and traffic.  
Reserve at Rose Tree renderings

That said, is Media and the surrounding area ready for the next phase of what looks to be a housing run?  I've talked to few people who have some very prudent observations, one of which was "Chester County got right what Delaware County got wrong" in terms of infrastructure and land development.  I don’t totally agree with that, but Media, Middletown, Broomall and Newtown Square are on the verge of some very big development projects.

Granite Run Mall 2016 or maybe beyond....
Despite the fact last week that JCPenney announced they'll be closing their Granite Run Mall store, I don't expect work to start on this project any time soon.  The 388 apartments at ~$1,600 per month is awfully ambitious for this location and may incur some further due dillegence.   That's the biggest piece in this chess match and whatever way that goes, so goes the project from what I've been seeing so far.  

Only 1.6% of Media residents made recommendations on a $5,600,000 borough bond outlay?
It's odd to me that in this day and age Mayor McMahon, Council President Brian Hall and the rest of borough council could only muster a participation rate of 1.6% (60/3700 reg. voters) regarding recommendations on how to use the funding from Media's $5.6 million bond.  Essentially only 60 PEOPLE filled out a survey that was supposedly posted on Media's Borough website?!?!?!  Why weren't others notified of the survey?  How could 1.6% constitute representing the community?  Would they've taken just 30 responses or less?    

Taxpayers will ultimately be on the hook for $5.6 million bond, while only 60 people recommended how that money will be spent.  Here's the borough's Capital Improvement Plan.





17 comments:

  1. How is an already stressed infrastructure going to be able to handle the additional traffic that these housing projects will bring. 452, 352 and rte 1 are already jammed, and someone thinks it's a good idea to throw another 1,000 vehicles into the mix?

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  2. How does 388 apartment units equate to 1,000 vehicles?

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    Replies
    1. If everything described gets built, that's 690 units. If 3/4 of those have at least two adult occupants, that's over 1,000 additional drivers.

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  3. Michael Jordan, MediaJanuary 11, 2015 at 10:50 AM

    BEST SOURCE OF NEWS, AND FASTEST. TEDMAN IS FEET ON THE GROUND REPORTER.
    NOBODY DOES IT BETTER. SORRY "SLEEPY" PASSED AWAY.

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  4. I just hope that monies are spent on infrastructure so Media dose not turn into another Upper Darby

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    Replies
    1. Media will not be another Upper Darby because they are keeping out Section 8 housing. that is usually the downfall of an area.

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  5. Wasn't Skate Land in Brookhaven?

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  6. How do they "keep out section 8 hosting"? Isn't the a violation of fair housing. Sorry if that's a silly question.

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    Replies
    1. No silly questions. Just silly answers.

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    2. To make that kind of comment about Section 8 housing is completely ignorant of the fact that we have severe problems with social and racial equality in this country, which is a direct result of generations of problematic (to put it mildly) social policies. I don't know the answer, but that kind of comment only exacerbates the problems we've seen across the country in recent months. It's clear we have a long way to go, even in Everyone's Hometown.

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  7. Anonymous - Jan 13 - 1:24PM - The problem with Section 8 and other social welfare programs are that people defraud and steal taxpayer's money. There are countless people who exploit the broken system and do not technically qualify for or deserve social welfare and to say otherwise is naive. That's the problem with many of the trademark "Liberal" causes, they are built on lies. Be honest about the problems and you would probably have more people on your side. The last thing Everyone's Hometown is more freeloaders and noncontributing people looking for handouts.

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    Replies
    1. Wanted: a true leader who is willing to fix a problem rather than criticize the status quo.

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    2. Anon 1/13/15 Steal defraud? Do you know who is doing it? Then report them Usual conservative blather blaming the poor.How about corporate welfare? Tax money and tax cuts for jobs that the didn't produce or beach replenishment only to see it washed away? Turn off Limbaugh.

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  8. People please don't fall into this trap. If it's not the liberals' faults then it's the conservatives'. No. It's systemic. It's a product of a system where those in "power" do nothing but fight the criticism of those who are not in "power". Can we get past the rhetoric and find some solutions?

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