You would have not known it from the posted agenda of today's Community Development Committee meeting, nor would have most people been able to make the meeting at 4pm, but today they released the proposal for the former Towne House restaurant at the corners of Veteran Square and Baltimore Ave.
As expected over the last year, the plans include for lower level parking with multiple apartments on the higher levels. At one time it was expected that retail would be part of this project as well, but that's now not the case. Pricing has not been released, but similar apartments being built at West End Flats start at $1,700 (one bedroom).
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Typical of Media Borough no notification of the meeting and not even a memtion of the properties physical address
ReplyDeleteJeff Smith and Jeffrey are sure good at leaving the people of media in the dark
Priceless! Media sends out a survey for food scrap recycling on FB, but holds a meeting at 4pm on a a Tuesday for a major development project that was given a vague agenda item. Why didn't they notify people about that on FB?
ReplyDeleteAsk Jeff Smith I'm sure he will get right back to you !
DeleteThe Media Council and borough should not change any ordinances for this , start thinking of the Town and the people who live here.
ReplyDeleteYou are ruining this small town
Agree.. The fact that they think a parking garage should be their ground floor shows this developer just wants a quick return on investment and has no plans to stick around after he cashes out. Terrible urban planning design. Terrible.
DeleteThe mayor on down to the borough manager and code enforcement are
DeleteDon't deal on a level playing field and they seem to forget they work for the people not developers and house flippers it's an embarrassment to a borough of 3200 people
Their should be a right to know request filed every day on this project you can't trust the representation that Media Borough puts forth- the tax payers of media are the last the list when it comes to projects like this
ReplyDeleteAsk the residents adjacent to the Hampton Inn
Looks like an Aztec pyramid. Will human sacrifices be conducted on top, or is that not in the Borough Code?
ReplyDeleteEli Kahn has very poor taste in architects , the building has no character
ReplyDeleteThe lemmings who continue to vote for the democrats are finding out they are being sold out over development.
ReplyDeleteNothing to see here folks, just fawn over Dining Under the Stars as your "barometer" of what a good town is. In another 24 months you'll be living in the Media section of West Philly.
True. We need a few more tree-hugging Republicans in this town.
DeleteSo, honest question - what would you like to see done to this property instead? Always so much complaining about literally everything but I rarely see ideas exchanged. And I don't want to hear "pocket park."
ReplyDeleteHere, I'll help you out Anonymous. How about ground floor retail.. its large enough for two or three different businesses to operate there, on the ground floor alone. Maybe instead of a un eyesore of a floor and half parking garage, you put it underground or maybe even no parking at all... there's a huge lot across the street and a parking garage to the back of this bldg... now we need ANOTHER one? Maybe a facade that fits in with the buildings around it... you have MULTIPLE bldgs on that block that date to the 1850s... maybe try to make it "fit" better architecturally?
DeleteThe only retail that could probably work in that space is a larger chain/corporate store which would demand some space for dedicated parking to that store. Would not be mom/pop type of retail on State Street - which apart from restaurants - is challenged as it is. And these larger type of stores not usually noted for their architectural charm - just saying.
DeleteApple Store should open here have Kahn sell It to a developer who works with Apple there could a large auditorium in addition to a retail store - this would be far more attractive to the progressive populace then the food scraps and composting post that mentions a progressive populace !!
DeleteAsk Ardmore, PA officials about the benefits of an Apple Store. The store seems ways be crowded and probably generates more dollars per square foot then even trader joe's
DeleteOnce again, a ton of folks complaining without proposing a viable solution or beneficial/realistic suggestions.
ReplyDeleteYou do not want this property to be apartments? What would you like instead? Seriously, what are your suggestions? Would you like the Town House back? It is not coming back, just like coal is not coming back. Time to move on.
What would you suggest?
• Should the property be open space? We all know how much you complain about any kind of open space proposals in our town (pocket park, anyone?). And how is that financially advantageous for the person who bought property (remember, folks….we live in a free market). I can’t imagine how up in arms you would be if the borough were to infringe on YOUR ability to operate legally in a free market. OK, so not open space.
• How about another large restaurant? You would all be complaining about that to no end saying that we have enough bars and restaurants already. Ok, so no restaurants.
• Retail space? We have open store fronts on State Street and a huge retail development set to open next year at Granite Run. How would retail be viable? Would YOU open a store in this location? Why haven’t YOU filled the open store fronts that are now on state street? Will YOU ensure that new retail in this spot would be supported?
• If not retail then…how about a parking lot? Hmmm…not sure how that would be financially advantageous for the property owner. And you would be up in arms if Media borough spent money to buy this space for a parking lot; you would say it was a waste of borough money. So, no parking lot.
So really…what suggestions do you have for this space that would satisfy the buyer, the borough, the business owners and the residents? Here are the only things I can think of, if we dismiss the proposals for apartment building:
• A small boutique hotel. That might work, though the incoming Hampton Inn might compete.
• Individual housing. Not sure how many they could put on the lot and it is in a little bit of an odd spot for individual houses. Not sure this option would be financially viable.
• Town houses similar to what was built on Jefferson St. I would be OK with that, but considering the amount of people that complained about the Jefferson St development, I am sure many of you would not like it.
• Some sort of multi-use community center that could provide resident services (elderly or youth services for example), art events, party and event rental space, etc… But this would likely have to be something owned and operated by the borough and we all know how most of you feel about that sort of thing.
So. What do you suggest that would benefit all parties, allow the developer to recoup his costs at a reasonable profit and be advantageous to our borough residents and current business owners? I am all ears….
Could not have said it better. Well done. Many (maybe most) commenters on this blog would only be happy if a new owner for the Townhouse stepped up and it re-opened with the original menu and all the artifacts returned. Or if that can't be maybe the commenter on the 6th street shooting - who hoped for violence to spread to Borough Hall - will take up arms himself. I still cannot believe that comment was allowed to be posted. Then again on this blog I should not be surprised.
DeleteAnon 10:29
DeleteI thought the commenter on the 6th ST. shooting was advocating for another shooting closer to the moderators home not Borough Hall. Interesting we read two different possibilities.......
I'll throw out some suggestions...
Delete1. A Planet Fitness type gym... we have none in Media. Clearly those make money and would actually be "advantageous to borough residents"
2. High End Condos... do we have any in the Borough at all? No. So why do we want more apartments here?
3. Mixed use facility... ground floor as retail or restaurant, upper floors as residential. Or ground floor as retail gym for both apt residents and borough residents? But a parking garage? gtfo
AS it is now its a parking garage and more (ugly) apartments. My three suggestions above are better than that and would provide for a financial return.
Anonymous September 27, 2017 at 10:29 AM
DeleteThe comment you mention that inferred bodily harm/death was directed at me, which is why I posted it. I get these from time to time and people should see the real ugliness.
Here it is:
Anonymous September 20, 2017 at 10:39 PM
“I hope there are more shootings on sixth street. Looks like they are getting closer to the problem.”
It states "...more shooting on sixth street." Not Media Borough. In fact, it makes no outside reference of Sixth St. I live at 128 E 6th Street. The incident occurred at Sixth and Jackson St a block and a half from where I live. "Looks like they are getting close to the problem" would indicated they are getting close to 128 E 6th (the problem), since the commenter was apparently displeased with my post entitled:Do we separate grain products from meat products, or will food scrap recycling be single stream?
Feel free to make a point of clarification and in the comments here regarding your misguided outrage. Or does this fact destroy your whole argument? You’re no better that the commenter who hopes I get shot.
Thank you for reading and commenting on a blog that gives you a voice, let alone an idea of what's going on. How does Mayor McMahon communicate to residents? Funny how more people openly discuss issues on this site, even if anonymous, than they do with all of Media Borough Council combined. Then again, as you say, on this blog I should not be surprised.
Tedman
I had no idea where you live when I wrote my comment. I do however know Borough Hall is on 4th Street, which is not too far from 6th St. And I am well aware, after reading this blog for years, of the intense level of vitriol directed at local officials. I concede this totally unacceptable comment was likely directed at you, however I don’t feel I was all that unreasonable to assume otherwise given what I just said.
DeleteIt is unclear to me when you write in your post “Or does this fact destroy your whole argument? You’re no better tha(n) the commenter who hopes I get shot”. If by this you are suggesting that had I known the violence was directed at you I would not have a problem with, it I find it deeply offensive. I am opposed to violence being threatened against anyone. I would hope you agree.
And speaking of that I can only hope you realize that you are not the only one (or the only political view) that has to deal with comments like these. I am not an elected official, but I have friends who are. And I can assure you that they too have to deal with this crap in their lives - threats to not only them but sometimes to their families as well.
Which brings me to my final point. Why post this threat? If it is to suggest that the other side if full nut jobs that support violence, or as you say to “see the real ugliness” I guess you can do it for that reason. However if our elected officials made a point to detail all the similar hateful threats made against them I presume it would generate a lot of outrage on this website that they were politicizing it. In the end all it does it get people more at each others throats.
Anon 10:29
The commissioners that run Media make decisions that affect quality of life and land values- when bldg permits are invplved they should send letters in writing to affected residents so that a resident cam respond in writing prior to any commencement of work - they seem to have a real problem putting things in writing perhaps for a specific reason
DeleteWith all the money and influence being thrown around it would be valaid to know, does each borough employee have a signed code of conduct t with a fiduciary clause to act in the best interest of Borogh of Media taxpayers. Second the borough of Mddia has architectural controls it can sway on any project. Mr. Khans choice of architect is irrelevant they would just need to revise things so that the appearance is suitable to either the planning commission and or maybe Linn architects ?
ReplyDeleteIs anyone else picking up on the complete irony of many of the complaints leveled at the borough government? It seems that many of you are complaining that the borough is not doing enough to prevent development like this from occurring (or at the very least, not doing enough to intervene in the type of development that should be occurring) and you would rather have republican leadership in place. Yet the very core of the republican platform is based on small government, lower regulation, lower corporate taxes, increased corporate sovereignty and increased support of free market capitalism. So you want to replace a government that you think is not doing enough to protect the borough residents from this sort of development with a government that by its core tenants is incentivized to support the exact kinds of things you are complaining about.
ReplyDeleteYou sound like you're on borough council. Defensive of the fact that the backlash of the rampant development might (should) cost you your jobs. Then you blame the republicans who haven't had any influence in Media for years. Sorry, it's not about ideology, it's about competence and people who actually get up off their asses to pay attention of what's going on in this town.
DeleteNot defensive, quite accurate. When the new Wawa was proposed, this blog hosted posts and comments complaining about the borough's delays on the project, saying it was interfering with Wawa's free enterprise. But those delays led to improved architecture and (supposedly) improved traffic flow, addressing concerns from residents. So this is a completely valid observation: Tedman and commenters complain about development (the borough is lazy and too permissive), then they complain about lack of progress on proposed development (the borough is too restrictive). There's no winning.
DeleteI am always curious when I read comments like Anon 12:09. Exactly which projects, or as you say "rampant development", are you up in arms about?
Delete- The Wawa that replaced the empty and decrepit Media Inn?
- The housing that is replacing a broken down used car lot on the West End of town?
- The few houses within the borough that are being built on the few remaining vacant sites? (Here I will leave aside the pocket park as I assume you are opposed to it and feel it SHOULD be developed into several houses).
- The existing houses in the borough that are being rehabed?
- The Hampton Inn that is replacing a vacant decrepit medical building?
- The CVS that is replacing a long vacant lot?
If you were an elected official would you be opposed to all these projects? If so what would you propose be done with these sites - realizing of course that these are all private land parcels and unless you are prepared to buy them yourself you only have limited influence on what can be done.
Anon 9/27 ramble on all you want the borough of media can't seem to get communication - the Borogh has lots of influence Bob Scott, Jeff Smith, and Jim Jeffrey just have to do their jobs and excercise good judgement, architectural controls, and announce meetings correctly, and put the appropriate information in writing which they seem to have a hard time with
DeleteHow many back room meetings will take place to get this project approved ?
Just curious Anon 1:52 - does your device have any periods or just commas. You kind of ramble on and don't ever write a complete sentence.
DeleteIt's a blog your comments are appreciated but add to the content please feel free to take out your red pen as well
DeleteThe choice for a residential use makes obvious sense from the developer's perspective. Face it, other than the bars and restaurants, of which there are already too many, retail struggles in this town. And any proposed use at this location will require much needed parking for zoning approval. So get used to a garage as part of the project.
ReplyDeleteThe real problem is that this trendy architectural style does not fit Media. Don't blame Bob Linn, he knows what works here. My guess is that developer Eli Khan must have specified this style. Google an image for Khan's "Apartments at Chestnut Square" in West Chester. It is, in my opinion, a much more appropriate look for Media than the rendering shown here.
Many of the posters complain that whatever is going in - wherever - is not what they would like. So what? We live in a democracy, and - fortunately in my opinion - government only has limited power to direct what is built. Maybe after The Revolution you all can dictate your way, but until then, so long as it is within broad parameters, the people who are willing to invest the money get to put in what they want and what they think will lead to a financial gain, and take the risk of failure. Don't we want it that way?
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the day this is about Freedom. Freedom for a job-creators to build what they want ON THEIR OWN PRIVATE PROPERTY WITH THEIR OWN MONEY without any so-called elected officials telling them what they can or can’t do based on their own socialist do-good community vision.
ReplyDeleteI believe this parcel will have to be for residential use. And I am also a believer in the free market and the opportunity for the owner of the lot to build what they can rightfully build. I also am for higher density in Media along the Baltimore Pike corridor. But . . .help! The apartment building in the drawing does not fit into the Media streetscape at all. A ground level parking garage is so unattractive, and then it goes downhill from there. I would much prefer higher-end condos with parking on the back side but attractive facades on Baltimore Pike and veterans Square.
ReplyDeleteGreat post and great job you should take
ReplyDeleteJeff Smith's job sounds like you have better judgement and you would object to their vague agenda item and lack of notification for a meeting so important to the Borogh of media residents - note the mayor lives in Oakmont so why would he care, Jeffrey lived in upper providence, and Jeff Smith probably Swarthmore
Media Borough has been found in contempt of court over the Third Street Bridge. CONTEMPT OF COURT!!! Do you think they have your best interests in mind?
ReplyDeleteIt shouldn't be any surprise they are trying to hide meetings on a Tuesday at 4pm with nothing more to go on than a vague statement about a zoning change buried in a website. Unless they are pulled into court or given an order by a judge, they'll do whatever they damn please.
You have incompetent people making bad decisions on things they know nothing about. Do they even hold day jobs?
Couldn't agree more who follows up on job performance of the mayor, the borough manager, and the code enforcement departmemt. How much salary do these people draw from Borough Taxpayers ? Seems like they all lack respect for Media residents contempt of court is a serious offense
DeleteAdd in Brian Hall who reportedly cost tax payers $250.000 in court costs to stop the 3rd street dam project that's
DeleteLikely 15% of the entire Borough earned income tax per annual . One would assume the mayor, the borough manger and others in council were complacent in that waste of time and money
When you peel back the veneer there is a lot of rotten wood in almost every municipal government. Media looks no different, but these commissioners don't seem to care how bad the perception is of them and that'll be a costly mistake. Fix the lack of communication, fix the transparency, get out in front of the issues to deter conjecture and start showing how decisions are made and the judgement supporting them. If they can't stand up for themselves, it's questionable if they'll stand up to developers, crime, or the interests of the community.
ReplyDeleteBased on the discussions I have with my neighbors, it's an embarrassing situation, but fixable. Step up! Media really is at stake.
Good advice, but you've grossly misjudged the arrogance and incompetence of these people. Case in point: hiring a part time gardener for $25 per hour when the Media Police start at $26 per hour. A slap in the face to the Media Police and Media Hwy Dept.
DeleteAre all of them imcompetent or are consciencly incompetent because they can do nothing in many situations and at the end of the day or end of a law suit that cost Media Taxpayers $250,000 they all still have their jobs
DeleteToo many blatant disregard of residents , poor financial mangt. I.e. Debt service, and lack of communication with residents also they repeatedly can't seem to read and interpret their own borough code.
I'm not against development, but the facade and design is really ugly and does not fit in with the surrounding community look at all.
ReplyDeleteLooks like broomall lake country club might have to sue media borough
ReplyDelete2 bedroom apartments for 2k a month probably.
ReplyDelete