Press Release Details

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 1, 2009

An Open Letter from the Chairman of the Board of The Ardmore Initiative

As I approach the end of my term as Chair of the Ardmore Initiative, I find myself waxing somewhat nostalgically about the journey I have been on for the last few years, and even more so as I reflect upon the time I have been involved in this organization as Streetscape Chair and as Vice Chair with Charlie Ward for more than a decade and a half.

Our organization's name has changed over the years, from the Main Street Program to The Business District Authority, then to Ardmore 2000, and finally to The Ardmore Initiative. Many of the town's principal voices have changed too, from our early influential leaders, Ken Gross and Marty Phillips, to our Chairman Emeritus, Charlie Ward. To this day, I remain in awe of Charlie's uncanny ability to rectify problems by simply lifting a phone and calling one of the many friends he had made during his service as a Township Commissioner.

We have also benefited greatly from the able service of several highly competent executive directors, from Kay Gordon to Colette Speakman, and now Christine Vilardo, tireless public servants who have toiled for modest wages, often under difficult circumstances, to further the good fight in which we have all been engaged - to make our town a safer, cleaner and more profitable business and residential community. Then there are the current and former longstanding (suffering?) board members, including Nancy Gold, Greg Matusky, Jamie Lokoff, Haven Freihofer, Fenton Fitzpatrick, Mack Emanuel, Scott Lustgarten, Anthony Costa and Peter Costa. Our new recruits include Rob Burnham, Peter Monaghan, John Iannacone and Joe Stefankiewicz, as well as our accountant Gary Weisband and architect/advisor Jeff Martin, who are all busy energizing our organization. Special thanks to my executive board, Vice Chair, Mike Coughlan, Secretary, Nancy Scarlato, Treasurer, Brett Swain and immediate past Secretary, Larry Gee. A special debt of gratitude is owed to Larry, as he single handedly improved our relationship and that of the township's with his employer, Suburban Square, and simultaneously took on the responsibility for a number of key events at a very busy time in his career.

Our community partners, the Ardmore Business Association, Past President, Tommy Joyner, the First Friday Main Line Organization, President Sherry Tillman and Vice President Mike Frank, the Save Ardmore Coalition, President Sharon Eckstein and Vice President Carla Zambelli, and the good men and women of the Ardmore Rotary have all worked most cooperatively, especially over the last few years, to achieve our common goals. We are also grateful to the Main Line Chamber of Commerce and its President Stan Shuck for the support they offer, not only to us, but to businesses and organizations all along the Main Line.

Our relationship with the Township has evolved as well. In particular, Doug Cleland, Township Manager, Eric Persson, Economic Development Officer, Bob Duncan, Director of Building and Planning and Eileen Trainer, Township Secretary, have helped greatly to make this possible. Many thanks to Susan Greenspon, editor of the Main Line Times and Tom Murray, editor of the Main Line Suburban Life, for spreading the word when needed.

Our Ardmore Commissioners have also helped to smooth the often rough waters, and I salute the efforts of Maryam Phillips, Cheryl Gelber and Jane Delheim, as well as Board President, Bruce Reed. State Senator Daylin Leach & Representative Jim Gerlach have also been instrumental in funding several important Ardmore projects through the years.

We have travelled far over these fifteen years, but, of course, we could not have done so without the endorsement and financial support of our stake-holders who initially voted us into existence and have renewed our charter several times thereafter, despite the knowledge that doing so would impose a tax upon all building owners in the district. But I feel confident that we can look back and say to our constituency that their investment was well worth it. While we struggled (and continue to struggle) with a budget of modest receivables, we doggedly lived within this constraint and managed to pay our staff and overhead, as well "clean and green" our downtown. At the same time, we were successful in qualifying for a number of significant public grants worth several million dollars, which we used to upgrade all the lighting in the district, repair and replace most of the damaged sidewalks, and plant countless trees and flowers. For our efforts, we've been recognized as a Main Street Achiever by the Pennsylvania Downtown Center, one of only several in the Commonwealth. And I genuinely believe that the result of our work has now brought us to the point where Carl Dranoff, a veritable force in Philadelphia's urban renewal, has agreed to work with Septa and Amtrak, as well as the local, regional and national governmental entities to initiate over one hundred million dollars in major improvements to our community, including a long needed new train station and parking facility, and additional transit oriented residential and commercial development.

The gavel will soon pass to John Dorso, an energetic and talented leader who has gained valuable experience from his years of involvement in community banking and as the volunteer coordinator for the Main Line Chamber of Commerce's non-profit roundtable meetings, and who will help us through this most significant period in our development. I know the Initiative will continue to serve Ardmore well under his steady guidance.

To the many good folks with whom I have the honor of working, and to the friends I have been lucky enough to make along the way, I say thank you for your support and God speed. Your good work and kindness will long be reflected in the greatness that Ardmore will continue to enjoy for many years.

Sincerely,
Mike Silver, Chair
The Ardmore Initiative

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