Bah Humbug!

Scrooge in Ardmore?

PUD = Planned Unit Development (wasn't Ardmore Crossing one?) - ergo shouldn't some board vote as to what to do with comon areas? Planned Unit Developments, which this is we assume the case, should have some kind of board that discusses common areas, as in areas not contained within the four walls purchased as townhomes? So some kind of owners association should have rights with deciding on things like lawn and garden maintenance, common areas, and ohhh....a Community Room? Longstanding developments all across the Main Line - Old Forge Crossing, Chesterbrook, etcetera. And senior assisted living facilities - what ones DON'T have community gathering rooms? And shouldn't buildings that contain affordable housing untis have this as well?

Is Canus Corp, apparently the new building owner, under Susan Rabinovitch playing Scrooge this holiday season in Ardmore at Ardmore Crossing, now with it's new name change to "Greenfield Commons"? That is what the article in Main Line Life and Main Line Times infers, right?

QUESTION: If the original plans that this building evolved out of included a common room, and units were sold under that premise, couldn't people wonder logically if residents might be entitled to a rebate on their purchase price because it is an amenity that was indicated yet never came to pass?

QUESTION: If the Canus folks have enough insurance to try to turn this space into some sort of OFFICE to collect rents or whatever off their other properties, why can't they have enough insurance to turn this room into what it was supposed to be, a community room?

Want to contact this Susan Rabinovitch? Well here: susan@canusdev.com 225 Cobblestone Drive Ardmore, PA 19003 Phone: 610.645.5202 Fax: 610.645.5430 and here is their website so you can check out what else they own and WHERE http://canusdev.com

Here at SAC we support affordable housing and we think it's kind of crummy at the holiday season that senior citizens can't have a common room. Can it be said it is kind of obvious that this Ardmore address would be the best address of the properties they own or whatever? That they wanted to be in Ardmore so they had a good place for an office? And isn't it true if you look at the contact page on their website they list their Philadelphia office as being in Ardmore Crossing, even though we can't find Ardmore Crossing on their website? One of the properties they show on their website are Carl Mackley Homes - they mention it here, and we found nasty reviews of the place on apartmentratings.com - this project is interesting to read about though - you can read more here. Wonder if The Carl Mackley has a community room or space?

Anyway, read Cheryl Allison's article and rally 'round these seniors in Ardmore - they deserve better....BAH HUMBUG CANUS CORP!

Main Line Life: Ardmore Crossing seniors cry foul in dispute with management
By Cheryl Allison

It took much longer than anyone expected, nearly two years. But by this fall, Lower Merion's newest apartments for limited-income seniors, the 53-unit building at Ardmore Crossing, were finally nearing full occupancy.That's when residents Donna Dundon and Deanna Miller thought it would be nice to plan some events: a holiday dinner, or some crafts activities.

But when they approached the proper-ty's owner and manager with a request to use the large room and kitchen off the lobby they had been shown before they moved in, they were first told no. Then the room was locked. Around that time, the sign that read "Community Room" was taken down.

Since then, they said, it has been a confusing back-and-forth with building owner Canus Corp. Company President Susan Rabinovitch who initially told tenants the room would be closed for a few months, while potential uses were studied and insurance issues were researched.

About two weeks ago, she sent tenants a letter outlining rules and regulations under which they could apply to use the room for special events. But in a follow-up letter, she said there was "no money in the development's budget" to furnish it with tables and chairs.

And so it remains, locked and empty. The situation has been frustrating for tenants like Dundon and Miller, who have formed a tenants association and serve as its president and vice president.

But it has also been disappointing for Ardmore community leaders, who worked for several years to see that the former PECO truck repair site on Spring Avenue would be redeveloped as a residential community. They were excited that it would be a mix of housing, with apartments and town-houses, for different incomes and ages.

Lower Merion Board of Commissioners Vice President Maryam Phillips, who represents the neighborhood, and former ward commissioner Ora Pierce, president of Lower Merion Housing for the Elderly, both recall that when the project was in the planning, there were assurances that a community room in the senior building would be available to other community organizations.

We bet that because it's Chirstmas some local stores like maybe thrift shops would have some decent and reasonable furniture that could furnish a Community Room? Or we bet Ikea and places like The Dump could be two places where affordable NEW furniture could be found? Or better yet, do any Lower Merion residents have any furniture that is nice but no longer needed that could be donated so these seniors could have a Community Room? Shame on Canus Corp. Shame.Shame. Shame.