The Ardmore Transit Center

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The Ardmore Transit Center Business
Revitalization Plan (Updated December 12, 2007)
BET Investments In Association with Basile
Baumann Prost Cole Associates The Martin
Architectural Group The Waetzman Planning Group
and Walker Parking Consultants
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Proven Ability To Successfully Complete Complex
Projects

• BETs Founder CEO Bruce E. Toll
• BET Owns and Manages over 5.5 Million Square Feet
  of Retail Space and more than 3,000 Residential
  Dwelling Units
• Many Mixed-Use Developments
• Co-founder and Vice Chairman of Toll Brothers,
  Inc. Premier Luxury Home Builder in the U.S.
• Co-owner Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News
• Owner, Reedman-Toll Auto World and Roberts
  Automall Automotive Dealerships
• Board Member, Philadelphia Museum of Art

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Proven Ability To Successfully Complete Complex
Projects

• BETs President Michael Markman
• Oversees acquisitions, leasing, financing, and
  development for BET.
• Previously Served as General Counsel to a
  Publicly-Traded Real Estate Investment Trust with
  over 500 Million in Assets
• Former Chairman of Abington Township Planning
  Commission
• Former State Director of the International
  Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
• Born and Raised in Lower Merion Township

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Waterside Village, Easton, MD
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Proven Ability To Successfully Complete Complex
Projects

• Basile Baumann Prost Cole and Associates
• Nationally Known Economic and Real Estate
  Advisory Firm
• Experienced with Complex Projects, Coast-To-Coast
• Specialists in transit-oriented development and
  with multi-modal transportation centers. Among
  their related projects
• Mixed-Use Redevelopment of Philadelphias 30th
  Street Station
• The Owings Mill Metro Center in Maryland
• Washington, D.C. Gallery Place Transit-Oriented
  Development
• New York Metro Transit-Oriented Development Study
• Transit-oriented Development/Neighborhood
  Planning Study along Burlington Countys new
  River Line

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Proven Ability To Successfully Complete Complex
Projects

• The Martin Architectural Group
• Philadelphia-based architects who will be
  responsible for Urban Design Issues
• Their Sensitivity to Ardmore can be seen in their
  renderings for Station and Cricket Avenues
• Designed the Lucky Duck Toys Building in Wayne
  that a Resident Cited as a Example of Good Mixed
  Use Design
• Currently doing Transit Development in Suburban
  Baltimore, Maryland and Washington, DC
• The new master planned mixed-use community of
  Annapolis Town Center at Parole

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Lucky Duck Toys Building in Wayne
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Proven Ability To Successfully Complete Complex
Projects

• The Waetzman Planning Group
• Bryn Mawr-based Planners and Landscape Architects
• Prepared the Original Ardmore Business District
  Study (1989)
• Projects include Transit-Oriented Development
  (TOD) Studies for Narberth and North Wales
  Boroughs and Development of a Soon-to-be-Adopted
  TOD Ordinance for Whitemarsh Township
• WPG has provided master planning services to a
  number of large residential and commercial
  developers, including BET Investments
• Several Key WPG Staff Members Live in Ardmore

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Proven Ability To Successfully Complete Complex
Projects

• Walker Parking Consultants
• Largest National Engineering Firm specializing in
  Parking Garage Design, Office in King of Prussia
• 30-year of history with sustainable design
• Staff members are LEED certified
• Only Parking Consultant in Engineering News
  Records Top Design Firms
• Designer of Many Large Garages including Atlantic
  City Casinos and Chester County Garage and Bus
  Depot in West Chester

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Let Us Show You Our Vision for Ardmores Village
Center
All concepts shown in this presentation (other
than the phasing plan) are described in the
narrative of the proposal document. Additional
graphic exhibits have been provided to enhance
the understanding of the concepts proposed by BET
Investments and its consultants in order to
create a better, transit-oriented Ardmore.
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BETs Ardmore Master Plan
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We Have Tried to Provide a Plan that is
Sympathetic to Ardmore

• We have reduced building heights on Lancaster and
  Cricket Avenues to be Considerate of Nearby
  Development
• We have avoided Development Proposals for the
  Ardmore West Lot because we believe that its
  80-foot width would crowd adjacent existing
  buildings while limiting access.
• We have committed to 10 affordable housing in
  response to community concerns.

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We Have Tried to Provide a Plan that is
Sympathetic to Ardmore

• We have had Preliminary Discussions with the Bryn
  Mawr Film Institute about a Similar Venue on
  Station Avenue, but more Negotiations are
  Required.
• Our Rail Track Crossings are easily achievable,
  but require cooperation from the Owners of
  Suburban Square
• We have avoided underground parking which would
  require blasting
• We Continue to Reach Out to Community Groups.

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BETs Proposal Addresses All of the RFPs Goals

• Provide a new Ardmore Transit Center and
  Accompanying Improvements
• BETs Proposal Provides The Most Innovative
  Transit Center Solution
• Only Proposal to Provide an Indoor Bus Depot
• High Platform Train Station with Enclosed Waiting
  Room, Ticket Office, and Rest Facilities
• Includes Ample Parking with Reserved Sections
• New 6-Story Mixed-Use Development along Station
  Avenue with entrance to Transit Center. Possible
  Cinema on second floor.

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The Station Avenue Architecture WillRespect the
Character of Ardmore
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The Innovative Transit Center Design Provides
Separate Areas for Trains, Buses, Public and
Police Parking
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BETs Proposal Addresses All of the RFPs Goals

• Encourage Transit-oriented Development that is
  Sensitive to ABDs Character, Mass and Scale
• Mixed-use Buildings Fronting Lancaster Avenue
  will be reduced in height to Three to Four
  Stories to Be More Compatible with Existing
  Development
• A 25-Foot Wide Landscaped Activity Corridor,
  Lined with Shops and Restaurants, will Separate
  the Mixed-Use Buildings from the Police Station
• All Buildings will Comply with LEED Guidelines,
  ADA Regulations and MUST Zoning Standards

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BETs Proposal Addresses All of the RFPs Goals

• Encourage Transit-oriented Development that is
  Sensitive to ABDs Character, Mass and Scale
• A 5-story Mixed-Use Building Will Complete the
  Missing Streetscape on the West Side of Cricket
  Avenue, while Screening a 350 Space Parking
  Garage That Will be Dedicated to the Township

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New Cricket Avenue Streetscape
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Redevelopment of Schauffele Plaza Offers New
Opportunities

• Mitigate Open Views Through to Cricket Terrace
• A New Mixed-Use Building Frames the Village Green
• Upgraded Streetscape along Cricket Terrace would
  support up-scale development like the Cricket
  Club
• A Village Green Civic Gathering Place will
  Combine Art and History in a Well-Landscaped Open
  Space

Current Schauffele Plaza Parking Lot does not
close the view-shed to Cricket Terrace
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Delaying Development of the Bernicker Lot to the
Last Phase Offers New Opportunities to Work With
Others, to Provide an Eastern Gateway

• Sea of Cars at Existing Auto Dealers does not
  provide a Welcoming Entrance to the Business
  District
• New Ardmore Toyota Building Offers Solution
• ULI Study Urged Integration of these Dealerships
  into the Design of the Bernicker Project

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New Infill Development Will Be in Scale with
Adjacent Buildings

• New Infill Buildings Along the Central Part of
  Lancaster Avenue will be Reduced in Height
• Residential Buildings will Appeal to Empty
  Nesters or Young Professionals with Few Kids
  The Mix will be Dictated by the Market
• New Retail Opportunities will Fill in the
  Existing Gaps in the Retail Fabric of the
  Lancaster Ave., Cricket Ave., and Cricket Terrace
  Streetscapes
• All Buildings will be ADA LEED Compliant
• Compatible Architecture Will be a Priority

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BETs Proposal Addresses All of the RFPs Goals

• Satisfy Existing and Future Parking Demand in the
  Ardmore Business District
• A Total of 1,500 New Spaces can be Provided in
  Three Feasible, Above-ground Parking Garages
• Above-ground Garages are less expensive to
  Construct than Underground Parking (18,000 per
  Space vs. 30-32,000 per Space ) No Blasting
  Required
• Convenient Garage Vehicle and Pedestrian Access
  will be Provided Throughout the Ardmore Business
  District
• New Spaces will More than Accommodate the Parking
  Needs of New and Existing Uses, as Quantified by
  the ULI Study

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Convenient Pedestrian And Vehicular Access To
Garages
New Graphic To Be Supplied Here
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BETs Proposal Addresses All of the RFPs Goals

• Improve Vehicular Traffic Infrastructure in the
  Ardmore Business District
• One-way Circulation for Station Avenue
• Turning Templates Verify Viability of this
  Solution for Buses
• Move Traffic Signal at Station and Lancaster
  Avenues to Athens and Ardmore Avenues
• Support Already Planned Improvements such as the
  Realignment of Ardmore Ave. to Eliminate the
  Dog-leg into the Ardmore West Parking Lot
• Improve Access to the Anderson Avenue Underpass

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Bus Turning Movements at The Ardmore Transit
Center Will Work!
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BETs Proposal Addresses All of the RFPs Goals

• Enhance and Encourage Walkability Throughout
  Ardmore
• Improve Cricket Avenue and Cricket Terrace
  Streetscapes
• Activity Corridor in front of Police Building
• Provide New Landscaped Paseos Between Village
  Green and Cricket Terrace
• Upgrade Walkway from Cricket Ave. Garage to
  Lancaster Avenue
• Enhance Lancaster Avenue Crosswalks

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New Pedestrian Improvements Proposed For Ardmore
New Graphic To Be Supplied Here
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Proposed Treatment for Cricket Garage Walkway to
Lancaster Ave.
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BETs Proposal Addresses All of the RFPs Goals

• Enhance Public Open Space, Plazas, Landscaping,
  Linkages
• Provide New Landscaped Activity Corridor Between
  Township Bldg. Transit Center
• Provide Village Green at Schauffele Plaza
• Supplement Streetscape Landscaping and Street
  Furniture As Needed

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Ardmore Transit Center
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Cricket Avenue Garage Mixed-Use
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Activity Corridor
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The Activity Corridor

• 25 Wide Pedestrian Mini Main Street Between
  the Public Safety Building and New Infill
  Development
• Mural With Clock Animated Locomotive Sculpture
  On Transit Center Wall At West End of Activity
  Corridor
• Outdoor Dining Options
• Showcase for Art
• Colorful Banners
• Awnings
• Low Planting Beds
• Handcart Deliveries for Shops

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The Activity Corridor
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Village Green and New Mixed-Use Development at
Schauffele Plaza
Revise to show paths as roads with Autocar
instead of fountain
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BETs Proposal Addresses All of the RFPs Goals

• Create/Enhance Pedestrian Linkages Between ABD
  and Suburban Square
• Provide Opportunity To Create Skywalk Over Tracks
  to New Development on Coulter Avenue at Suburban
  Square
• Build Shopper Interest to Use Both Areas by
  Raising the Level of ABD Retailers
• Enhance Access to Planned Anderson Avenue
  Underpass Improvements

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BETs Proposal Addresses All of the RFPs Goals

• Help The Ardmore Business District to Become More
  Commercially Competitive
• Bring Higher Income Households to Live Within the
  ABD, While Supporting Affordable Housing Nearby
• Acquire Improve Additional Structures as They
  Become Available
• Help Township To Write and Enforce Property
  Maintenance Codes

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BETs Proposal Addresses All of the RFPs Goals

• Accomplish Substantial Private Investment in
  Ardmore
• BETs Initial Investment is in excess of 100
  Million
• BET Pledges an On-going Commitment to Ardmore
  Including Assistance with Grants and Tax Credit
  Financing BBPC a National Leader In Financing
  Transit-Oriented Development
• BETs Private Investments, Coupled with Public
  Contributions, will Leverage Additional Private
  Investments

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BETs Proposal Addresses All of the RFPs Goals

• Minimize and Buffer Development Impacts on
  Residential Neighborhoods
• No BET Development Proposed Outside of the
  Existing Ardmore Business District.
• Potential for Cooperative Nearby Development in
  Suburban Square and with Automotive Dealerships
  Adjacent to Bernicker Site
• All Buildings will be of Compatible Scale, in
  Appropriate Locations
• Garages Will Be Screened by New Buildings
• No Development on Ardmore West Parking Lot
• Compatible Architecture New Landscaping

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BETs Proposal Addresses All of the RFPs Goals

• Use Innovative, Environmentally Friendly, and
  Sustainable Architecture
• All Buildings will be LEED Certified
• Architectural Design Will Respect the Historic
  Character of Ardmore
• Sustainable Building Materials Techniques will
  be used
• Roof Gardens will Provide Improved Energy
  Efficiency and Green Space

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Phasing Plan

• Phase 1a Year 1
• Construction Drawings Obtain Approvals for
  Transit Center Building
• Construct Transit Center Garage on SEPTA and
  Athensville Surface Parking Lots
• Valet Parking at Bernicker, Schauffele, and
  Cricket Lots and at Ardmore Ave. Route 100 Lot,
  with Shuttle Bus Connection to Train Station
• No Existing Parking Need Will be Unserved
• Existing Train Station Functions as at Present
• Police Vehicles Use Entire Existing Surface
  Parking Lot in Front of the Public Safety Building

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Phasing Plan

• Phase 1b Years 1-2
• Construction Drawings Obtain Approvals for
  Mixed-Use Buildings adjacent to Transit Center
• Construct Mixed-Use Buildings adjacent to Transit
  Center Pedestrian Link to Anderson Avenue
• Valet Parking Ends Parking Needs During
  Construction will be Met by Transit Center Garage
• Train Station, Buses and Police Parking Relocated
  upon Completion of Transit Center

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Phasing Plan

• Phase 1c Years 2-3
• Construction Drawings Obtain Approvals for
  Cricket Avenue Mixed-Use Buildings and Garage
• Construct Cricket Avenue Mixed-Use Buildings and
  Garage
• Parking From Existing Surface Lot that will be
  Displaced During Construction will be Available
  at Transit Center

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Phasing Plan

• Phase 2 Years 3-4
• Construction Drawings and Obtain Approvals for
  Village Green Cricket Terrace Mixed-Use Building
  and Mixed Use Building on Public Safety Lot
• Construct Village Green
• Construct Cricket Terrace Mixed-Use Building
• Construct Public Safety Lot Mixed-Use Building
• Construct Activity Corridor
• Displaced Parking Available at Transit Center and
  Cricket Avenue Garages

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Phasing Plan

• Phase 3 Future Actions, Dependant on Others
• Negotiate Railroad Crossing from Transit Center
  Garage to New Development at Suburban Square
• Negotiate new Cinema with Bryn Mawr Film
  Institute
• Negotiate Design of Bernicker Lot Mixed-Use
  Building and Garage to Possibly Include Main Line
  Honda, Scion and Armen Buick, Chevrolet, Hummer
• Interim Township Employee/ Visitor Parking can be
  Provided in Transit Center While the Bernicker
  Project is Under Construction
• Prepare Construction Drawings Obtain Approvals
  for Railroad Skywalk and (Expanded?) Bernicker
  Projects
• Construction of These Projects

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Phasing Plan
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Eligibility for SpecialBonus Features

• Inclusion of Affordable Housing
• We Will Make 10 of all New Units Affordable
• Offer to Work With Township To Develop a Viable
  Strategy for Affordable Housing. WPG has
  Extensive Affordable Housing Experience
• We Support Affordable Housing but we Believe that
  the Revitalization of the Ardmore Business
  District is Best Served By Providing A
  Substantial Number of New Luxury Housing Units
  Within Walking Distance of Lancaster Avenue

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Eligibility for SpecialBonus Features

• Energy Efficient Green Building Components
• All Buildings will be LEED Certified
• Use of Green Roofs will be Explored
• Sustainable Building Materials Will be Used
• Energy-saving Equipment and Appliances will be
  Utilized

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Eligibility for SpecialBonus Features

• Innovative/Creative Parking Solutions (A)
• Transit Center Incorporates Reserved Parking
  Areas for Commuters, Amtrak Riders, Shoppers,
  Employees, and Public Safety Vehicles
• Transit Center has Highly Visible Access at
  Station Avenue and Rittenhouse Place, but its
  Building Mass is Screened by Existing and New
  Mixed Use Development. Animated Mural on East
  Wall
• Above Grade Parking is Less Expensive and Less
  Disruptive to Surrounding Uses than Below Grade
  Parking No Need for Blasting
• Can Provide Skywalk Linkage To Suburban Square

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Eligibility for SpecialBonus Features

• Innovative/Creative Parking Solutions (B)
• Cricket Avenue Garage Screened by New Mixed-Use
  Building that Completes the Missing Western
  Streetscape
• Cricket Avenue Garage Provides Access and
  Delivery Areas for Existing Buildings on
  Lancaster Avenue
• Utilizes Existing Ingress from Cricket Avenue and
  Existing Egress onto West Athens Avenue
• Impact on Athens Avenue Traffic Lessened by New
  Traffic Signal at Ardmore Avenue

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Eligibility for SpecialBonus Features

• Innovative/Creative Parking Solutions (C)
• Bernicker Garage/ Mixed Use Project can be
  Expanded (With Cooperation of Others) to Include
  the Adjacent Honda and GM Dealerships
• Offers the Opportunity to Enhance the Eastern
  Gateway to the Business District
• Can also Provide Additional Public and Municipal
  Parking Areas, if Necessary
• Garage Screened by Attractive New Mixed-Use and
  Automotive Dealership Buildings

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Eligibility for SpecialBonus Features

• Inclusion of Open and/or Public Space
• Provision for New Village Green in Northern half
  of Schauffele Plaza with Art Sculpture
• Landscaped Activity Corridor in front of Public
  Safety Building
• New Green Paseos along Both Sides of Schauffele
  Plaza
• Upgraded Cricket Avenue Streetscape
• Upgraded Cricket Terrace Streetscape

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Eligibility for SpecialBonus Features

• Linkages North and South of Tracks
• Potential Skywalk Crossing From Transit Center
  Garage to New Development in Suburban Square
• This will Cause Less Rail Disruption than
  Constructing a New Building Over the Tracks
• Station Avenue Development will Provide a
  Connection to Already Planned Pedestrian
  Improvements Under Tracks at Anderson Ave.

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Convenient Pedestrian And Vehicular Access To
Garages
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Eligibility for SpecialBonus Features

• Enhance and Preserve Historic Assets
• Architecture Supports Existing Character of
  Ardmore and Does Not Compete with the Community
  Character
• Transit Center and Activity Corridor Reinforces
  Ardmores Historic Role as a Regional Shopping
  and Transportation Hub
• The Only Proposed Demolition of an Existing
  Structure is the Current Train Station, which
  does not Contribute to the Historic Character of
  Ardmore
• Plan Includes Reminders of Ardmores Past while
  remembering Karl Schauffele, Lower Merions First
  Planning Director

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Photos Will Remind Us that Ardmoreis Continually
Evolving
Original Train Station, 1875
Ardmore Harness Shop, 1874
Autocar Factory, 1915
Lancaster Avenue, 1940s
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Eligibility for SpecialBonus Features

• Transit Improvements
• Innovative Design for Fully-Enclosed Transit
  Center and Garage
• Relocated High Platform Rail Station with Ticket
  Office, Rest Room Facilities, and Storage Areas
• Bus Depot Capable of Loading Four Buses
• Reserved Parking for Police Commuters Amtrak
  Riders, Employees. Ample Short-Term Parking
• Designated Kiss Ride and Taxi Lanes
• All Components Handicapped Accessible

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Eligibility for SpecialBonus Features

• Inclusion of Public Art
• BET Will Dedicate 1 of its Total Project Cost
  for Public Art, with an Estimated Value of in
  Excess of 1 Million, Turning the Community into
  Art-More
• Bruce Toll, a Nationally Prominent Art Collector
  and Member of the Board of the Philadelphia
  Museum of Art, will Oversee the Selection of
  Works of Art for Ardmore

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Possible Examples for Art-More

• Figure Sculptures
• Animated Locomotive Mural on Wall of Transit
  Center Will Blow Steam and Whistle while a
  Watchman waves Lantern (9 AM - 10 PM)
• Village Green Sculpture of Early Autocar (made in
  Ardmore) driven by Karl Schauffele

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Eligibility for SpecialBonus Features

• Minimize Negative Impacts on Nearby Businesses
  and Residences
• Phasing Plan Provides Adequate Supply of Parking
  as Development Proceeds
• No Blasting Required.
• No Use of Eminent Domain Power Sought
• Retains Rear Access to Existing Lancaster Avenue
  Development, Adjacent to Cricket Ave. Garage
• Retains Access to Existing Development Fronting
  Both Sides of Schauffele Plaza
• Use of Buildings to Screen Garages
• Abundant Landscaping

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Financial Impact on Township

• Net Annual Surplus to Township in Tax Revenues of
  2.8 Million, After Debt Service
• Team Member BBPC will Assist Township to Locate
  New Grant and Tax Credit Financing
• BBPC Has Successfully Packaged Financing for
  Billions of Dollars of Complex Public/ Private
  Partnership Projects, Coast-to-Coast, Including
  Many Large Transit Centers and Transit-Oriented
  Development Studies

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BET Investments Thank You
We Look Forward to Working with Lower Merion
Township, SEPTA, Amtrak, and the Entire Ardmore
Community to Improve Ardmores Commercial,
Residential, and Transit Viability