8/10/2019 PA Budget Letter

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Charles B. ZogbySecretary of the BudgetCommonwealth of PA Office of Budget333 Market Street18th FloorHarrisburg, PA 17101-2210

RE: "Ardmore Station RACP Project"Lower Merion Township, PA

Dear Mr. Zogby:

It is my understanding that RACP Funds are specifically intended toprovide much needed economic stimulus to the Pennsylvania economy and thatthey are intended to assist in the immediate creation of quality, family-sustaining

jobs for Pennsylvanians. The "Ardmore Station RACP Project", otherwisereferred to as "One Ardmore Place," which is proposed for Lower MerionTownship will not create economic development nor jobs for Pennsylvanians.Rather, this project is a private, mixed-use development of luxury rentalapartments which will not benefit the Ardmore community nor stimulate theeconomy. Awarding RACP funds to this project will instead provide a hugefinancial gain to the developer. I do not believe that RACP funds should bedistributed for private development resulting in private gain.

Moreover, this project is misnamed the "Ardmore Station Project; it haslittle, if anything, to do with a new train station in Ardmore. The 10.5 milliondollars in RACP funds that were re-approved by your office in August 2014 willnot be used for any public transportation needs nor a new train station. Why isthis private luxury real estate project referred to as the transit project?

I am opposed to state taxpayer monies being used for privatedevelopment. The majority of residents and businesses in Ardmore are opposedto this state funding of private development. All Civic Associations in LowerMerion Township are opposed to this state funding of private development.

Ardmores state representative Greg Vitali is a vocal opponent to the use ofRACP funds for this project.

8/10/2019 PA Budget Letter

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I urge you to withdraw this RACP funding of 10.5 million dollars for theabove-referenced project now.

Thank you.

cc: Lower Merion Board of CommissionersRep. Greg Vitali