Oh my just when you think the Radnor meeting was going to be by the book stupid like they have been it was a little popcorn worthy.
With great delight, I saw a familiar face take command of Commissioner Jack Larkin’s grand (and latest) eminent domain plan it seems.
Now Commissioner Larkin seems to be a little too enamored of eminent domain don’t you think? Remember, poor Wayne Presbyterian Church, and their parking lot?
I may be borrowing the lede a little bit so here we go…
Tonight the Radnor Board of Commissioner received a visit from one of my favorite former commissioners from Lower Merion, Phil Rosenzweig. You see how I know Phil as he is one of the seven commissioners we put into office as residents when we wanted to end the specter of the threat of eminent domain for private gain in the Historic Ardmore Business District many years ago. As a matter of fact, once he was sworn in he was the commissioner who wrote the language for the ordinance to eminent domain in Ardmore.
When Phil shows up at a meeting, municipalities are wise to listen. Because that man doesn’t come to play, he doesn’t grandstand, he comes to win for his clients. If Radnor wants to get tied up in litigation and lose at the expense of taxpayers, he’s their man.
I heard a very clear message to Radnor tonight: the land they think they are going to bully their way into from VFMA is not for sale.
The look on Larkin’s face as well as Moira Mulroney in my opinion was rather amusing when the cameras panned back.
Do not misunderstand me, I certainly don’t want to see more residential development back there and Valley Forge has been selling off land piecemeal over time. One thing that also came out tonight is how much a particular developer offered them for I presume the land that Radnor now wants. I believe the number was 20 million or thereabouts and just wow right? Especially just wow because Valley Forge said no.
Radnor needs to be a respectful date and learn that right now, no means no.
We first heard about this officially when Savvy Main Line wrote about it in early January.
Apparently they want the land, (they meaning Radnor Township for some kind of parks and rec thing.) Of course I find that amusing because they can’t take care of the parks they have now. And it’s always a battle at meetings when people come in and ask for basics.
But I digress.
So that meeting in January as reported by Savvy? Here’s an excerpt:
… the township would much rather shake hands than grab, according to Commissioner Jack Larkin whose ward includes the VFMA campus. It prefers to negotiate an amicable purchase and bypass the long, tortuous path of eminent domain,
This wouldn’t be a hostile takeover as some eminent domain purchases are, he says. Cash-poor Valley Forge Military wants to sell. In fact, it’s had talks with a developer who hoped to build single-family homes at the site, Larkin says. VFMA knows the township wants the property but went “radio silent” some time ago.
Could the threat of eminent domain bring VFMA back to the bargaining table? There is a precedent. Radnor engaged in a similar gambit in late 2024 when it threatened to use eminent domain to take Wayne Presbyterian Church’s parking spaces. In that instance, friendly fire sparked a friendly resolution.
The VFMA deal – whether negotiated or seized – will be a boon for the township, Larkin says.
So this whole issue just got a little more fun at least for me to watch with popcorn.
Again, no one wants more residential development over there, but the flipside is sometimes Radnor needs to do things the right way not the way they just feel is more expedient. These commissioners needs to learn how to do things differently, and they also got some stripes in their proverbial hides courtesy of residents who are pissed off because they doesn’t respond to emails apparently.
Get your popcorn, ready kids, I’m not kidding. Radnor had a personally delivered warning on camera tonight. No matter how pleasant it was delivered, I think the message is pretty goddamn clear.