7-Eleven: Can Convenience and Aesthetics Co-exist?

[Charles Hunter]

So you're saying that its impossible to make a 7-Eleven look like and address the sidewalk like The Brick?  If I had the time and energy, I'd play around with some exterior examples in photoshop.  From an architectural standpoint, they both would have some sort of exterior skin (brick perhaps?), windows, signage, an entrance and outdoor seating.  We as a community have complete control over what these things can look like.

Lake, I do not understand your last sentence.  Just how does the community "have complete control over what these things can look like."?  When there are so many examples of this not being the case here in Jacksonville.  As long as the developer meets the zoning code, they can do what they want.  As an example example - the poker room in the old Garden Ridge on Monument.  The owner has said they will work with the community on the exterior, but they have the zoning, they are only doing it because they want to be good neighbors.  Actually, so far, they are just promising to work with the community, the actual cooperation has not begun yet.  It remains to be seen how much they actually do use community input.  If they really listened to community input, they would abandon the site - a lot of folks don't want a gambling house there.

[thelakelander]

We control zoning.  If we don't like our City's zoning requirements, we should work to change them.

[JeffreyS]

.because Jacksonville will and always will be a GOP city...a big "ole" elephant!! Lazy, really large, and scared of something so little

Wrong more democrats here than GOP and the Dems have become more engaged lately.  It is a pretty mixed bag that in the past has been dominated by conservatives.  When put to a vote we decided we were a fairly progressive city by passing the better Jacksonville plan.  More taxes for QOL improvements.

[north miami]

Why can't Jax?  Why must we as residents continue to accept the minimum?

It is about the public.Propensity.

I have seen that critical,empowering certain something exhibited in California,Denver/Beltway Northwest quadrant,Alachua County Florida,Lake Asbury Clay County.

Common theme is long established leanings towards stewardship and somehow a process,energy that builds a high level of function.

Some areas simply commit to less "potential".
During the past twenty years or so there were discussions among the Conservationist community to the effect that Northeast Florida,Duval population growth would certainly interject that certain new blood,outlook.

I have witnessed outmigration from neighborhoods,sectors,regions by discerning citizens in the face of undesired pending change.The effect being the areas left behind loose The Stewards,newcomers not as discerning,involved,and unaware or unconcerned with the change,tone and feel.

[sidewalker]

I wonder if their suppliers operate 18-wheelers navigating narrow neighborhood streets to service them

... would you be opposed to this development solely based on the fact that trucks drop off merchandise to the store?   How is that any different than the Sysco truck dropping off items on Ingleside at Brick next door, or along Margaret Street for O'Brothers/Mossfire?

It seems to me the basis for/against the 7-11 is more complex (which isn't the question I posed  ).  Safe to say some businesses call upon more city services than other community residents. 

[NavyGuyAN]

I was born and raised in Michigan and 7-Eleven's are all over the place. Know for their BIG GULP sodas and SLURPPEES (way better than a sno-cone)...I personally have no complaints about them coming to JAX, I think it would be great. However when I got to JAX I was bummed out that the closest one was in Daytona and I wasnt driving that far for a Slurpee...

[Kay]

Can you provide pics of great 7-11 designs that include gas stations?

[tufsu1]

How abouty this....shows how a gas station/convenience store can be designed to address the street context....and this is nothing special!

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-apr-downtown-gas-station-plans-revised

[fieldafm]

I wonder if their suppliers operate 18-wheelers navigating narrow neighborhood streets to service them

... would you be opposed to this development solely based on the fact that trucks drop off merchandise to the store?   How is that any different than the Sysco truck dropping off items on Ingleside at Brick next door, or along Margaret Street for O'Brothers/Mossfire?

It seems to me the basis for/against the 7-11 is more complex (which isn't the question I posed  ).  Safe to say some businesses call upon more city services than other community residents.

Well then I guess I completely missed your point.  You seem to be concerned about how re-supplying the store will impact the surrounding neighborhood.  What is it then you are trying to ask?

[fieldafm]

Can you provide pics of great 7-11 designs that include gas stations?

Just from a quick 5 minute google search....







Here is one in nearby Orlando:



















Here's a good link:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=175122

[thelakelander]

Here is another good example:

Somewhere in Milwaukee.  Corner location with pumps located behind convenience store building facing the main street. 

http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?t=26300

Btw, Milwaukee would be a great peer city to study their land use and zoning code.  They have a few good examples, which suggest the city must be requiring gas stations to laid out a certain way on urban properties.

This is just a sketch, but a good illustration of how to improve an existing suburban station.

http://www.simtropolis.com/forum/files/file/24240-suburban-series-gas-station-design/

It would be pretty easy to mix the concepts shown above into the Orlando 7-Eleven example (DT Orlando, corner of Colonial & Magnolia) that Field posted.


As shown in the images above, simply build the convenience store section at the street corner and extend sculptural walls along the sidewalks to stop the pump area from breaking up the urban street edge.  If the Orlando example had done this, the street corner would be an active storefront instead of blank stucco wall.

Also, Ottawa, CA has an urban design guidelines manual for gas stations:

http://ottawa.ca/calendar/ottawa/citycouncil/occ/2006/05-24/pec/Gas%20Stations%20_May_small.pdf#search=%22ottawa%20%22urban%20design%22%20canopy%22



This last one wouldn't be suitable for any of our historic neighborhoods, but it was interesting to see.  Its a mixed use project near DC's Dupont Circle that features an Exxon gas station with a green roof at street level.  Here, the entire neighborhood is highly urban, but the gas station would fit better into its context if it at least had an Orlando style structural wall on the corner.