Springfield ups efforts to get retail

[zoo]

Just stumbled on this info:

http://srghomes.com/2008/

[City Slicker]

Right now SPAR is taking the lead in working with the consultants.  It is still early in the process, but they are the lead agency.  There is a SPAR Development Committee which is working with another process to stimulate commercial redevelopment of the area.  A plan will eventually emerge and hopefully a new staff person may be brought in to serve as a "mall manager" to actually implement a corridor revitalization plan.  Several things going that all will be pulled together in a cohesive union to move everything forward.  Exciting opportunity.

[thelakelander]

This will replace a vacant fast food restaurant and auto repair shop, two blocks north of the historic district boundaries.

New retail on Main Street

Retail chain Family Dollar is planning to build a store on North Main Street, between 16th and 17th streets.

The South Carolina-based chain filed a St. Johns River Water Management District review application for the project
quote]

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/021808/bus_247468327.shtml

[jason_contentdg]

This will replace a vacant fast food restaurant and auto repair shop, two blocks north of the historic district boundaries.

New retail on Main Street

Retail chain Family Dollar is planning to build a store on North Main Street, between 16th and 17th streets.

The South Carolina-based chain filed a St. Johns River Water Management District review application for the project
quote]

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/021808/bus_247468327.shtml

I prefer that to the original intended site on main, between 8th and 9th.

[downtownparks]

Yeah, I think most of us do.

I understand CVS is hot and heavy to come into Spr now too. They want to be on Main St, and have been working with several owners to find the location.

I am all for it, I just hope they make an effort to make the building look less suburban than the other stuff they have built.

It looks like they are willing to to some degree, at least from a quick google search.

[thelakelander]

They've done it in the past, but like Walgreen's (on 8th) they probably won't on their own.  Its going to be up to SPAR, the historic commission and the COJ Planning Department to make sure they do. 

[Traveller]

I'm a big fan of the one on the Vegas strip myself. 

[jbm32206]

I would love to have a CVS come to Springfield!!!!!!!!!

[thelakelander]

Me too, as long as the building fronts the sidewalk.  I'd hate to see it end up like the Park & King Walgreens.

[jbm32206]

I agree with you on that..

[fpj]

WTH is that on top of their sign?  Immediately brought to my mind some vents:


http://www.snopes.com/photos/risque/ventcover.asp

that were built facing their complaining neighbors when they built their house 18 inches too tall

But seriously, I agree whole heartedly with zero lot line urbanism, but that only works when there is enough pedestrian traffic to offset the lack of onsite parking.  And in this town?  Come on.  Everyone drives.  It's almost like LA STORY when Steve Martin drove to his neighbor's house

Now, I suppose they could do it in reverse, zero lot line to the sidewalk in front with a parking lot/drive up prescription window in back, but then does that really accomplish anything to push along the urban concept of walking a block or two instead of driving?

So, until a business can be assured that they can make money from a total walkup customer base, they will build back from the property line with "friendly" onsite parking in front.

[thelakelander]

Now, I suppose they could do it in reverse, zero lot line to the sidewalk in front with a parking lot/drive up prescription window in back, but then does that really accomplish anything to push along the urban concept of walking a block or two instead of driving?

This does help, because it follows the traditional development pattern of Main Street.  If all buildings were designed in this manner, the streets would then be both pedestrian friendly and still friendly for an autocentric city, such as Jax.  Parallel parking, already present on Main, would still be in place and additional parking would be located at the rear of the property, with landscaped sidewalks along the side streets leading into the residential neighborhoods.

So, until a business can be assured that they can make money from a total walkup customer base, they will build back from the property line with "friendly" onsite parking in front.

In this scenerio, it does not cost a business a penny more to have the site laid out this way.  However, the city does improve the look and feel of the street, by creating a commercial zone with a sense of place that is unique from the rest in sprawlsville.  The city can control this easily through zoning and setbacks.  The zoning designation along Main, should just state that all new buildings must have a front setback no deeper than 5' to 10' or so from the property line (it may already say something like this in the overlay). 

[jbm32206]

It does, indeed...look like it's giving us the finger...how funny...

[fpj]

Now, I suppose they could do it in reverse, zero lot line to the sidewalk in front with a parking lot/drive up prescription window in back, but then does that really accomplish anything to push along the urban concept of walking a block or two instead of driving?

This does help, because it follows the traditional development pattern of Main Street.  If all buildings were designed in this manner, the streets would then be both pedestrian friendly and still friendly for an autocentric city, such as Jax.  Parallel parking, already present on Main, would still be in place and additional parking would be located at the rear of the property, with landscaped sidewalks along the side streets leading into the residential neighborhoods.

So, until a business can be assured that they can make money from a total walkup customer base, they will build back from the property line with "friendly" onsite parking in front.

In this scenerio, it does not cost a business a penny more to have the site laid out this way.  However, the city does improve the look and feel of the street, by creating a commercial zone with a sense of place that is unique from the rest in sprawlsville.  The city can control this easily through zoning and setbacks.  The zoning designation along Main, should just state that all new buildings must have a front setback no deeper than 5' to 10' or so from the property line (it may already say something like this in the overlay). 

I am agreeing with you.  But chains such as CVS/Walgreens have survived/thrived by being cookie cutter in nature.  So I would imagine that they would be looking at some of the open lots to build a new space on, not rehab an old one.  Only when the COJ lays down the law and mandates that you must keep with the urban theme of an area with respect to new construction will new construction maintain that look and feel.  From your comments, it sounds like they have, so let's hope they don't allow otherwise when a large chain dangles a carrot.

Maybe the COJ can get some more backbone from The National Trust for Historic Preservation and their success stories regarding this exact issue:  http://www.nationaltrust.org/issues/chain_drugstores/drugstores_success_stories.html

On another note, looking at this picture again has had me googling all over the place, :



Is it me or does this look like they've infilled an old theatre?  Better than tearing it down, but a shame on other levels if so.

[downtownparks]

I believe the zoning overlay requires zero frontage. This shouldnt even be an issue. If you build in a historic district, you have to expect to fit in.

A few years ago when Sleighman was trying to get his hands on Gateway Park (now Mcpherson) to try to do the Walgreen's now going in down the street, the rendering they brought was their normal layout, which I think we can all agree wont work.

Ideally, it would make the most sense for them to work with the Cesarys or Hionides to become part of a larger development, rather than having a free standing structure.