Mellow Mushroom's Letter to the Editor Response

[Timkin]

Still f'ing pissed the gas station is being torn down!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ironic that WLA and Brick/Biscottis/Blue Fish are making Avondale MORE bland/strip mall......

I'm with you , Ben, totally! +1

[Pinky]

A 1964 gas station, while just an old gas station, happens to be a iconic example of the design period (OK, IMHO).  Losing it is just as bad at this point as losing a 1920's building.  Let's face it, the 1920's building was "only a 1920's building" at one time.  At some point, the styles of the various decades need to be recognized and some examples saved or in the end, what's the point of saving any of it? The new building that will replace it is simply nothing special.  But that is what WLA and RAP apparently want - nothing special.  Except their way, of course.  And they want that at all costs.

I couldn't agree more that the loss of the gas station is a tragedy.  Sure, it doesn't fall into the narrow age range specified for "contributing structures", but c'mon, it's STILL a 50 year old building, and architecturally pretty cool.  (Did you see the ceiling?)  And I "get" that a lot of people are attached to the old building, and like me, wish it could have been reused.  But the neighborhood has spoken (at least a few, very loudly) and it is what it is.

But I wouldn't be too dismayed over the new building; Mellow has a track record of building really cool spaces, and this will be no exception.  And outside, it will just look like more of the same of what already makes up the rest of Avondale.  It's not as if they're plunking down some totally incongruous box; it'll fit in and look fine.

[John P]

I too am shocked that riverside avondale and welove avondale did not prefer to have a unique building as the mellow mushroom rather than the bland facade they will get. They thought they could control it more than they actually can

[wsansewjs]

Honestly,

Mellow Mushroom needs to go "F*** IT! You screwed us over so many and still yell at us for what we are trying to do for the best of the community." And then, throws all the requirements out of the windows and let Mellow Mushroom build the business as they see to fit!

-Josh

[cline]

I too am shocked that riverside avondale and welove avondale did not prefer to have a unique building as the mellow mushroom rather than the bland facade they will get. They thought they could control it more than they actually can

I've said this before but- it is evident that the the survey of contributing needs to be overhauled.  It is causing issues.  One of them is for groups to push an agenda.  We've got a gas station that is technically not contributing that RAP recommends it be torn down instead of being reused.  In the meantime the Benhem building is not contributing and could just as easily be torn down.  I doubt many would stand for that.  All kinds of hell is raised about Bronson Lamb wanting to tear down his house on Greenwood yet I hear nothing about the house on Orleans Court (built circa 1922) that was torn down so the neighbor could increase the space in his backyard.

[Josh]

I too am shocked that riverside avondale and welove avondale did not prefer to have a unique building as the mellow mushroom rather than the bland facade they will get. They thought they could control it more than they actually can

I've said this before but- it is evident that the the survey of contributing needs to be overhauled.  It is causing issues.  One of them is for groups to push an agenda.  We've got a gas station that is technically not contributing that RAP recommends it be torn down instead of being reused.  In the meantime the Benhem building is not contributing and could just as easily be torn down.  I doubt many would stand for that.  All kinds of hell is raised about Bronson Lamb wanting to tear down his house on Greenwood yet I hear nothing about the house on Orleans Court (built circa 1922) that was torn down so the neighbor could increase the space in his backyard.

Did this happen in the last 2 years? I just checked that street out on Google Maps Streetview and see that it's just part of that one houses backyard now. Wasn't there a gigantic light blue house there? That's messed up.

[cline]

^Yes.  That's the one.

[Josh]

Wow, how did RAP allow a house like that be torn down so that a 2001-built POS could be allowed to have a larger backyard? Are they completely asleep at the wheel? Have they done anything worth a damn in the past 30 years aside from harping on how great RAM is?

Should I be surprised that in the Streetview image of that house there's a Jim Love sign in the yard?

[Intuition Ale Works]

Residents, RAP appeal restaurant plan approvals
Added by SethWilliam on November 5, 2012.
Saved under Neighborhood News for Riverside, Avondale, Ortega and Murray Hill
Two local groups have appealed the city planning commission’s Sep. 27 approval of Mellow Mushroom’s exception application.
Those groups include We Love Avondale LLC â€" known as “the opposition” to Mellow Mushroom’s Avondale restaurant plans â€" as well as Riverside Avondale Preservation, according to WLA organizer and Avondale attorney, Thomas M. Donahoo, Jr. RAP Executive Director Carmen Godwin said RAP filed an appeal of the commission’s approval on Oct. 22. WLA filed its appeal on Oct. 18.
The groups are appealing the exception E-12-35, Mellow Mushroom’s application for outdoor sales and service and full sale of alcohol.
WLA and its appeal interests are being represented by local attorneys George Gable and Jennifer Mansfield of Holland & Knight. WLA’s appeal was filed by Donahoo, Mark Anderson and Alicia Grant on behalf of an attached list of more than 100 people who felt the commission did not apply the criteria and standards of review when it approved Mellow Mushroom’s plans in September. In its appeal, the group listed 13 errors the commission committed in its approval.
“The staff report did not provide adequate detailed support of the application or the conditions of approval,” wrote Donahoo in an email last month. “Ultimately, the residents do not believe their concerns were heard.”
An appeals hearing is expected to be heard by the city’s land use and zoning committee on Dec. 4. Depending on the outcome, the committee could make a recommendation to the City Council which could possibly hear the concerns by year’s end or early 2013, Donahoo said.
Mellow Mushroom spokesman Simon Keymer said the group was “disappointed and a little surprised at the appeals filed regarding the planning commission’s decision.”
“In this newspaper in July, a spokesman for WLA, LLC clearly stated that all he wanted was for Mellow Mushroom ‘….to follow the law.’  As WLA, LLC knows, Mellow has met or exceeded the letter of every applicable law and, as a result of community input, radically changed its re-development plans to the point where it now actually exceeds parking requirements,” Keymer shared. “What’s more, both the planning commission and the historic commission have pronounced themselves satisfied. Unfortunately, it seems that just ‘following the law’ is not enough for WLA, LLC after all.”
“We hope that WLA,LLC will  soon refocus on meaningful efforts  to  address existing challenges in the neighborhood, rather than continuing its mean-spirited crusade against a family-friendly restaurant that the overwhelming majority of people in Avondale cannot wait to see open,” Keymer stated.



By Susanna P. Barton
Resident Community News

[trivianation]

I have worked with Mr. Valentino and his three other Mellows for four years now as a vendor.  I also work with 100 other restaurants every week (I own TriviaNation.com.)  Mr. Valentino's stores are among the most well managed and staffed restaurants in which we work.  Mr. Valentino has nearly 0% management turnover and among the lowest turnover in his stores because he is extremely loyal to his staff (and his vendors, BTW.)

I would not recommend just any owner to go into Riverside/Avondale but Mr. Valentino is such a conscientious and successful owner whose restaurants are so good for the communities in which they are located, that having his (and his management team's) Mellow in Riverside/Avondale would be great for that area.  I understand that parking stinks but they have done everything asked of them by the powers that be to address those issues and other issues it seems.  I don't quite understand the fight, here.

Lastly, why would Mr. Valentino want to open a Mellow in Riverside/Avondale if he doesn't think that it was a good fit for the community?  He and his family live there, for goodness sakes!  Maybe he wants to serve his neighbors and community?  Maybe this allows him to work closer to home to spend more time with his family and neighbors.  Regardless, Mr. V is not going to go through this process to open a Mellow to then anger his neighbors.  He will run a tight ship.  It will be a great place for friends and family to go.  I've been to all three of his other restaurants and the communities love those stores!  (And, a lot of charity work goes on in those Mellows, which I don't think John is even bringing up...)

John, good luck in this process.  I don't have to wish you luck on the success of your new Mellow because luck has nothing to do with your success.  I look forward to having a pint with you in your new place when you get opened and settled. 

RAP, in 12 months, after the new Mellow is open and running and you and your friends and families are happy Mellow patrons, I think you will all ask yourselves why you made this family go through all of these hoops to add a wonderful asset to your community.  I understand your motives.  I really do.  But in this case, you should let them serve...thanks for listening and have a happy holiday season! 

Steve Howard
904 707 1664

[RexMontana]

It's really sad to see so many organizations that profess to be all about the neighborhood be so conniving and ruthless when it comes to bringing a family restaurant to their area. It appears that the owner has done everything he has been asked to do in regard to brining his restaurant to this area. Those neighborhood organizations will not be happy until they have done everything in their power to keep this business from operating in their area. To that, I say SHAME ON YOU AVONDALE! I think that the owner of Mellow Mushroom should take his fine restaurant to another area of town that would gladly welcome them with open arms. Let Avondale continue to live in the past while others embrace the future.

[fsquid]

I too am shocked that riverside avondale and welove avondale did not prefer to have a unique building as the mellow mushroom rather than the bland facade they will get. They thought they could control it more than they actually can

I've said this before but- it is evident that the the survey of contributing needs to be overhauled.  It is causing issues.  One of them is for groups to push an agenda.  We've got a gas station that is technically not contributing that RAP recommends it be torn down instead of being reused.  In the meantime the Benhem building is not contributing and could just as easily be torn down.  I doubt many would stand for that.  All kinds of hell is raised about Bronson Lamb wanting to tear down his house on Greenwood yet I hear nothing about the house on Orleans Court (built circa 1922) that was torn down so the neighbor could increase the space in his backyard.

Did this happen in the last 2 years? I just checked that street out on Google Maps Streetview and see that it's just part of that one houses backyard now. Wasn't there a gigantic light blue house there? That's messed up.

Saw that too.

[WmNussbaum]

Lastly, why would Mr. Valentino want to open a Mellow in Riverside/Avondale if he doesn't think that it was a good fit for the community?  He and his family live there, for goodness sakes!

Why?? You gotta be joking. Because the bigger it is, the more money he will make, and whether it's a good fit or not is secondary. And it ain't a good fit!

He does not "live there." He is building  a home in Fairfax Manor, a mile and a half away.

[If_I_Loved_you]

Lastly, why would Mr. Valentino want to open a Mellow in Riverside/Avondale if he doesn't think that it was a good fit for the community?  He and his family live there, for goodness sakes!

Why?? You gotta be joking. Because the bigger it is, the more money he will make, and whether it's a good fit or not is secondary. And it ain't a good fit!

He does not "live there." He is building  a home in Fairfax Manor, a mile and a half away.

This is what I don't understand Mr. Nussbaum you act since you live on Richmond Street that the Shoppes and Restaurants of Avondale are only for you and your neighbors to enjoy? I find you and the Weloveavondale crowd to be so sad. 

[strider]

Lastly, why would Mr. Valentino want to open a Mellow in Riverside/Avondale if he doesn't think that it was a good fit for the community?  He and his family live there, for goodness sakes!

Why?? You gotta be joking. Because the bigger it is, the more money he will make, and whether it's a good fit or not is secondary. And it ain't a good fit!

He does not "live there." He is building  a home in Fairfax Manor, a mile and a half away.

There ya go.  That "You don't really live here so you really don't care about nor should you have any say in this community." type schpeel.  As someone who has a longer and larger investment in Springfield than 95% of the residents, but no longer lives there, I have heard this a lot, every time I didn't agree with what SPAR wanted.   As the owner of several small businesses though, it is actually more important that a community be successful and a great place to be than if you just own one single home.  Heck I almost spend more time in Springfield today than when I lived there.

Get real, WmNussbaum, and start finding real facts to support your case and perhaps people will listen and care.