Dollar General Proposes Springfield Location

[Metro Jacksonville]

Dollar General Proposes Springfield Location



Long vacant site along struggling commercial corridor in Historic Springfield is the location for a proposed Dollar General store.

Read More: https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2018-mar-dollar-general-proposes-springfield-location

[marcuscnelson]

Funny how a company that makes 1/20th of the revenue is better at integrating into an urban environment with walkable access than Gate.

[thelakelander]

Dollar General was ranked #128 on the Fortune 500 list in 2017 with $23.5 billion in sales. Gate is peanuts in comparison. With that said, DG has improved at integrating their footprint into urban areas. Gate can as well. We just need to be capable of demanding better.

[marcuscnelson]

Dollar General was ranked #128 on the Fortune 500 list in 2017 with $23.5 billion in sales. Gate is peanuts in comparison. With that said, DG has improved at integrating their footprint into urban areas. Gate can as well. We just need to be capable of demanding better.

Well, this is embarrassing... I switched the numbers. My bad, folks.

[avonjax]

If it's similar to the Charleston or New Orleans stores I'm ok with it. Don't like the Tallahassee store so much.

[Steve]

I do like that if they have one completely blank wall it's against the alley. I don't love the parking lot on the corner though.

[Kiva]

If it's similar to the Charleston or New Orleans stores I'm ok with it. Don't like the Tallahassee store so much.

That Tallahassee store looks just like a typical Dollar General. Charleston is only slightly better. It looks like the New Orleans one has windows all down one side (with crepe myrtle planted in front), but the Springfield design only has a few windows on the Silver street side.

[jagsonville]

This is a solid project for Springfield. Could use more windows and the parking lot could be in the back like previous posters suggested but it's the nicest looking and most "urban" dollar general I've ever seen.

[remc86007]

The impression I got at the most recent SPAR quarterly meeting was that the vast majority of people are vehemently opposed to this project and that they would voice their opposition at every opportunity. I recently moved to Springfield (albiet nearly a mile from the proposed site), and I'm undecided at this point. I understand that the homeowners around the proposed site would rather have a more "upscale" project, but I'm not sure that having an empty lot is better in the meantime.

[thelakelander]

I'm not sure opposing it because it's Dollar General instead of Trader Joes is going to be successful. What are the technical issues related to the land use, zoning and site layout that don't fit with the area and if these things were improved, would opposition go away?

[marcuscnelson]

There was an article not too long ago about the DGX urban concept they've been popping up lately. Could that maybe get a better reception?

And what would an example of "more upscale" look like? Walgreens? CVS? Someone mentioned Trader Joe's, would it be that?

[thelakelander]

The construction type and general site layout would probably be the same, regardless of retailer. Doubt you'd get a DGX there. That specific site and context doesn't match any of the DGX locations. If a DGX came to Jax, it would likely end up in a Northbank storefront space, moreso than a stand alone location with low foot traffic on West 8th Street. Nevertheless, despite what some may think locally, Dollar General is pretty popular nationwide with the millennial crowd.

[Steve]

Yea, you don't get to pick the brand when going through requirements. If hypothetically you'd approve that exact same footprint for Tiffany's, then you'd have to approve it for Dollar General.

[MusicMan]

$450,000 for a one acre site on 8th Street. Surrounded by nothing.

That's good comp for the properties PETRA is listing on Main Street.

And a lot of money. WOW

[Bill Hoff]

I'm not sure opposing it because it's Dollar General instead of Trader Joes is going to be successful. What are the technical issues related to the land use, zoning and site layout that don't fit with the area and if these things were improved, would opposition go away?

Two issues:

1) The site plan doesn't respect the Historic District guidelines. Has parking in front/on the corner with little building frontwfe alomg 8th, and in the middle of the block. The building should be anchored at the corner of 8th & Silver with the building orientated horizontally along 8th Street, parking in the back & sides. This would support the walkable, pedestrain-friendly scale & design of the neighborhood, as detailed in the histiric district guidelines. The materials & finishes of the building itself are likely to be fine.

2) People just don't want a crappy business there that doesn't maintain its property, generates a lot of litter, and attracts/doesn't repell panhandlers & loiterers. There's a dollar store near by at State & Market that's awful, there's others close to Springfield that seem to be more of a negative than positive. So, residents naturally have very low expectations for how it would operate.

Everyone (well, most) realizes that #1 Is the only argument that matters.