Is Springfield Ready for a Car Wash?

[CS Foltz]

SPAR has its own agenda............some how that does not include the people who allready live there! Some how I get the impression if any business is not on the approved SPAR list.......they will have obstacles to leap over and over and over! Last I heard the SPAR membership was declining big time and no one seems to know why?

[Overstreet]

I disagree with limiting seating. I think seating needs to be an important part of this. Maybe have the store work out a deal with City Kidz, Uptown market, Or even Three Layers to carry some limited, pre-packaged lunch items. A win win for all involved. Wouldn't it be cool if Three Layers would sell a themos of coffee for this store, or had those great tuna and croissant sammiches available in the store?

I think adding pedestrian elements can only help this plan. Im glad that Design Content added some nice looking seating.

Not everywhere can be a restaurant. You won't find these things at long standing car washes. I've been to car washes in Mandarin, Orange Park, Philips/St Aug area, midtown Atlanta, and Sun City Fl. It would be a pioneer move, but likely to fail for the following,

A. If it takes you that long to get a semi automated carwash you've been going to the wrong place.

B. If you'd like to sit down and eat lunch next to people wiping dry cars and collecting tips you are likely a bit weird.

C. A collection of weird people at the seating area will make the customers want to go somewhere else. People go to car washes to get their cars washed quick. No other stuff.

D. One of the complaints was for it to be another convienence store.

E. It is counter productive for the car wash for customers to loiter after the car comes out of the line and is dried. There is another car coming out to take that spot.

[Dan B]

Not a restaurant, so much as making the wares of other community vendors available. If they had wrapped sandwich from Three Layers instead of Dundee, and locally brewed coffee, It very possible someone would chose to sit and eat a sandwich or drink a cup of coffee while waiting for their car to be washed/dried.

It may not be feasible, I was just throwing it out there.

[sheclown]

Not a restaurant, so much as making the wares of other community vendors available. If they had wrapped sandwich from Three Layers instead of Dundee, and locally brewed coffee, It very possible someone would chose to sit and eat a sandwich or drink a cup of coffee while waiting for their car to be washed/dried.

It may not be feasible, I was just throwing it out there.

I think it is a cool idea.

[ProjectMaximus]

fyi, the "Proposed view from West 4th Street looking east" looks an awful lot like the "current view"

Is this intentional or did you use the wrong photo?

[thelakelander]

The lot the cars are parked on is a different commercial parcel and is not a part of the project.

[Lucasjj]

In the pictures above, the large bilboard sign appears to be coming down. How will people on Main be drawn into the place if they do not know a carwash is there? The only signing I could tell was there, was going to be on the building itself. Will this be easy enough to see from Main?

[Bostech]

All this drama over a car wash?

[CS Foltz]

Bostech..............SPAR appears to not want a "Car Wash"! It does not fit in with their ideal picture of what Springfield should look like! They appear to want high end stores (YEA.....that will really happen!) and cleaners and grocery stores...........I say "Spit on them" ! I can understand architectural guidelines but that's about the limit other than that SPAR can go sit on a stick............membership declining and they wonder why?

[GideonGlib]

I live in Springfield and don't see how a car wash would be a detriment to the neighborhood?

From a practical perspective I have a driveway in which to was my car, but most of my neighbors do not. With the street parking cars get dirty quickly. It makes sense to have a car wash in the neighborhood. A walkable neighborhood isn't a car free neighborhood anywhere in America, even NYC.

From a "quality of businesses in the neighborhood" perspective the Avondale-Ortega residents using Charles & George's car wash on Roosevelt don't seem to haughty to have something so plebeian as a car wash in their midst, and these plans look as if the business will be comparable to that.

It seems to me that a key to revitalizing the neighborhood is to get people into the neighborhood that don't currently think "springfield" when they think of procuring goods and services. The office worker that pops over for a carwash at lunchtime today, might think to come back for lunch at Uptown Market tomorrow, and might see a house for sale they didn't previously know about to come look at over the weekend. A healthy neighborhood has a variety of businesses, and while upscale eateries are nice, not every available spot that a restaurant could possibly go, should have one if the neighborhood is really going to thrive.

P.S. Thanks, now I have that song in my head "get your car washed today...."

[fsu813]

A few thoughts

- i can see it both ways. ultimately, i signed the online car wash petition.

- i know for fact that the SPAR board doesn't disagree with having a nice, well-maintained, successful, carwash in the neighborhood.

It's the precedent that is set.

That's what the main issue is: precedent. Makes it easier for other car related businesses to open up....some that may be not as desriable, nice, or well-maintained.

- speaking of which, though the renderings look great.......it may fall short of what is presented. Money issues, etc. I'd be very interesting in seeing an estimate on how much these upgrades and changes would cost. And if the owner has the means to maintain them once finished.

Those are the issues to wrestle with that have no "right" answer, as you can't predict the future.

Ultimately, after meeting Mr. Jones and listening to him on several occasions, I have confidence that he wants to do right by the neighborhood and won't willing let the property slip into disrepair.

The precedent issue is tougher. You just can't predict what will happen in the future.

In the end I support it (fingers crossed).

[nvrenuf]

Were concerns of precedent raised when these went forward (and received) their exceptions?

a) Service garage at Main & 6th 1.5 years ago
b) Service garage repair shop at Main & 4th 1 year ago

[thelakelander]

That's what the main issue is: precedent. Makes it easier for other car related businesses to open up....some that may be not as desriable, nice, or well-maintained.

This argument has no real leg to stand on....its baloney.  No precedent will be set, due to the nature of it being a "permissible use by exception" as the code states.  Opening something not mentioned in the code as a use or a use permissible by exception, under the CCG-S zoning would be setting a precedent.  

In other words, I can't open an Ford dealership under the CCG-S zoning.....period.  I can't open a peek-a-boo lounge under the CCG-S zoning......period.  I can't open a steel mill under the CCG-S zoning.....period.  Again, setting a "precedent" would be somehow finding a way to get a use allowed (like the couple mentioned above) that isn't already listed as a permissible use or permissible use by exception of the CCG-S zoning status.

Anyway, if the precedent angle is going to used as a reason for denial, its time for the City of Jacksonville to throw out the overlay and completely rewrite it to only include the actual uses the city wants to see under the zoning regulation.

- Money issues, etc. I'd be very interesting in seeing an estimate on how much these upgrades and changes would cost. And if the owner has the means to maintain them once finished.

This should not be a factor in a zoning matter.  Personally, my view is, if the business fails, we'll at least end up with another renovated property.  If its successful, then that's a great thing for the entire business corridor.  What would suck, is somebody willing to open a business with his own money on Main Street lose his shirt and the property sits vacant for another decade.  Nobody wins in that case.

[Steve]

^Totally agree.  Whether or not he has a good business model really shouldn't be the issue here.

[Dan B]

^ Agreed.