New Gas Station Proposed for Downtown's Main Street

[Coolyfett]

They should do something else with that space.

[braeburn]

I agree with you. Hell, I do not even have a car so I go to the Shell that is in place right now for cigarettes and beer. A CVS or Walgreens would suffice 

[thelakelander]

How do you go about telling a private property owner who they should be allowed to sell their property to based on use that is more acceptable according to someone else's opinion?  Are you guys making an argument for the city to purchase the property to have ultimate control over what can be built there or that zoning should be modified to limit the amount of uses allowed on the site and others in the area?

[braeburn]

Of course not lake... it just seems redundant to have a gas station 1 block away from one that is already there and could be improved.

I suppose the CVS/Walgreens bit was merely wishful thinking. 

[Miss Fixit]

I don't know what the empirical evidence is on the whore/housewife thing is-------anyone have any opinions on the housewives to whores conversion?

I would think that the ideal mate had elements of both groups.

Most people are attracted to one or another, Ive found.

What they find hardest to swallow is a shrew.

Now, Stephen, there's a whole spectrum of options between whore and housewife!

Now back to the thread - I don't think the proposed gas station is either the best or worst possible use for this site (neither whore nor housewife, or housewife nor whore, depending on your preferences).  And Lake is absolutely right - we can't dictate uses to a private property owner.  Best we can do is try to influence design, landscaping, etc. if zoning is in place.

[fieldafm]

Of course not lake... it just seems redundant to have a gas station 1 block away from one that is already there and could be improved.

I suppose the CVS/Walgreens bit was merely wishful thinking. 

All gas stations have a competitor adjacent to them... gas stations need high traffic areas.  This intersection is the perfect location for such an establishment.  A CVS/Walgreens gets the traffic count necessary to develop in this intersection as well.  Unfortunately, that has not happened as of yet.
Gas stations are needed in any urban core environment.  Just b/c it's not a skyscraper or multi-use residential/commercial building does not make it less viable to the community.  Im suprised it took this long for one to be built at this particular intersection, quite honestly.

[fsujax]

Well, let's not forget the BP at State and Davis, there is also a BP on Prudential Dr over on the Southbank. I still want to know why the Peytons will not build one of those fancy Gate stations DT? If there is such a major demand/market for another DT gas station.

[thelakelander]

^Probably the same reason Three Layers opened in Springfield instead of Starbucks.

[fieldafm]

Well, let's not forget the BP at State and Davis, there is also a BP on Prudential Dr over on the Southbank. I still want to know why the Peytons will not build one of those fancy Gate stations DT? If there is such a major demand/market for another DT gas station.

Gate is already making too much money on all the preform concrete structures being built downtown... no need to open another gas station  

[Springfield Girl]

I don't think anyone here is trying to tell anyone what they can or can't build. Like Zoo said, we just wish the folks in Jacksonville were a little more forward thinking and creative. I'm sure there is a lot of demand for a gas station because what we have now is substandard. It's crazy to those of us that see so clearly, the fact that if you run a higher class business you would attract more customers but alas, the business owners in Jax are quite satisfied with the singles and blunt crowd. I Live close to the Shell On Main, The Shell on 8th and the station at 3rd and Main but like many others I won't use any of them. If the new station gets built and they keep it clean and don't allow loitering and panhandling I would use it but I'm not holding my breath. My prediction is it will look just like it's neighbor one block away.

[thelakelander]

I don't understand the frustration. You have a gas station guy looking for land to build a gas station and a property owner trying to sell his land in the middle of a recession. Are we supposed to look down on either of these guys because the use isn't sexy or creative enough to our liking?

[cline]

we just wish the folks in Jacksonville were a little more forward thinking and creative.

So how would you suggest a property be zoned so that it forces the property owner to be "forward thinking and creative" according to your standards?  I'm not familiar with the forward thinking and creative land use designation.

[JaxNative68]

^if there is, can we redesignate the entire city?

[Jason]

I'm chiming in a bit late here but I am in agreeance with those that say the idea of a station at this intersection is fine but we just need to make sure that it fits in with what the pedestrian experience on Main should be or is going to be.

There are plenty of great urban minded stations out there that can be a model for this one.

Lake, didn't you have an image of the 7-11 on Princeton St. in Orlando?  That was a fantastic station that approached the street well and provided a safe and lively experience.

[cline]

I'm chiming in a bit late here but I am in agreeance with those that say the idea of a station at this intersection is fine but we just need to make sure that it fits in with what the pedestrian experience on Main should be or is going to be.

I think the major issue is that the current zoning code allows for the owner to build a gas station.  It doesn't force him to make the gas station creative or "forward thinking" like the example you are referring to and what many on this board have expressed a desire to have.  Perhaps the City should look into more of a form-based zoning code to address these issues and begin to implement the growth principals we want downtown to exhibit.  Miami just finished doing something similar.

http://www.miami21.org/

The premise of form-based zoning is more about what the use looks like and less about what the use actually is.