Metro Jacksonville

Jacksonville by Neighborhood => Urban Neighborhoods => Riverside/Avondale => Topic started by: Jimmy on July 22, 2011, 03:03:09 PM

Title: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: Jimmy on July 22, 2011, 03:03:09 PM
According to RAP...

QuoteFolks have been buzzing about a rumor that representatives of 7-Eleven are showing interest in the former Shell station in The Shoppes of Avondale; the site is across from The Brick, and next door to 'town. We'd like to provide some information and solicit your opinions. (You can also check out the debate over on Arbus's Facebook page.)

It is true that both local officials and RAP have been contacted by representatives of the convenience store chain to determine the feasibility of putting a 7-Eleven on this site. The zoning on this parcel of land permits this type of use, and the chain has done feasibility studies to determine whether a store set in this general area would be successful. They believe it would be, but are interested in whether the community would "accept" a convenience store in what is generally considered to be an upscale shopping corridor.

It should be noted that several developers, each with different plans, have shown interest in acquiring this site over the years, but nothing has come to fruition. The site is privately owned.

What do you think about the possibility of 7-Eleven at the Avondale Shoppes?  Would you welcome a convenience store if it were "done right?" Would you want the developers to consider a less prominent site? Should convenience trump aesthetics in this difficult economy? Or are you hoping the site's owner will "hold out" for a different type of establishment here?
http://www.facebook.com/notes/riverside-avondale/should-convenience-trump-aesthetics/221690241208143

I think it's an interesting idea.  Jacksonville has zero 7-Eleven stores now.  The last one (that I can recall) hung in there on Herlong and Fouraker.  I see them even in upscale areas of other cities.
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: duvaldude08 on July 22, 2011, 03:13:46 PM
Great News! It is True! Atleast they are taking all aspects into consideration to ensure that it is sucessful!
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: Captain Zissou on July 22, 2011, 03:16:24 PM
I wouldn't mind a 7 Eleven.  It sure beats the AP on Park street.  However, a stand alone 7 Eleven would be a huge waste of that property.  There is enough room on that site for a 3 story mixed use building of some kind.  You don't get a better location in the entire city.  I'd hate to see it squandered on just a 7 Eleven.  They are very flexible in their stores' footprints and appearances, so I'm optimistic.
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: Jaxson on July 22, 2011, 03:44:50 PM
Interesting article about 7 Eleven

http://www.denverpost.com/entertainment/ci_17533333

Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: Jimmy on July 22, 2011, 03:54:51 PM
Most of the commenters on the Facebook post seem to think that area should be turned into a surface parking lot.  So... that gives an idea of the ill-conceived notions floating around.

Thanks, Jaxon, I'm going to post that over to the RAP Facebook discussion.
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: acme54321 on July 22, 2011, 04:09:50 PM
Yeah, the last thing that needs to be there is a surface lot.  Park on the surrounding streets and walk a block  for crying out loud.  How many cars would fit in a surface lot there?  20?

I think one major issue here is most Floridians idea of what a 7-Eleven consists.  Most people are probably picturing a typical suburban Orlando type 7-Eleven gas station.  I had never seen a 7-eleven in a mixed use building until a month ago in San Diego.  It was in a really nice loft building with zero parking dedicated to the store.  It was a 100% walking store and extremely convenient to get necessities at quick, plus they had Slurpees. 

I think a 7-eleven would do great there.  I also think that the residents of Avondale would come to like it rather quickly as well, for it's um.... convenience.   

Put it in a multi story structure that complements the rest of the strip, build a few high end lofts over it and call it a day.  Of anywhere in this town I think a loft/condo type residential unit would make money that would be a prime spot.
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: Jimmy on July 22, 2011, 04:15:50 PM
Oh, but acme, this is where you run into the worst thinking in R/A.  The people who live in the homes within walking distance of the Shoppes don't want the rabble (or anyone else) parking on their precious side-streets.  As much as possible, they want Towncenter-like parking in the historic district. 

Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: iluvolives on July 22, 2011, 04:20:46 PM
I thought there was an issue with this property because of the old gas tanks underground from the old gas station that was there. I'm pretty sure they can't build anything on the front part of that property without doing extensive remediation (likes whats set up in the daycare parking lot next to Orsay). So maybe 7-11 is able to come in and put their store on the back portion of the lot, where the old building was and then just have parking in the front.

If a regular building could be built there, the guy who owns the lot would have sold it for a huge profit YEARS ago.
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: Julian on July 22, 2011, 06:02:03 PM
It seems they are willing to adapt to the surroundings. If they decide on something like this then it would be just swell. (http://media.povo.com/D/3252/1/3/8/533x400/7_Eleven-_Charles)
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: acme54321 on July 22, 2011, 06:29:35 PM
Quote from: iluvolives on July 22, 2011, 04:20:46 PM
I thought there was an issue with this property because of the old gas tanks underground from the old gas station that was there. I'm pretty sure they can't build anything on the front part of that property without doing extensive remediation (likes whats set up in the daycare parking lot next to Orsay). So maybe 7-11 is able to come in and put their store on the back portion of the lot, where the old building was and then just have parking in the front.

If a regular building could be built there, the guy who owns the lot would have sold it for a huge profit YEARS ago.

If you can dig it up and put in a new parking lot I would assume you could just as easily put a slab and a building on top of it.  I'm sure if the tanks are still there they would have to be removed, but it's not something that hasn't been done before.  From what I understood that parcel was priced pretty high, but I'm no commercial real estate person so I can't really say that for fact.
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: hansbronson on July 22, 2011, 07:41:03 PM
Does anybody know the reason why Jacksonville has no 7-elevens when we use to years ago.
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: duvaldude08 on July 22, 2011, 09:10:11 PM
Quote from: hansbronson on July 22, 2011, 07:41:03 PM
Does anybody know the reason why Jacksonville has no 7-elevens when we use to years ago.

Scroll back through previous posts. We've already discussed it earlier.
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: L.P. Hovercraft on July 22, 2011, 11:18:31 PM
Quote from: acme54321 on July 22, 2011, 04:09:50 PM
Yeah, the last thing that needs to be there is a surface lot.  Park on the surrounding streets and walk a block  for crying out loud.  How many cars would fit in a surface lot there?  20?

I think one major issue here is most Floridians idea of what a 7-Eleven consists.  Most people are probably picturing a typical suburban Orlando type 7-Eleven gas station.  I had never seen a 7-eleven in a mixed use building until a month ago in San Diego.  It was in a really nice loft building with zero parking dedicated to the store.  It was a 100% walking store and extremely convenient to get necessities at quick, plus they had Slurpees. 

I think a 7-eleven would do great there.  I also think that the residents of Avondale would come to like it rather quickly as well, for it's um.... convenience.   

Put it in a multi story structure that complements the rest of the strip, build a few high end lofts over it and call it a day.  Of anywhere in this town I think a loft/condo type residential unit would make money that would be a prime spot.

+1

I'm almost always against big chain stores moving into the R/A historic district just on principal, but I think a nicely integrated 7-11 in the first floor of a mixed use 2-3 story building would be a great addition to the area.  I grew up going to 7-11 as a kid up in NJ and I for one would welcome one closer to home where I could get my summer Slurpee fix.  I also think they're actually a bit nicer than the average Jax convenience store--no Jiffy feet allowed! 

I don't live in Avondale so can't say whether or not the local residents would even welcome a new convenience store in their midst (do they have one already?), but I know in Riverside it is nice to have several places including the gas station convenience stores, Publix, and the drug stores readily available within walking or biking distance for assorted sundry needs.

That said, I would be totally against an ugly 1 story suburban style convenience store surrounded by a big surface parking lot plopped down in that spot.  It really needs to be designed to fit the neighborhood.  If it is, I think it would do great.
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: north miami on July 23, 2011, 03:24:19 AM
One of the very earliest Burger King,Seven Eleven sprung within my native North Miami childhood neighborborhood.Approx. 123Street/"7thAve"  US 441,just west of the new I95.........North Miami Dade County.Check it out.
There was a bounty on Florida Panther the year I was born in Miami.

Like rare beast sequestered in quality,rare habitat,one is vividly aware of Avondale encroachments.

So what,when a community self destructs there is always Another Place for the Sensitives.

Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: Steve on July 23, 2011, 09:28:55 AM
Quote from: iluvolives on July 22, 2011, 04:20:46 PMSo maybe 7-11 is able to come in and put their store on the back portion of the lot, where the old building was and then just have parking in the front.

Because it would have to go through design review, that would never fly.
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: acme54321 on July 23, 2011, 11:35:06 AM
I think if the neighborhood actually trieds to work with the company rather than bitch and moan they might actually get something nice from this.  When was the last time a company that has $16B/yr sales was going to put an outlet in the neighborhood?  You know all of those sewage problems and whatnot?  Maybe they will have to pay for infrastructure upgrades that benefit ALL of the shops?  You never know until you try.


Quote from: north miami on July 23, 2011, 03:24:19 AM
One of the very earliest Burger King,Seven Eleven sprung within my native North Miami childhood neighborborhood.Approx. 123Street/"7thAve"  US 441,just west of the new I95.........North Miami Dade County.Check it out.
There was a bounty on Florida Panther the year I was born in Miami.

Like rare beast sequestered in quality,rare habitat,one is vividly aware of Avondale encroachments.

So what,when a community self destructs there is always Another Place for the Sensitives.

Reading your posts are like trying to decipher hieroglyphics.  Its almost like you are using BabelFish to translate some other language to English.

Plus,  7-Eleven was founded in 1927 in Dallas, not Miami.
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: buckethead on July 23, 2011, 01:27:13 PM
VIVA Lil' Champ!

My wife has fond memories of walking to the Lil Champ for ice cream bars in the summer.

That's how we did it in the seventies and eighties. Barefoot.
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: AmyLynne on July 23, 2011, 05:07:16 PM
Quote from: acme54321 on July 23, 2011, 11:35:06 AM
I think if the neighborhood actually trieds to work with the company rather than bitch and moan they might actually get something nice from this.  When was the last time a company that has $16B/yr sales was going to put an outlet in the neighborhood?  You know all of those sewage problems and whatnot?  Maybe they will have to pay for infrastructure upgrades that benefit ALL of the shops?  You never know until you try.


Quote from: north miami on July 23, 2011, 03:24:19 AM
One of the very earliest Burger King,Seven Eleven sprung within my native North Miami childhood neighborborhood.Approx. 123Street/"7thAve"  US 441,just west of the new I95.........North Miami Dade County.Check it out.
There was a bounty on Florida Panther the year I was born in Miami.

Like rare beast sequestered in quality,rare habitat,one is vividly aware of Avondale encroachments.

So what,when a community self destructs there is always Another Place for the Sensitives.

Reading your posts are like trying to decipher hieroglyphics.  Its almost like you are using BabelFish to translate some other language to English.

Plus,  7-Eleven was founded in 1927 in Dallas, not Miami.

And Burger King was founded here in the 50's...
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: north miami on August 01, 2011, 07:24:21 PM
Quote from: Jimmy on July 22, 2011, 03:54:51 PM
Most of the commenters on the Facebook post seem to think that area should be turned into a surface parking lot.  So... that gives an idea of the ill-conceived notions floating around.

Thanks, Jaxon, I'm going to post that over to the RAP Facebook discussion.
[/
Too much pontification by too few here.

There is  chronic need for Parking,and that ain't no dumb conceived notion.

The look,feel,function of RAP is what it is due to an inherent defensive stance in the face of "change".


Seven 'Leven Beer!   the advertisement. 



Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: RiversideLoki on August 02, 2011, 09:20:19 AM
Is it a crime to just want easy access to a real slurpee?
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: north miami on August 02, 2011, 11:23:58 PM
Quote from: RiversideLoki on August 02, 2011, 09:20:19 AM
Is it a crime to just want easy access to a real slurpee?

darn right.Crap food.In this neighborhood,we do not even want to be associated with crapiest junk food junkies.So be it.Go away,plenty of alternative pits to slurp from.

Everything is different now.
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: north miami on August 02, 2011, 11:53:30 PM
Quote from: buckethead on July 23, 2011, 01:27:13 PM
VIVA Lil' Champ!

My wife has fond memories of walking to the Lil Champ for ice cream bars in the summer.

That's how we did it in the seventies and eighties. Barefoot.

It would be great to turn the clock back even not so far back......Wayne & Susies Pet Shop,Biscottis stage two,Partners/Noel Friedline trio/ceiling mirror,corner bar (JANE),Frank  Gallow focused on Edgewood Ave.

That Aberdeen Apartment girl with the big blonde hair,showing up working the cash register at the subject property.And then the gas station on San Juan/Herschel.

indeed,Avondale may on fact be "ready" for..............
Title: Re: 7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.
Post by: north miami on August 03, 2011, 12:09:05 AM
Quote from: acme54321 on July 23, 2011, 11:35:06 AM


Reading your posts are like trying to decipher hieroglyphics.  Its almost like you are using BabelFish to translate some other language to English.

Plus,  7-Eleven was founded in 1927 in Dallas, not Miami.
[/quote]

English 103.
reference not to company history,but rather Florida placement history.

Apparently the comparison of present day Jacksonville events to Evil Miami historical narrative,predictive capability generates anxiety.

Here's lookin' at us!    Seven 'Levin Beer!

Frankly,I do not really care what is placed there.Nothing springing up there will faze.