7-Eleven as a shoppe of Avondale? Maybe.

[Jimmy]

According to RAP...

Folks 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.

[duvaldude08]

Great News! It is True! Atleast they are taking all aspects into consideration to ensure that it is sucessful!

[Captain Zissou]

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.

[Jaxson]

Interesting article about 7 Eleven

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

[Jimmy]

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.

[acme54321]

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.

[Jimmy]

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. 

[iluvolives]

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.

[Julian]

It seems they are willing to adapt to the surroundings. If they decide on something like this then it would be just swell.

[acme54321]

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.

[hansbronson]

Does anybody know the reason why Jacksonville has no 7-elevens when we use to years ago.

[duvaldude08]

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.

[L.P. Hovercraft]

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.

[north miami]

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.

[Steve]

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.

Because it would have to go through design review, that would never fly.