Alright, let's just some some damn businesses into new mixed-use buildings on this lot. I don't care what they are as long as the residents want them. In this case, it seems another dollar store isn't getting them hard.urban_dilettante wrote:i think he meant weed weed, not weeds. nuisance plants = snark i believe.Gateway City wrote:Beer? Wait, why would someone want nuisance plants? Whatever, either one would be fine.
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I don't get the issue.
Maybe Dollar General is a little different but the Family Dollar by my house is basically a Walgreens without the drugs. Milk, eggs, toilet paper, dogfood, toothbrushes, and other basic household items. Granted there is a row of cheap t-shirts, and some chinsy home decor but it serves a need. It also caries a lot of name brand items you'd find at a larger store. Charmin, Prarrie Farms, Captain Crunch etc. Maybe its not hyper organic kale popsicles, or recycled toilet paper but it serves a need and makes the neighborhood more livable. Honestly a Dollar General is preferable to a consignment home improvement store as it more suitable for pedestrian traffic. How many people would by a stack of floor tile and walk home with it.
Additionally the site is not being threatened with demo. No new parking lots are required. And the parking that is there isn't exactly a massive lot. Would a 5 story mixed use structure be preferable. Hell yes. Would this site be better vacant rather than be occupied by the Dollar General. Hell NO.
Maybe Dollar General is a little different but the Family Dollar by my house is basically a Walgreens without the drugs. Milk, eggs, toilet paper, dogfood, toothbrushes, and other basic household items. Granted there is a row of cheap t-shirts, and some chinsy home decor but it serves a need. It also caries a lot of name brand items you'd find at a larger store. Charmin, Prarrie Farms, Captain Crunch etc. Maybe its not hyper organic kale popsicles, or recycled toilet paper but it serves a need and makes the neighborhood more livable. Honestly a Dollar General is preferable to a consignment home improvement store as it more suitable for pedestrian traffic. How many people would by a stack of floor tile and walk home with it.
Additionally the site is not being threatened with demo. No new parking lots are required. And the parking that is there isn't exactly a massive lot. Would a 5 story mixed use structure be preferable. Hell yes. Would this site be better vacant rather than be occupied by the Dollar General. Hell NO.
Yes, obviously a mixed-use, multi-floor, sidewalk-fronting, no parking lot development would be proffered to a Dollar Store with a neighboring store and significant lot parking. But can anyone name a new construction mixed-use development built in the last 10 years outside of Downtown the Central West End and the Loop?
It's a great thing to advocate for, but is it realistic? Should every surface lot. Along Jefferson, Gravois, and Grand be "saved" for relatively idealist urbanist fundamentals? Or is a business that wants to renovate and subdivide an existing big box store adequate? Doesn't that add some incremental amount of density to the corridor/neighborhood?
It's a great thing to advocate for, but is it realistic? Should every surface lot. Along Jefferson, Gravois, and Grand be "saved" for relatively idealist urbanist fundamentals? Or is a business that wants to renovate and subdivide an existing big box store adequate? Doesn't that add some incremental amount of density to the corridor/neighborhood?
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That new Subway on S. Broadway is except the giant parking lot.wabash wrote:Yes, obviously a mixed-use, multi-floor, sidewalk-fronting, no parking lot development would be proffered to a Dollar Store with a neighboring store and significant lot parking. But can anyone name a new construction mixed-use development built in the last 10 years outside of Downtown the Central West End and the Loop?
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The new mixed used proposal in the grove comes to mind.wabash wrote:But can anyone name a new construction mixed-use development built in the last 10 years outside of Downtown the Central West End and the Loop?
i would argue that this isn't "every" surface lot along Jefferson. it's directly adjacent to a bourgeoning business district. the potential for development on this site is higher than it is at the intersection of Jefferson and Gravois, for example.wabash wrote:It's a great thing to advocate for, but is it realistic? Should every surface lot. Along Jefferson, Gravois, and Grand be "saved" for relatively idealist urbanist fundamentals?
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The sidewalk-fronting form of that one new building further north is decent. Can't remember what it is, though. Near Johnnie Brock's.
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There are already three--yes three--Family Dollar stores on Jefferson south of Highway 40.
I'm not saying we should hold out for Whole Foods or anything, but why not something along the lines of a Gordman's?
A discount store that sells some stuff for more than a few bucks. Someplace you can grab a belt or pair of dress socks without having to drive out to Brentwood.
Just please no more Family Dollar, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, etc.
I'm not saying we should hold out for Whole Foods or anything, but why not something along the lines of a Gordman's?
A discount store that sells some stuff for more than a few bucks. Someplace you can grab a belt or pair of dress socks without having to drive out to Brentwood.
Just please no more Family Dollar, Dollar General, Dollar Tree, etc.
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TJ Maxx is pretty cheap, right? Big Lots? Maybe those two plus Gordman's would be a nice cluster on S. Jefferson, though preferably not with their typical suburban form.
God, I can't believe Big Lots is considered aspirational. We need nice things here. Or at least a bit upper mid-grade. Urban Outfitters, Trader Joes, Pottery Barn, World Market, Topshop. Something other than the same hoosier class stuff we always get.
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Yeah to me a Gordmans or TJ Maxx is realistic improvement.
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Value Village is one of my favorite stores. I've spent hours and hours in the one on Watson. They have some great stuff. I think some of those aforementioned stores ^ and this one would suit the area well. The main worry is all of them cannibalizing each other.