urbanSTL

Yes, the McDonald's Corporation is threatening to not renew this particular franchise agreement because of the lower level drive-thru. Or at least that is what Alderwoman Florida says. But I don't know if that is really the truth, she has been known to lie before. She told the residents of Gravois Park that the owner was a struggling small-time franchise owner that couldn't afford to bring the current site up to McDonald's Corporation standards. (i.e. build a retaing wall and make the site level)



GPNA did some research and it turned out that this franchise owner owns/operates a total of five McDonald's restaurants in the city. Most of his restaurants have less than stellar health reports. He lives on Westmoreland Place. He is a slum lord of fast food chains! He is not some small time franchise owner, he can afford constructing a new McDonald's on the current site. He can afford the retaining wall that it would take to make the site level. He can afford the loss of business during construction. He is just trying to take the easy way out and build on an already vacant, flat lot.



(I should mention that the only good thing about that McD's is watching the drive-thru orders slide down the chute to the lower-level. It could be the only one like it. Maybe we should be rallying to save the McD's because it's architecturally significant.)



Anyway, I'm getting off subject. The proposed site at Grand and Winnebago is part of the Keystone Development. The Keystone Development was supposed to consist of market rate homes on Arkansas and Tennessee and some sort of urban style commercial development along Grand. Our tax dollars were used for site acquisition and demolition of the old Sears store at that location. New construction in the development will receive tax abatements. The ordinance that set up the Keystone Development specifically forbade any sort of drive-thru restaurant.

I agree with Fed Up 100%!



I saw the news story tonight. There wasn't a word about the project violating ordinance or tax abatement. They sure know how to edit those stories.



I think it's time to flyer the TGS area. Many of those residents have no idea that this is happening. It might not hurt to mention the cost of those cobblestone "speed bumps" on Gustine while we're at it.

trent wrote:Another issue that I have, is that I've read that the McDonalds corporation has threatened to take away the franchise owners store if they fail to comply with normal drive thru standards (which the current store fails to do).

There are numerous examples of McDonalds' restaurants that do not have drive-through lanes. Remember the barge McDonalds' on the riverfront?



I don't think the real issue here has anything to do with demands from McDonalds' headquarters.

Well, I would hope that she would be willing to listen, when we get her constiuents involved. Unless I'm mistaken, the Gravois Park Assc is in Schmid's district. So, while they are directly affected by the McDonalds move, they can't really impact Florida the way TGS residents can. Which is one reason why I'm for peppering the TGS neighborhood with fliers about what is going on. I would bet that most are unaware of the situation.



I still think that picketting her house is a bad move. I'm not really interested in picketting, because I think we can outmanuever her politically...which is more effective, and will help our group in the long run.

Not sure if anyone else read this, but according to the Southside Journal the site of the retirement home has been moved to a location on the east side of Grand where the McDonalds was originally to be built. Drawings were included but they were difficult to see.

Sorry, I don't know how to post the article, but it says the McDonalds is closed, not to be rebuilt. The new senior housing will be on the southeast corner of Grand and Winnebago. The building will be three stories, with storefronts on the first floor. $11.8 million, 87 units.



Florida says copies of the site plan went out months ago, and she's "gotten absolutely no complaints".

The rendering in the Journal looked like another craptacular Pyramid design.

Do we have any online pix?



Why can't Pyramid get a decent designer?

^ Good question. Frankly, I wish they'd stick to historic renovations, which are usually nice. I have yet to be impressed with their new construction.

DeBaliviere wrote:The rendering in the Journal looked like another craptacular Pyramid design.

Does anyone have access to the rendering who could forward me a link or an image? I have been posting frequently about this (er, um) "development" on 15thWardSTL.org, but I don't get the business journal.



For a complete thread that follows the project through the recent enabling alley vacation legislation, visit http://15thwardstl.org/taxonomy/term/74.



To view images of what Alderwoman Florida actually took to community meetings, visit http://15thwardstl.org/node/158.



I'd love to see what Pyramid's new PR images look like.

^The rendering was in the Southside Journal, not the Business Journal.

I saw Florida at Milo's about two weeks ago. She was mingling with two other alderman. One was the proprietor and the other guy is the alderman of the Southtown area.



Florida and I used to email when the MCDonald's fiasco was in full effect. But when the project failed we stopped communications. What is the point of my post? Nothing but we had a stare down that seemed to last 20 seconds. She knew that I was not her fan - she must get the stare down a lot.



Sorry for deviating from the topic but it was on my mind.

Was driving around the city today and there is an enormous apartment/condo (?) building being built at Grand and Chippewa. Is this part of the Keystone project being built behind the Pulaski bank? This thing is HUGE!!

First I heard of it. We need a reporter on the scene.

First I heard of it. We need a reporter on the scene.

The building extends from the sidewalk on Grand all the way back to Arkansas street. Just got to glance at it as I was driving but it appeared to be one single structure 3ish stories tall.

Pyramid's senior housing, if I had to make a guess. I heard that project was still a go.

How fast you all forget. It's the senior housing that wanted to swap land with the McDonald's a couple years back. There's a thread around here somewhere.

Merged the topics together. There is more discussion here as well.

OK, now I get it. Thanks for the merge, Matt. And thanks for the dieting, Doug. Maybe you're good for something afterall.



Now, how about some pics?

Drove by here today - VERY NICE - looks contemportary and it is HUGE!

Will really make this portion of S. Grand look nice.



hey have retail spaces being built into the bottom levels on Grand too.