Boycott CVS???

In My boyfriend's town of Chemung, NY CVS built a new distribution center.  The business should create 600 new jobs and spur economic growth in the region.  But many people have also opposed the building of the distribution center because CVS used tax dollars to fund the project and did not hire local people to build the facility.  Angers flared even more when undocumented workers from Mexico working on the project were arrested.  Will CVS benefit the community in the long run?  I guess only time will tell...

Another Great Adaptive Reuse

My hometown (a suburb of Chicago) is slowly transitioning from heavy industrial land uses to a better blend of commercial and retail. One example in particular was an old industrial land use was redeveloped by a retail developer who transitioned the building into a two story mixed-use retail site. The site is now home to a Public Storage on the second floor and a mix of other store front retailers on the first floor. The Public Storage office can be accessed through an entrance in the back of the building. The developer kept the existing building intact, but gutted the interior, added new brick to the exterior and retrofitted the second floor to allow Public Storage to move in. In addition, there was a slight alteration to the elevations where the developer added windows to showcase the Public Storage units as a climate controlled, interior storage facility. The development has been operating for approximately three years and has added much needed retail to this neighborhood. The town is excited that this development occurred because this site and the adjacent site sat empty for a few years. The adjacent site was torn down in 2003 and turned into a retail shopping area with a Walgreen's, a bank and a few restaraunts.

Crazy Long Time without a Full-Service Grocery Store

Can you imagine growing up a town that did not have a full-service grocery store for over 20 years. This was the reality of Maywood, IL (suburb of Chicago with a population of 27,000). However, thanks to millions of dollars in infrastructure upgrades from the Village, Maywood Market opened this last April. Maywood residents can now buy meat, fruits and vegetables in their own community instead of having to travel a few miles to the closest full-service grocery store. At the same time, this situation does not technically qualify as a food dessert because there at least 5 full service grocery surrounding Maywood). It is interesting that the new grocery store is occupying the same building where the last grocery was once located. The city hopes that this will be the start of a major downtown revitalization (the Village hasn't seen a major retailer in their downtown since the last grocery store closed). If you want to see a local news story on this, then follow the link: http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=news/local&id=7394893.

Now That's a Catsup Bottle!

In an earlier post, I mentioned that there is a giant catsup bottle in Collinsville, IL, actually the world's largest catsup bottle to be exact! Can you believe that there is a Catsup Bottle Fan Club website at http://www.catsupbottle.com/. The Brooks Catsup company was located in Collinsville, IL for years, but the 170 foot catsup tower was facing demolition until it was saved and restored in 1995. In fact, it is the only 'catsup bottle' to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The landmark water tower was designated on the NRHP in 2002. In 2006 the water tower site was the host of the "world's largest catsup package" event (this event was co-sponsored by Heinz).

The people of Collinsville, IL take their catsup landmark very seriously. I had the pleasure to see the water tower in person in September of 2007. Collinsville, IL also hosted an Italian festival that weekend and I saw numerous articles of clothing and other memorabilia showing off the local icon. If anyone reading this and wants to witness the catsup tower for themselves it is located on US Route 159. This attraction is also recommended by roadside attraction websites so the next time you are in St. Louis, drive over to Collinsville, IL and check it out.

Super Signs (ie Literal Signs)

You may have seen one if these somewhere throughout the country...signs! Very large, very literal signs! The old Arby's Restaurants' signs are an oven glove, but that is nothing compared to a 30' donut sign that could be seen from the highway. These signs are usually not allowed by today's signage requirements so for the existing signs that are grandfathered in, they are that more special to the store or restaurant they are serving. I am not aware if any of these signs are historic landmarks, but if there were going through the landmark designation process, I would be sure to see it on the 5 o'clock news! The example you see on the right is of Randy's Donuts in Irvine, CA. It is close to the highway, but the sign needs to be cleaned regularly due to the soot and smog of LA. This example has been around since 1954 and there seems to be no retiring the sign for now.

So the next time you are driving in an unknown are, say Collinsville, IL, and you see a giant ketchup bottle as a water tower, think of this blog post!

An old rubber factory sees a 'cool' resuse

In San Jose, CA, affordable housing is a little hard to come by. However some developers are changing that, one artist at a time. The new Art Ark is a live/work land use where local artists are housed in efficiency style apartments with art studios attached to their units. In addition there is a first floor art galley and sculpture yard where they can showcase their recent works. The adaptive re-use took part of an old factory (as seen in the above picture) and mixed the art colony into a two neighborhood theme (one being owner-occupied housing and the other is rental). The architecture firm was David Baker and Partners and they believe in giving high architectural qualities and standards to all of their projects. This highly successful project still offers units at reasonable rent rates for the San Jose area.

Empty Strip Mall???

Commercial District of Horseheads, NY during the construction of the Target Shopping Center & Southern Tier Crossing

The Big Flats Consumer Square and Arnot Mall already existed in Horseheads, NY.  A regular Walmart was located in Big Flats Consumer Square but the store wanted to upgrade to a Super Walmart.  Southern Tier Crossing, a more modern shopping plaza designed like an outdoor mall, was built which included the Super Walmart.  Customers started to use this shopping center more than the existing shopping centers which caused many stores to go out of businesses or to relocate to the new shopping center.  As a result, Big Flats Consumer Square remains mostly empty and the mall has been loosing business.  What a waste...

Old Wal-Mart turned into an indoor race track

If you have ever been to Round Rock, TX (just outside of Austin, TX), you might have thought, "Where did the Wal-Mart go?" Well the Wal-Mart moved to another town, but in its place came an indoor race-track! Unfortunately, the race track has also closed down due to operational costs, but when it was open, people could race around an old Wal-Mart in a go-cart. Wouldn't it be great to do shopping in a go-kart! The race track was located near Dell Headquarters which Dell representatives would rent out the indoor track for employee outings. The idea of taking over an old Wal-Mart with an indoor race track is applauded, but the single use seemed to be the demise of this business.

Rising out of the ashes, one of the Coolest Neigborhoods in Boston!

Ask anyone in Boston in the 1980s if they would think of the North Dorchester and the Roxbury neighborhoods as a place for great restaurants, cultural activities and for unique ethnic stores; they probably would have responded, "ah, no". Well today these two neighborhoods have seen a new life thanks to several non-profit groups including the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative. A total of 34 organizations are working together to provide permanent affordable housing and a vibrant urban village that is economically self-sufficient.

People are now drawn to this area in part by events such as the annual Multicultural Performing Arts Festival and the Improv Jazz and Comedy Club. In fact, these two neighborhoods have some of the most unique ethnic restaurants in Boston.

The group of organizations wanted to redevelop this part of Boston with the residents as the main development decision makers. There is even a comprehensive redevelopment plan that revolves around the 'urban village' theme. The residents wanted a setting for complex interactions that would result in a vibrant and diverse neighborhood. Over the last twenty years, there have been 400 properties either redeveloped or rehabilitated including commercial, residential, and light manufacturing.

So next time you are in Boston, I highly recommend checking this neighborhood out. The heart of the two neighborhoods can be found on Blue Hill Ave and Dudley St.

Another crazy parking lot icon

In Berwyn, IL the Spindle sculpture once stood at the corner of Cermak Rd and Harlem. This sculpture was made famous when it was featured in a 'Wayne's World' movie. Unfortunately the spindle was taken down when the Walgreens (located in the mall in the background of the picture) wanted to move to the corner spot where the Spindle was standing on. Many people were outraged when they heard the Spindle was going down for "A Walgreens!?". Since the demolition the shopping mall owner has contemplated building a smaller version of the old spindle, but nothing has come about. According to a family member of mine, the Spindle was thee attraction to bring people to visit this shopping center. In fact, it became part of the identity for Berwyn, IL. For the people that visit the corner of Cermak and Halrem in hopes of seeing the Spindle from 'Wayne's World', sorry, but no-can-do.

A Theater Comes Back To Life (Pittsfield, MA)

The Colonial Theater

Before Renovation

After Renovation

 The Colonial Theater was open from 1903 to 1952 but then stood empty for many years.  The city decided to renovate the theater to enhance the downtown and the theater reopened in 2006.  The theater attracted restaurants and artists to the downtown which attracted even more businesses.  Now, Pittsfield's downtown has been designated a cultural district which attracts many tourists and local residents.

Is that really a boat? (Pittsfield, MA)

 

Yes, that really is a boat... located in the middle of a parking lot of a strip shopping center!  Nobody really seemed to know why, guess it was some kind of art.  The boat was removed a few years ago...