7-Eleven: Can Convenience and Aesthetics Co-exist?

[Metro Jacksonville]

7-Eleven: Can Convenience and Aesthetics Co-exist?



With more than 40,000 stores in operation, 7-Eleven is making plans to agressively enter the Jacksonville market, including the Urban Core.  A month ago, 7-Eleven's interest in the Shoppes of Avondale sparked a facebook debate on "Should convenience trump aesthetics?"  Here is a new question for Jacksonville: Can convenience and aesthetics co-exist?


Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-sep-7-eleven-can-convenience-and-aesthetics-co-exist

[acme54321]

I've been to the Petco park location, really nice. 

Still no record of any sale at the supposed Avondale location. 

[Jaxson]

I have been to the one on Broadway and 12th Street.  I was impressed by the cleanliness of the store and how it did blend into its surroundings.  I was able to pick up a newspaper and a drink while I waited for my streetcar.  There was nothing garish or tacky about the store. 

[sidewalker]

My first post - a very informative site.  Thank you.  Photographs depict a new generation of stores. Is the supply chain improved? I wonder if their suppliers operate 18-wheelers navigating narrow neighborhood streets to service them. It is always painful to watch a large cab and trailer inch through intersections, strip branches from trees, run over storm drains, sidewalks, and landscape to reach their destinations.

[Jumpinjack]

These photos prove that strong community guidelines work. But....are Jacksonville's downtown codes strong enough to make it happen here?
We can't even keep stores from plastering ads all over their windows despite the pleas for worker safety and crime reduction by keeping good visual connections to the outside.

[thelakelander]

If this is the case, then the solution is to not rail against private development.  It's to change land use and zoning policy at city hall.  While we can't control the market, we certainly can control how private development fits into our communities and contributes to our quality of life and it costs us not a dime more than what we already pay in taxes today.

With that said, if the new administration keeps Bill Killingsworth, a part of the the mobility plan is to go back and revise land use and zoning to facilitate sustainable growth and developments that add to the quality of life of our communities.

[SarahTay]

Is there anything to say for the fact the examples don't entail a gas station component? How could that ever work on a city street corner? I think w/o they could easily co-exist in our downtown, but will ignore the chain's more recent function of a gas station, which I think a lot of people would like to see here.

[thelakelander]

There are some pretty innovative gas station designs out there as well.  The key is to simply design a structure that treats all modes of mobility as equal priorities and respects the development pattern of the surrounding context.  In short, the building should front and open up to the sidewalk.  Auto oriented uses should be located on the side or rear of property.

[SarahTay]

Hmm... like this... ?  http://milwaukeestreets.blogspot.com/2007/04/urban-gas-station.html

[fieldafm]

I wonder if their suppliers operate 18-wheelers navigating narrow neighborhood streets to service them

First off, welcome!

Secondly, would you be opposed to this development solely based on the fact that trucks drop off merchandise to the store?   How is that any different than the Sysco truck dropping off items on Ingleside at Brick next door, or along Margaret Street for O'Brothers/Mossfire?

Still no record of any sale at the supposed Avondale location

A sales contract has been signed on the property... it is now in the due dillegence stage, as is my understanding.

[Bridges]

This is great.  I was just in Tarrytown, NY. and they had a 7-11 blend right in with the whole small town main street look.  I had to point it out to the people I was with.  They didn't believe me at first.

Here is a link to the google maps picture.  They've actually changed the signage since then, and it's way more subtle.  Actually looks like it's a boutique.
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=7-11+tarrytown+ny&ll=41.076326,-73.858294&spn=0.010158,0.026157&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&fb=1&gl=us&cid=0,0,10454077500883803203&z=16&vpsrc=0&layer=c&cbll=41.076254,-73.858303&panoid=4EISpLNUIYqyCnHlClKjqA&cbp=12,253.42,,0,-3.93

[Bridges]

HA! I was just about to point out the Publix in Columbia, SC. as another example of this, but when I googled for a picture, the first and best picture that came up was a link to an article here on Metrojacksonville. 

Keep up the great work.

[Tacachale]

Your point is made by your pics, Lake. Clearly 7/11 is willing to mesh its stores with their surroundings, we just need to hold them to it.

[GayLA]

.I moved to Los Angeles, September of last year from Green Cove Springs and I have seen all 3 locations posted in Los Angeles. There are all within a 4 block radius of each other, and all of them are drenched with people. Unfortunately because they are all downtown, where in Los Angeles..the homeless tend to dwell. All locations pictured do not offer alcohol whatsoever. Surprisingly enough, all locations have been kept very clean and it's extremely convenient when you just want to grab something quick on the go. Downtown Los Angeles is very much like Downtown Jacksonville. A city with such beauty, but a horrible central business district!

[Doctor_K]

Hmm... like this... ?  http://milwaukeestreets.blogspot.com/2007/04/urban-gas-station.html

Or the one on E Colonial Drive in Orlando just east of I-4.  It's got a 'fake' wall fronting the street with 'windows' through which you can see the usual gas pump islands.